Title: Messerschmidt Family Papers and Visual Materials
Inclusive Dates: 1915-2001

Creator:

• Messerschmidt Family

Call Number: M2003-074; AE 186-AE 189; VBC 289-VBC 292

Quantity: 0.1 c.f., 142 photographs, 6 transparencies, 4 films (16 mm), and 4 videorecordings (viewing copies of films)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of the Messerschmidt family, German immigrants and longtime residents of Madison, Wisconsin. William Messerschmidt and his son Samuel owned land near present-day Dane County Airport on which Samuel built a stone house in 1932 that was later purchased and moved during a runway expansion project in 1997-2001. Included in the collection are autobiographies by William and Lowell, Samuel's son. Lowell grew up on the family farm, initially registered as a conscientious objector during World War II, later saw service in an ambulance unit in Africa, the Middle East, and Italy, traveled extensively as a church pastor, and held office for the Madison welfare office in the 1970s. The photographs include shots of a tornado that touched down in Madison (1944), the first Northwest Airlines flight at Truax Field (1937), the Messerschmidt family farm, vacations, a G.A.R. parade in Madison, and Madison churches. The films are home movies featuring family vacations, the farm, a parade in Madison, and various family activities.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-m2003074

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Acquisition Information

Presented by Elizabeth Messerschmidt, Stoughton, Wisconsin. Accession Number: M2003-074

M2003-074 Folder   1	Autobiographies by William and Lowell Messerschmidt, a biography of Susan Bauernfeind by Lowell Messerschmidt, news clippings, and miscellaneous family items, 1915-2001
	Photographs
Box   1 Folder   1	Travel, Madison, circa 1930s
Box   1 Folder   2	Tornado, 1944
Box   1 Folder   3	Northwest Airlines flight at Truax field, 1937-1938
Box   1 Folder   4	Family farm, 1954
Box   1 Folder   5	Madison area churches, undated
Box   1 Folder   6	G.A.R. parade, undated
Box   1 Folder   7	Family and farm, circa 1916-1952
	Home Movies Note: Unless noted otherwise, all films are 16 mm, color, and silent. See case file for more detailed descriptions of film footage. Researchers must use the videorecordings for viewing copies. Videorecordings are all U-Matic tapes.
VBC 289/AE 186	[Florida and Home, 1949 Winter-Spring] Note: Footage of a fort and scenery in St. Augustine; wintertime at the Dome View Farm, home and church flower gardens, and hill and valley landscapes.
VBC 290/AE 187	Vacation footage, undated Note: Footage of vacation at Yellowstone National Park includes shots of wildlife and natural landscapes, and people enjoying outdoor activities.
VBC 291/AE 188	[Wisconsin Centennial Parade, Madison, Capital Square, 1948] Note: Footage of bands, floats, including Wisconsin's first railroad float; also includes footage of “Harvester's 100 Years in Chicago” sign, buildings, and billboards [footage is very dark].
	Compilation reel of home movies
VBC 292/AE 189	[Farm and Home Life I, undated] Note: Footage of farm, home life, and rock quarry includes Sam posting sign on a building.
VBC 292 (continued)/AE 189 (continued)	[Leisure Time, undated] Note: Footage of picnic, football game, and people playing in the snow.
VBC 292 (continued)/AE 189 (continued)	[Farm and Home Life II, undated] Note: Footage of Lowell's dog, early airport with plane and glider, and waterfall. Some black and white footage included.
VBC 292 (continued)/AE 189 (continued)	[Wisconsin Scenes I, undated] Note: Footage of landscape, church picnic, Johnson and Wisconsin Avenue, children swinging and baseball game.
VBC 292 (continued)/AE 189 (continued)	[Farm and Home Life III, undated] Note: Footage of farm life, natural landscapes, and North Central College buildings.
VBC 292 (continued)/AE 189 (continued)	[Wisconsin Scenes II, undated] Note: Footage of rock quarry and running girls.