The Wharton Family papers are organized into three categories: family papers, papers of Cara Wharton, and papers of N. Earl Wharton. FAMILY PAPERS pertaining to Nathan Barnes Wharton include an autobiographical sketch dictated to his son, Earl Wharton, shortly before Nathan's death; and a notebook containing the outline and manuscript copy of a speech written by the elder Wharton outlining the positions of the Republican, Democratic and Greenback parties on fiscal policy. Also filed in the Family Papers series are letters written by several of Nathan's and Amelia's children to other family members; a scrapbook of clippings focused on marriages, deaths and noteworthy events in the family; one packet of family photographs; an unidentified and undated book of Bible verses and sermons; an autobiographical sketch of T. Finley Wharton, September 9, 1926; five small paintings by Inez Wharton Coggswell; a typescript manuscript of a book about the Dionne quintuplets by John Coggswell; and a handwritten essay written by Marion Wharton for Christmas, 1893, and her grammar book from 1896.
Most of the PAPERS PERTAINING TO CARA WHARTON focus on her career as a musician and music teacher. The pupil records, 1917-1922, contain lists of private students in Ashland and Minneapolis as well as occasional lists of recital programs and social engagements. The concert programs, 1910-1968, include materials from concerts which Miss Wharton attended in New York, Boston, and Minneapolis and a few programs from concerts in which she or her students performed. Memorabilia, 1931-1968, includes several formal invitations, cards and photographs from pupils, and related items. The newspaper clippings, 1897-1969, pertain mainly to family members, acquaintances, teachers, and students. Cara Wharton's personal correspondence is composed almost exclusively of greeting cards and Christmas letters. Her account books consist of a savings account passbook, 1947-1962, and two cash books, 1951-1957, which list income and expenditures. Church records include a sample of pledge cards, church bulletins, newsletters, and church related correspondence from the Methodist Church of River Falls, 1955-1972.
Many of the N. EARL WHARTON PAPERS pertain to his service in the U.S. Navy during World War I. Correspondence, 1917-1922, consists of letters to his family which describe in detail his personal experiences and the progress of peace negotiations. The scrapbook, 1917-1922, contains official naval publications regarding communications; official correspondence; certificates; photographs; clippings; and souvenirs from London, Paris, Italy, and Germany. Similarly, the memorabilia file consists of miscellaneous clippings, photographs, and souvenirs from World War I; and, also, a few items pertaining to Earl's work as an engineer prior to and immediately following World War I. The scrapbook, 1946-1948, contains materials regarding Wharton's activities in the Kiwanis Club.
