The Textiles and Clothing of the Germans from
Russia
Ann W. Braaten, Curator, Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume
Collection
Department of Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design
College of Human Development and Education
North Dakota State University, Fargo
Presentation at the Harvey Public Library, Harvey, ND, for the
grand opening of the North Dakota State University Libraries'
traveling exhibition, "The Kempf Family: Germans from Russia Weavers
on the Dakota Prairies."
Outreach Program of the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection
North Dakota State University Libraries, Fargo
Carol Weigum Shaw's Family Rug
Rag rugs covered many families' cold floors here on the Dakota
prairie. Women saved scraps of fabric and would trade them with
their neighbors for an attractive color array.
Strips were braided and stitched together with strong thread
to form the rug. Carol remembered it only being used on Sundays.
On other days, the rug was in a closet where she found it long
after the home had been abandoned.
Ralph Ruff's "Bowtie" Quilt
This quilt was made especially for Ralph Ruff of Vacaville,
California, by his grandmother Katharina (Rieker) Kiesz in 1934.
Katharina was born in the village of Bergdorf and was married
to Wilhlem Kiesz. Ralph's mother was six months old when her family
came to America on the ship Red Star. Katharina's family
first settled at Bowdle, SD. They later moved to Ritzville, south
of Spokane, Washington, in the early 1900s.
After the death of Ralph's mother, Christina (Kiesz) Ruff, he
was raised by Grandmother and Grandfather Kiesz. Grandmother Kiesz
wanted Ralph to have a blanket that was just for him, so she saved
scraps of material, perhaps from old clothing, feed and flour
sacks. She sewed every stitch and Ralph, at age 9, helped to thread
most of the needles. It was her special gift to him. He presented
the quilt to the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection in February
of 1996.
Philippine Baumgartner Berglund's Black Silk Shawl
Red embroidery embellishes this fine black silk shawl. All but
one of the motifs are of floral design, with the exception being
stitched in shape of a swan. Philippine (Baumgartner) Berglund
of Linton, ND, presented this shawl to the Germans from Russia
Heritage Collection in 1994. Philippine's parents were Michael
and Odelia (Wolf) Baumgartner, born in the village of Strassburg,
Kutschurgan District, South Russia. Michael and Odelia Baumgartner
lived in Strasburg, Emmons County, North Dakota. The Baumgartner
family were early pioneers to settle in south central North Dakota.
Appreciation is expressed to Vi (Kruckenberg) Schielke, Ralph
Ruff and Philippine (Baumgartner) Berglund for the donation of
textiles and clothing to the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection.
Partnership between Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume Collection
and Germans from Russia Heritage Collection
The Germans from Russia Heritage Collection at the NDSU Libraries
and the Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume Collection, College
of Human Development and Education, NDSU, have formed a partnership
to preserve the material culture of the Germans from Russia. Textiles
and clothing items are housed in the Reynolds Collection Room
of the College of Human Development and Education. This room is
climate controlled and designed to preserve textiles and clothing
for the benefit of not only people in the present, but also for
future generations.
Donating Germans from Russia Textiles and Clothing
Persons wishing to learn more about the Emily P. Reynolds Historic
Costume Collection, the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection,
or wishing to donate textiles and clothing of the Germans from
Russia, can contact: Ann W. Braaten, Department of Apparel, Textiles
and Interior Design, College of Human Development and Education,
NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105 (Tel: 701-231-7367; E-mail: Ann_Braaten@ndsu.edu),
or Michael M. Miller, Germans from Russia Bibliographer, NDSU
Libraries, PO Box 5599, Fargo, ND 58105-5599 (Tel: 701-231-8416;
E-mail: Michael.Miller@ndsu.edu).
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| Ann W. Braaten, Curator of the
Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume Collection, presenting
one of her clothing and textiles presentations in North Dakota.
The Reynolds Historic Collection is part of the Department
of Apparel, Textiles and Design, College of Human Development
and Education, North Dakota State University, Fargo. The location
is E. Morrow Lebedeff Hall on the NDSU campus. Ann Braaten
can be reached at the following: Tel: 701-231-7367 and E-mail:
Ann_Braaten@ndsu.edu
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