The Viola (Kruckenberg) Schielke Collection consists of nine German books, daring from 1903 to 1924; a German newsletter, Volksblatt, from 1958; family photographs; and a shawl, circa 1880s. The collection has been organized into three series: Book, Newsletter, and Textile.

The Book Series contains nine German language books from two different donations by the donor. The books are theology, hymnals, education, and history books. The books date from 1903 to 1924. Several of the books contain inscriptions. They include: “Gottlieb M. Fischer, Hebron, North Dakota” [2006.04.08]; “Emma Heihn, Beulah, North Dakota” [2006.04.11]; “Theodore Kundert, Underwood, North Dakota” [2006.04.16]; “Gotlib Gein” [2013.17.03].

The Miscellaneous Series is comprised a newsletter, family photographs, and a newspaper article added by staff. The newsletter is Volksblatt, number 19, 1958. It is four pages and was published in Liberty Corner, New Jersey by the Liberty Deaconry Publishers. The family photographs are on a CD with descriptions on a floppy disc. The newspaper article is a story about the Kruckenberg family which was added by staff.

The Textile Series is made up of one shawl. The shawl/ blanket [Kanapee/ plachte-decke] is of hand-spun wool and hand-woven in vertical colored stripes. It was made by Salome Kruckenberg in Alt-Elft, Bessarabia. The shawl dates to the 1880s. The shawl originally belonged to Viola’s grandmother, Salomina. The blanket was passed down through the maternal side of the family from Salomina to her youngest daughter, Clara (Unrath) Kruckenberg. Clara presented the blanket to her daughter, Vi (Kruckenberg) Schielke. The GRHC number for the shawl is 1996.05, and the Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume Collection number for the shawl is 1996.16.01.