Chet Gebert Collection
Collection
Identifier: Mss 3121
Scope and Content
The Chet Gebert Collection has been broken down into eight series: Newspaper Clippings 1953-2006, Column Eight Articles, 1957 Fargo Tornado Articles and Research Papers, Natural Disasters Article and Research Papers, Freelance Photography Materials, Investigative Stories and Articles, Personal Letters Awards and Articles, Personal Interest Articles. In this collection you will find that some stories and articles are cross referenced with the photographs Chet had taken for that particular article. They are referenced by the specific collection number, box number and folder number found in the Finding Aid. This collection contains three boxes.
The Newspaper Articles Series contain articles written by Chet. They have been separated by decade and organized in chronological order within those decades. They contain articles about local, state and national political figures, local residents, disasters such as the 1957 tornado, 1969 Fargo flood, and many motor vehicle accidents documented at that time. The Column Eight Articles Series are human interest articles written by Chet as a staff writer for the Fargo Forum from 1955-1969. In this column Chet would write about a variety of people and topics. In the Column Eight articles you will find Chet’s nonjudgmental, compassionate and humorous approach in the people and events he wrote about. These articles have been separated by decade and organized in chronological order.
Natural Disasters Article and Research Papers Series contain the Fargo Forum Tornado Anniversary articles published in 1967, 1982, 1997, and 2007, the Argosy Magazine tornado article, Rural Electric Cooperative tornado article, as well as research papers, booklets, facts and general information about tornados.
Freelance Photography Materials Series contain the photography brief, and final invoice for the construction photographs Chet shot of the Fargo Federal building during its construction phase, a Look Magazine article of Happy Paulson, and two Business Magazines photos and articles.
The investigative Stories and Articles Series were written by Chet from 1959 to 1990 and organized in chronological order. Many of the articles include Chet’s personal reporter’s notes, one having the audio transcription from Chet’s interview with NDSU Prof. Alexandru Maianu. Other investigative stories such as the Mystery Metal Spheres, sailing on the Anne Fritz, and flying on an Air National Guard refueling tanker. These specific stories and articles have been cross referenced with their photographs and referenced by the specific collection number, box number and folder number found in the Finding Aid. Other investigative stories Chet wrote delt with murder, kidnapping, and travel adventures.
The Personal Letters and Awards Series consist of letters Chet wrote to his family while away on assignment, or on vacation, as well as the many letters and cards Chet received from countless people he had interviewed, photography honors and recognitions, and a poem given to Chet. This series is organized in chronological order.
The Personal Interest Article Series were articles not written by Chet, but ones he had an interest in. Such as Space Shuttle material, NASA publications, AP wire photos of the Tiananmen Square protest in Beijing China. These articles have been organized in chronological order. He also kept six small Fargo Forum printing plates which can be found in the last folder in this series.
The Newspaper Articles Series contain articles written by Chet. They have been separated by decade and organized in chronological order within those decades. They contain articles about local, state and national political figures, local residents, disasters such as the 1957 tornado, 1969 Fargo flood, and many motor vehicle accidents documented at that time. The Column Eight Articles Series are human interest articles written by Chet as a staff writer for the Fargo Forum from 1955-1969. In this column Chet would write about a variety of people and topics. In the Column Eight articles you will find Chet’s nonjudgmental, compassionate and humorous approach in the people and events he wrote about. These articles have been separated by decade and organized in chronological order.
Natural Disasters Article and Research Papers Series contain the Fargo Forum Tornado Anniversary articles published in 1967, 1982, 1997, and 2007, the Argosy Magazine tornado article, Rural Electric Cooperative tornado article, as well as research papers, booklets, facts and general information about tornados.
Freelance Photography Materials Series contain the photography brief, and final invoice for the construction photographs Chet shot of the Fargo Federal building during its construction phase, a Look Magazine article of Happy Paulson, and two Business Magazines photos and articles.
The investigative Stories and Articles Series were written by Chet from 1959 to 1990 and organized in chronological order. Many of the articles include Chet’s personal reporter’s notes, one having the audio transcription from Chet’s interview with NDSU Prof. Alexandru Maianu. Other investigative stories such as the Mystery Metal Spheres, sailing on the Anne Fritz, and flying on an Air National Guard refueling tanker. These specific stories and articles have been cross referenced with their photographs and referenced by the specific collection number, box number and folder number found in the Finding Aid. Other investigative stories Chet wrote delt with murder, kidnapping, and travel adventures.
