Title: Carl P. Dietz Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1875–1956

Creator:

• Dietz, Carl P.

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 10

Quantity:

• 1.7 cubic ft. (7 boxes)
• 1 oversized folder

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Carl Praetorius Dietz (1875-1957) moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his family when he was a child. Over his lifetime he was an inventor, an elected justice of the peace, a city comptroller, an insurance businessman and an elected alderman of the 10th Ward of Milwaukee. Dietz unsuccessfully ran for Wisconsin’s 5th District Congressional seat in 1936. In addition to his career in politics, Carl P. Dietz was an avid collector of early model typewriters and had a strong interest in music including composing and publishing songs. Dietz also served as president of the Milwaukee Public Museum Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Milwaukee City Art Commission, and sat on the boards of the Milwaukee Auditorium, the Milwaukee Public Library, and the Milwaukee Art Institute.

Note:

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Language: English, German

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0010

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Carl Praetorius Dietz, was born in Newark, New Jersey on September 19, 1875. His parents, both natives of Germany, immigrated to the United States in the early 1860s. His father, Reverend Henry L. Dietz, was a German Baptist minister, and his mother, Jeannette Praetorius Dietz was the daughter of a professor. Carl P. Dietz attended Milwaukee Public Schools from 1881-1891, later studied at the Boys’ High School of San Francisco from 1891-1892, and attended the German-American Academy of Rochester, N.Y. from 1894-1895. Soon after, he spent several years working as a law clerk in San Francisco and then returned to Milwaukee in 1901 to work for the attorney A.G. Weissert. Dietz married Hedwig Zahl, a native of Prussia, in October of 1902.

In 1904, 1906, and 1908, Dietz was elected justice of the peace and thus started a lifelong relationship with Milwaukee politics. In 1910, he became city comptroller and held this post until he opened an insurance business two years later. In 1918, Dietz was elected alderman of the 10th Ward of Milwaukee and thereafter re-elected to this position until his retirement in 1948. Dietz unsuccessfully ran for Wisconsin’s 5th District Congressional seat in 1936. In addition to his career in politics, Carl P. Dietz was an avid collector of early model typewriters and had a strong interest in music. Dietz began composing songs in 1895, publishing his first song around 1899. He maintained his interest in music throughout his life and his works include “My Rose of Milwaukee,” “Daisy McHugh,” “Parted For-Ever More,” and “The Little Homestead by the Mill.” Moreover, Dietz can also be classified as an inventor; his patent for improvements to the temporary binder was approved by the U.S Patent Office in 1922.

Dietz also served as president of the Milwaukee Public Museum Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Milwaukee City Art Commission, and sat on the boards of the Milwaukee Auditorium, the Milwaukee Public Library, and the Milwaukee Art Institute. Carl P. Dietz died in Milwaukee in October 1957.

This collection is comprised of the personal and family records of Carl P. Dietz. Although Dietz was active in Milwaukee politics for forty years, documents relating to his political career are minimal.

More detailed scope and content notes of each series are provided in the contents list.

The collection is arranged into the following series:

1. Civic and Professional, 1902-1957
2. Music, 1897-1951
3. Personal and Family Records, 1875-1956
4. Personal Photographs, 1877-1945, undated
5. Wax Cylinders, undated

The series are arranged alphabetically. Within each series, folders are arranged alphabetically. In Series 2, Music, sheet music is arranged alphabetically.

Dietz, Carl P., Papers, 1875–1956, Collection 10. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Carl P. Dietz Collection of Typewriters

My Rose of Milwaukee

Access Restrictions

Researchers may view the wax cylinders included in this collection, but playing the recordings is not permitted. Access to the phonograph record is also restricted. There are no additional restrictions on the remainder of the collection. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Collection was donated in 1961 by Jeannette Knepprath. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Processed by Rachael N. Tebow, volunteer, 2012 and Kimberly Howard, archives intern, 2012. Description by Rachel Arndt, 2012.

	Series: 1. Civic and Professional, 1902-1957 Scope and Content Note: This series contains records relating to Dietz’s professional life including campaign advertisements, professional certifications, membership cards for a variety of local and national organizations, and legal documents pertaining to Dietz’s patent application.
Box   1 Folder   1	Campaign Ads: Comptroller, Congress, Alderman, 1910, 1936, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Certificates: Insurance Company Agent, 1912, 1920, 1925
Box   1 Folder   3	Certificates: Membership and War Registration Cards, 1902-1957
Box   1 Folder   4	Certificates: Notary Public, 1912-1930
Box   1 Folder   5	Certificates: Real Estate Broker, 1920-1930
Oversize Folder   1	Certificates: Sunday Morning Breakfast Club, 1947
Box   1 Folder   6	Correspondence: Dietz Abstractor’s Comparative Rules, 1923
Box   1 Folder   7	Correspondence: Professional, 1908-1952
Box   1 Folder   8	Good Government Award, 1948
Box   1 Folder   9	Patent Materials: Improvements to the Temporary Binder, 1922
Box   1 Folder   10	Statue Unveiling: Robert La Follette, Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., 1929
Acetate Recordings Box   1	Typewriters and Sleigh Bells Donation to Milwaukee Public Museum - Sunday Morning Breakfast Club, award and presentation, 1947 Physical Description: 1 phonograph record (78 rpm)  Access Restrictions: Access to the record is restricted; researchers must use the digital access copy.
	Series: 2. Music, 1897-1951 Scope and Content Note: This series is comprised primarily of sheet music and copyright certificates for music written by Dietz. Also included are photographs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence from Dietz to music publishers and from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers relating to his application for membership.	⇧
Box   1 Folder   11	Certificates: Copyright, 1897-1950
Box   1 Folder   12	Clippings: Newspaper, 1939-1948, undated
Box   1 Folder   13	Correspondence: Never Take the Horseshoe from the Door, 1950
Box   1 Folder   14	Membership Application: American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, 1951
Box   1 Folder   15	Photographs: Comus Quartet, Dorothy Sarnoff, Jon Norbert, undated, undated
Box   1 Folder   16	Sheet Music and Materials: A Maiden by the Name of Kate and I Love You Dearly by Daisy McHugh, 1900, undated
Box   1 Folder   17	Sheet Music and Materials: Milwaukee and My Broadway Girl, 1900, 1945
Box   1 Folder   18	Sheet Music and Materials: My Rose of Milwaukee, 1945
Box   1 Folder   19	Sheet Music and Materials: The Little Girl I Used to Call My Own and The Little Homestead by the Mill, 1950
Box   1 Folder   20	Sheet Music and Materials: Parted Forever-more and When I Gaze into Your Eyes, 1899, 1950
	Series: 3. Personal and Family Records, 1875-1956 Scope and Content Note: This series includes both personal and family documents such as Dietz’s marriage certificate, a birth certificate for his wife, Hedwig; correspondence, tax documents, and genealogical information on the Dietz family. This series also includes Dietz’s mother, Jeannette P. Dietz and Hedwig’s sister, Elsa Zahl. Dietz’s hobby of collecting typewriters is also represented, as is Hedwig Dietz’s artistic pursuits.	⇧
Box   1 Folder   21	Artwork, undated
Box   1 Folder   22	Cards: Christmas and miscellaneous, undated
Box   1 Folder   23	Certificate: Baptism, Hedwig Zahl, 1888
Box   1 Folder   24	Certificate: Marriage, Carl P. Dietz and Hedwig Zahl, 1902
Box   1 Folder   25	Clippings, 1902-1949
Box   1 Folder   26	Correspondence, 1905-1956
Box   2 Folder   1	Dietz Family Genealogy, undated
Box   2 Folder   2	Family Documents, undated
Box   2 Folder   3	Financial Inventories, 1912-1953
Box   2 Folder   4	Jeannette P. Dietz: In Memoriam, 1942
Box   2 Folder   5	Poetry and Songs, undated, undated
Box   2 Folder   6	Real Estate Taxes, 1936-1945
Box   2 Folder   7	Receipts and Disbursements, 1953
Box   2 Folder   8	Souvenirs, 1929-1946
Box   2 Folder   9	Typewriter Collection Letters, 1947
Box   2 Folder   10	U. S. Income Taxes (Carl and Hedwig), 1913-1954
Box   2 Folder   11	Wisconsin Income Taxes (Carl and Hedwig), 1912-1953
Box   2 Folder   12	Wisconsin Income Tax Receipts, 1919-1940
Box   2 Folder   13	Zahl Family Documents, 1895-1949
	Series: 4. Personal Photographs, 1877-1945, undated Scope and Content Note: This series consists of two main areas: family photographs and vacation photographs. The family photographs include portraits and snapshots of various family members, many of whom are unidentified. The vacation photographs are divided by location and include pictures of the family and scenery or events they took part in.	⇧
	Family Photographs, 1877-1945
Box   3 Folder   1-14	Dietz, Carl P., 1877-1939, 1877-1939, undated
Box   3 Folder   15-19	Dietz, Carl P. and Hedwig Dietz, undated
Box   3 Folder   20	Dietz, Rev. Henry L., undated
Box   3 Folder   21-22	Dietz, Henry (Nephew), undated
Box   3 Folder   23-27	Dietz Family, 1934
Box   3 Folder   28-67	Dietz Family Snapshots, 1897-1943
Box   3 Folder   68-73	Glass Plate Negatives, undated
Box   3 Folder   74-109	Miscellaneous Individuals, undated
Box   3 Folder   110-141	Miscellaneous Places, 1935-1941, undated
Box   3 Folder   142-194	Negatives, undated
Box   3 Folder   195-203	Peoria Set, undated
Box   4 Folder   16803	Photos from an Old Album, undated
Box   4 Folder   47-56	Unidentified Animals, undated
Box   4 Folder   57-222	Unidentified People, undated
Box   4 Folder   223-235	Unidentified Things, undated
	Vacation Photographs, 1929-1939
Box   5 Folder   01-54a	Alaska, 1936
Box   5 Folder   55-69	California (all negatives), 1934
Box   5 Folder   70-81	Canadian Rockies (all negatives), 1929
Box   5 Folder   82-97	Door County, 1931
Box   5 Folder   98-159	Europe, undated
Box   5 Folder   160-169	Florida (Christmas), 1937
Box   5 Folder   170-182	Germany, 1937
Box   5 Folder   183-191b	Holland, Michigan, 1939
Box   5 Folder   192-200	Niagara Falls, 1937
Box   5 Folder   201-206	Northern Wisconsin and Lincoln County, 1935
Box   5 Folder   207-213a	Oakland and San Diego, California, 1936
Box   5 Folder   214-218	Plymouth Sedan, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1938
Box   6 Folder   1-29a	Smoky Mountains, 1931
Box   6 Folder   30-54a	St. Louis River and Washington DC, 1938
Box   6 Folder   55-88a	Texas, Arkansas, 1931
Box   6 Folder   89-148	Vacation Photos (Unidentified), undated
Box   6 Folder   149-154a	Victoria, British Columbia, 1936
Box   6 Folder   155-158a	Wellington Factory, Plattsburgh, New York and Lake Placid, New York, World’s Fair, 1939
	Series: 5. Wax Cylinders, undated Scope and Content Note: This series includes recordings of the songs Carl P. Dietz composed and sung as well as of him whistling and speaking. The titles are handwritten on the ends of the cylinder cases with one exception where there is none. There are two copies of "The Little Homestead by the Mill" and "A Maiden By the Name of Kate" does not contain a wax cylinder, it is the case only. Access Restrictions: The wax cylinders are available to view but playing the recordings is not permitted.	⇧
Box   7	A Maiden By the Name of Kate by Carl P. Dietz (case only), undated
Box   7	Because I Love You, Dear by Carl P. Dietz, undated
Box   7	Ich Danke, Mrs. Leo Stern, undated
Box   7	The Little Homestead by the Mill by Carl P. Dietz (2 copies), undated
Box   7	Monologue by Carl P. Dietz, undated
Box   7	Sailor Song – Dietz, undated
Box   7	Und Fragst Du Was die Liebe Ist von H. Wieckert, undated
Box   7	Unidentified, undated
Box   7	Whistling by Carl P. Dietz, undated
Box   7	Wie Schoen Bist Du Von Carl P. Dietz, undated