Frank J. Richard Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 187

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Frank J. Richard papers contain files and documents relating to Richard family history gathered as research for Les Richard et d’Autres. Some other research materials included are information about St. Benedict’s Parish in Wild Rice, North Dakota and St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish in Fargo, North Dakota. There are also six folders of French-Canadian documents dating from 1758 to 1875, retained in Richard’s original order. The collection is organized into three series: Genealogical and Cass County Local History Research Series, Richard Family History Series, and Ouellette Family History Series. The Genealogical and Cass County Local History Research Series contains a research binder about Wild Rice, North Dakota, which consists of information Frank Richard collected about Wild Rice, notes, and additional information about Richard family members who settled near Wild Rice. There are also three research binders about the Holy Cross Parish in Fargo consisting of correspondence concerning Richard family priests who had served in the parish and photocopies of Diocese of Fargo articles and information. There are several drafts of St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centennial, 1880-1980 and Parish of St. Benedict, Wild Rice, N.D. There is also a copy of Julie by Rita Richard which is a fictionalized account of the life of a woman who spent some of her childhood years in North Dakota, and a research binder about Father John Lalande which contains an obituary, biography and other information, much of which is in French. The St. Benedict Catholic Church file contains a photocopy of its church records to include baptisms, marriages and deaths from 1880 to 1900. For baptisms there is an index at the front of the volume. The Richard Family History Series has five subseries: Richard Family Priests, Genealogical Research, French-Canadian Documents, Alex Richard, and Les Richard et d’Autres. The Richard Family Priests Subseries files consist of bound volumes of research material as maintained by Frank Richard. Each volume contains correspondence, church records, and biographical information about a Richard Family priest who served different parishes throughout the United States and Canada. The Genealogical Research Subseries files consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, several of the bound volumes of research material relating to the genealogy of the Richard Family, and genealogy charts. The French-Canadian Document Subseries files consist of six folders of documents in French maintained in the order they were received. The majority of these documents are land deeds and contracts, but also included are papers dealing with an adoption, and a family will. None of these documents are translated. The Alex Richard Subseries files consist of papers related to the estate of Alex Richard and land documents of the Alex Richard family. Also included is a copy of the Alex Richard section of Les Richard et d’Autres with handwritten notes. Alex Richard was the paternal grandfather of Frank Richard. The Les Richard et d’Autres Subseries files include several rough drafts of the manuscript and a partial index to Richard ancestry. Also included is an unbound copy Des Richard de Partout. The latter is apparently an index of all Richard ancestors arranged by first name and name of father which then gives the family page number in Des Richard de Partout. The Ouellette Family History Series consists of two bound research volumes containing correspondence and biographical information on Ouellette genealogy and one folder of information from the Association des families Ouellette. Ouellette was the maiden name of Frank Richard’s mother, Helene Ouellette Richard.

Dates

1758-1857, 1940-1985 (bulk 1940-1985)

Creator

Richard, Frank J. (Person)

Language of Materials

English and French.

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Biography

Frank J. Richard was born on January 29, 1922, in Wild Rice, North Dakota. He grew up on a farm and attended grade school and high school at St. Benedict of Wild Rice. In 1941, he enrolled at the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks to study civil engineering. He was in the United Sates Navy from 1943 until discharged in 1946, when he enrolled at North Dakota State University and graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1947. He married Darlene Murphy on August 23, 1947. From 1947 to 1948 he worked on construction of the American Crystal Sugar Beet plant in Moorhead, and from 1948 to 1950 he worked for the North Dakota State Highway Department in Bismarck. In 1950, he went back to North Dakota State University for a degree in Architectural Engineering which he completed in 1954. In 1955, he started F. J. Richard & Co, an engineering, surveying, and mapping company and was appointed Cass County Surveyor in 1956. He was a member of several United States, Canadian, and French genealogy societies and historical associations and traveled extensively to pursue his research. He died November 21, 1987, after being injured in a car accident in Cincinnati, Ohio, while returning from one of his many research trips to Canada.

Extent

2.8 Linear Feet (2.8 linear feet)

Additional Description

Abstract

Local man and engineer interested in his family's history who spent a great deal of time collecting documents and doing research. Some documents are written in French-Canadian.

Provenance

Donated by Mrs. Frank Richard, 1988 (Acc. 2224).

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript items have been removed from the Frank Richard Papers. Books (cataloged for Institute book collection)

Pembina, North Dakota’s Oldest Settlement St. Mary’s Cathedral Official Yearbook and Directory, 1907-1908 (incomplete photocopy) Photographs (Institute photograph collection 2074)

Bishop James Sullivan, Cardinal Meunch, Fr. George Richard, Fr. Justin Driscoll, House of Doctor Maxime Bellemore, 8 prints made from selected slides, St. Benedict Convent. St. Benedict Church, Slides (Institute Slide collection). Box of 15 metal slides of St. Benedict Church