The Personal Letters and Awards Series consist of letters Chet wrote to his family while away on assignment, or on vacation, as well as the many letters and cards Chet received from countless people he had interviewed, photography honors and recognitions, and a poem given to Chet. This series is organized in chronological order.
The Personal Interest Article Series were articles not written by Chet, but ones he had an interest in. Such as Space Shuttle material, NASA publications, AP wire photos of the Tiananmen Square protest in Beijing China. These articles have been organized in chronological order. He also kept six small Fargo Forum printing plates which can be found in the last folder in this series.
Dates
- 1953-2006
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Conditions Governing Use
The NDSU Archives owns the copyright to the images in this collection.
Biography
Chet Gebert was born in Princeton, Minnesota on August 11, 1927. He was the youngest child of William and Ida (Noeske) Gebert. Though Chet loved traveling around the world after raising his family, he lived and worked most of his life within 250 miles of his hometown. In 1950 Chet graduated from the University Of Minnesota School Of Journalism. After marrying that same year he and his new wife, Violet (Kallman) moved to New Ulm, Minnesota where he began his journalism career with the news staff of the New Ulm Journal. Four years later Chet accepted a new assignment as the reporter/photographer for the Fargo Forum where he worked for 37 years.
In those early years working at the Forum, Chet covered many events, wrote many stories and produced many photographs but on June 20, 1957 Chet would document one of the worst weather disasters Fargo had seen, the Fargo tornado. From those photographs Chet won the coveted Graflex Grand Prize for his series of photographs documenting the tornado and its aftermath. Chet, along with other Fargo Forum staff also were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s coverage of that disastrous event.
Chet would go on to report and photograph many local, state and national political figures, the 1969 Fargo flood along with many other stories. From 1955 to 1969 Chet would write a series of columns called “Column Eight”. These columns were human interest stories about local people, local topics. Stories you would not read about on the front page of the paper. Because of Chet’s inquisitive interest in people and love of travel he would write a number of investigative stories such as the journey of the replica Viking ship, the Hjemkomst, sailing on the boat Anne Fritz, or flying on an Air National Guard refueling tanker.
Chet was passionate about the 1000 year old round geological formations found at the bottom of the Rum River near his family’s farm and was overjoyed when the Mille Lacs County Historical Society added those formations to their collection in 2012 one year before his death.
Many people remember and comment about Chet’s storytelling, meeting new people, his love of travel, his generosity, and his strong loyalty to friends, old and new. Chester A. Gebert passed away on December 7, 2013.
In those early years working at the Forum, Chet covered many events, wrote many stories and produced many photographs but on June 20, 1957 Chet would document one of the worst weather disasters Fargo had seen, the Fargo tornado. From those photographs Chet won the coveted Graflex Grand Prize for his series of photographs documenting the tornado and its aftermath. Chet, along with other Fargo Forum staff also were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s coverage of that disastrous event.
Chet would go on to report and photograph many local, state and national political figures, the 1969 Fargo flood along with many other stories. From 1955 to 1969 Chet would write a series of columns called “Column Eight”. These columns were human interest stories about local people, local topics. Stories you would not read about on the front page of the paper. Because of Chet’s inquisitive interest in people and love of travel he would write a number of investigative stories such as the journey of the replica Viking ship, the Hjemkomst, sailing on the boat Anne Fritz, or flying on an Air National Guard refueling tanker.
Chet was passionate about the 1000 year old round geological formations found at the bottom of the Rum River near his family’s farm and was overjoyed when the Mille Lacs County Historical Society added those formations to their collection in 2012 one year before his death.
Many people remember and comment about Chet’s storytelling, meeting new people, his love of travel, his generosity, and his strong loyalty to friends, old and new. Chester A. Gebert passed away on December 7, 2013.
Extent
1.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Chet Gebert Collection, contains manuscript materials realted to his career as a news photographer and writer for the Fargo Forum from 1955-1979.
Provenance
Donated by Chet Gebert, 2012 and 2013 (Acc. 3016 & 2013-019irs)
Separated Photographs
The photographs have been processed as the Chet Gebert Photograph Collection (Photo 2212)
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Chet Gebert 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