The Maria Tuchscherer Collection consists of twenty-four photographic prints, 1928-1987; two German-language books; silver crucifix, circa 1925; and a head scarf, circa 1920. The collection has been organized into three series: Photograph, Book, and Object.

The main component of the collection is a grouping of twenty-four photographs, or copies of photographs, which date from 1928-1987, or the Photograph Series. The subjects of these photographs include individual and group portraits of members of the Tuchscherer/Duchscherer and Jahner/Janer families who hailed from the colony of Colelia, Dobrudscha, Romania. Also present are images of buildings and outdoor scenes in Romania, Poland, and Germany, taken c. 1935-1950. Ten of the images are photographic prints, while fourteen of the images are prints made from scans. Some of the people featured in the images are: Josef Tuchscherer, Anna (Janer) Tuchscherer, Franz Tuchscherer, Agatha Janer, Jakob Janer, Senpharosa (Ternes) Janer, and Ottilie Janer. Some of the locations depicted in the images are: Colelia, Romania; Leslau, Poland; St. Ludwig’s Seminary in Schweinfurt, Germany; Volkach, Unter Franken, Germany; and Karamurat Colony, Romania. These photographs are contained within Folders 2-4.

The Book Series contains two books, both in German, listed as follows: Businger, Lucas C. Das Leben users leiben Herrn und Heilandes Jesus Christus und seiner jungfräulischen Mutter Maria. Koeln: Ensiedeln, 1898. Leyer, Irmgard Gerlinde. Die Küche der dobrudschadeutschen Bäuerin 1840-1940: zu Gast bei der schwarzmeerdeutschen Kolonistenfrau; eine Dokumentation über ihre Arbeit in haus, Hof und Feld; Wohnorte (Sofuler, Kobadin, Konstanza, Mufatlar, Alakap, Fachria), [Heilbronn]: Landsmannschaft der Dobrudscha und Bulgariendeutschen, circa 1980.

The Object Series contains a silver crucifix which was owned and worn by Maria Tuchscherer’s grandmother, Senapharosa Janer, around 1925. It measures 3” x 1.5”. Also donated as part of this collection is a headscarf also owned by Janer, circa 1920-1945. It is housed at the Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume Collection, which is on the campus of North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota. Also contained within this collection is a CD ROM of captions for the photographs.