The Carmen Rath-Wald Collection consists of family materials relating to the Rath family of McIntosh County, North Dakota. The collection has been organized into five series: Memoranda, Certificate, Photograph, Book, and Textile.

The Memoranda Series includes three memoranda regarding Helen Hauck, dated 1945-1946. These were sent from the North Dakota Department of Health, McIntosh County, and Wishek, North Dakota Public Schools.

Included within this collection are eight ornate lithographed certificates, the Certificate Series, which date from 1901-1932. Present within this series are four baptismal certificates, inscribed with the names Leland Rath, Edwin Rath, Helen Barbara Hauck, and Johann Rath. The certificate for Leland Rath was in a frame but was removed for preservation purposes. Two confirmation certificates, inscribed to Johannes Rath and Martha Lang, are present. One wedding certificate, for John J. Rath and Martha Lang, as well as one family record certificate for the Rath Family, circa 1930, completes this series.

The Photograph Series consists of two photographs. The earliest photograph [2011.12.01] is of an infant, Leland Rath, post-mortem, in a child’s coffin, dated 1925. This image is oval-shaped and has been hand-tinted. It is housed in a frame which measures 21” X 14” with gesso flowers painted red and blue. The second photograph [2011.12.13] is a portrait of Carmen Rath-Wald and her husband, John Wald, circa 2005. It is inscribed with the studio name of “Olan Mills.”

The Book Series features three books, which date from 1906-1923. Liederlust: Eine Sammlung vierstimmiger Lieder is a book of hymns in German. Liederschatz Eine Sammlung alter, kernhaster Lieder is also a German-language hymnal. Another German hymnal, Frohe Botschaft in Liedern, is present within this series.

The Textile Series consists of one item, a shawl made of medium dark brown and medium light brown wool. It has no date, but is estimated to have been made prior to World War I, circa 1910. The shawl has a zigzag and floral patter with a Greek key design. It has fringe on the sides and measures 61” X 64”. This textile is housed within the Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume Collection, located on the campus of North Dakota State University.