Otto Wendt Family Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2149
Scope and Content
The Otto Wendt Family Photograph collection was purchased in an auction sale held at the Wendt home, prior to its removal. The donor had no relation to the Wendt family, thus little identification for the photographs could be made. The photographs were organized and into four series; Identified People Series, The Unidentified Series, The Miscellaneous Serious, and The Wendt Family Negative Series.
The Identified Peoples Series includes pictures of the Wendt family, a couple of group photos with a Wendt family member in it, identified aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as other identified adults. The Wendt family photo collection contains pictures of Otto and Gertrude Wendt as well as some photos of their children and grandparents. The group photos folder has three pictures, two of which are Otto Wendt at plumbers’ conventions and one of their daughter Marie in Tello-Test Time. Identified Aunts/Uncles/Cousins have pictures of relatives that are identifies, such as aunt Matie. Finally, the last group of photos in the identified people’s series are the identified adults. These identified adults have no apparent relation to the Wendt family and are assumed to be friends. Most of the pictures are in good condition, some have bent or torn edges or staining.
The Unidentified People series contains unnamed photos of cousin, children, and adults. Some photos, such as the unidentified cousins’ folder, has pictures labeled with phrases like “a cousin,” but have no further identification to them. The children and adult folder have little to no information to them. You can find pictures of children posing for the camera and riding bikes. The first picture in the unidentified cousins’ series contains an old-style tin picture. Most of the pictures are in good condition, some have bent or torn edges or staining.
The Miscellaneous Series has pictures of buildings, cars, and scenery. Some of the buildings are pictures of NDSU, homes, and shops. There are also pictures of cars within this series. One of the cars can be identified as Otto Wendt’s plumber vehicle because the side says, “Wendt, the Plumber,” on it. Some of the pictures have poor exposure or are difficult to make out but most of those pictures have negatives in better condition.
The Wendt Family Negatives Series contains pictures of cars, people, buildings, houses, and scenery that most other series’ do not include. The negatives that have duplicates in print are written on plastic covering next to the call number and vice versa.
The Identified Peoples Series includes pictures of the Wendt family, a couple of group photos with a Wendt family member in it, identified aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as other identified adults. The Wendt family photo collection contains pictures of Otto and Gertrude Wendt as well as some photos of their children and grandparents. The group photos folder has three pictures, two of which are Otto Wendt at plumbers’ conventions and one of their daughter Marie in Tello-Test Time. Identified Aunts/Uncles/Cousins have pictures of relatives that are identifies, such as aunt Matie. Finally, the last group of photos in the identified people’s series are the identified adults. These identified adults have no apparent relation to the Wendt family and are assumed to be friends. Most of the pictures are in good condition, some have bent or torn edges or staining.
The Unidentified People series contains unnamed photos of cousin, children, and adults. Some photos, such as the unidentified cousins’ folder, has pictures labeled with phrases like “a cousin,” but have no further identification to them. The children and adult folder have little to no information to them. You can find pictures of children posing for the camera and riding bikes. The first picture in the unidentified cousins’ series contains an old-style tin picture. Most of the pictures are in good condition, some have bent or torn edges or staining.
The Miscellaneous Series has pictures of buildings, cars, and scenery. Some of the buildings are pictures of NDSU, homes, and shops. There are also pictures of cars within this series. One of the cars can be identified as Otto Wendt’s plumber vehicle because the side says, “Wendt, the Plumber,” on it. Some of the pictures have poor exposure or are difficult to make out but most of those pictures have negatives in better condition.
The Wendt Family Negatives Series contains pictures of cars, people, buildings, houses, and scenery that most other series’ do not include. The negatives that have duplicates in print are written on plastic covering next to the call number and vice versa.
Dates
- 1880s-1950s
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
NDSU Archives hold the copyrights to this collection, or are in the public domain.
Biography
Otto Fred Wendt was born in Plymouth, Iowa on December 15, 1886. His mother and father were August and Berta (Rondeshaugen) Wendt. On April 10, 1912 he got married to his wife, Gertrude Stoffels in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gertrude was born in Minneapolis on April 12, 1889 to Maria and John Stoffels. In 1911, Otto and Gertrude moved to 1432 Front Street S. (Main Avenue), Fargo, North Dakota. Otto worked for his plumbing company, “Wendt the Plumber” from 1921 to 1945. They had five sons and five daughters born between 1912-1932; Arnold (1912-1988), Fred (1914-2004), Herman (1916-1943), Marie (1918-1998), Florence (1920-2018), George (1925-1996), Helen (1926-2002), Ruth (1929), Lawrence (1930-2008), and Gertrude (1932-1994). Otto Wendt passed on March 19, 1961 in Moorhead, Minnesota and Gertrude, passed on November 23, 1975, they were both buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Fargo.
Extent
149 Photographic Prints (149 photographic prints.)
34 Photographic Negatives (34 film negatives.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection of family photographs belonging to Otto and Gertrude (Stoffels) Wendt. Mr. Wendt was a Fargo, N.D. plumber, and owner of the business "Wendt the Plummer".
Provenance
Donated by Muriel Brown, 2010 (Acc. 2922).
Separation record - Institute Small Collection 916
Otto F. Wendt stationary
Notice of Period of Redemption form
Baptism Book for Herman August Wendt.
Baby Record Book for Herman August Wendt.
Notice of Period of Redemption form
Baptism Book for Herman August Wendt.
Baby Record Book for Herman August Wendt.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Otto Wendt Family Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu