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Mary Ann Miller Collection

 Collection
Identifier: GRHC SC 063

Scope and Contents

The Mary Ann Miller Collection contains family stories, history, and photographs. Histories include “My Parent’s Life Story” by Mary Ann Miller, Balzer Miller’s life story which is a transcript of an interview with Balzer, and “My Life Story” by Melita Miller. Also included are Balzer’s obituary and Mary Ann’s family chart. The family photographs span from 1942-2012, there are also copies of older photographs.

Dates

  • 1942 - 2014

Access

Access to the physical collection is available upon request. Request must be made at least three (3) business days prior to ndsu.grhc@ndsu.edu.

Copyright

Copyrights to items in this collection remain with original copyright holders or are in the public domain.

Biography

Melita Miller was born in 1926 in Selz, Russia. Her ancestors came from Germany in 1808 to Russia on the invitation of Cartharine the Great of Russia. In 1917, the Communist Revolution started along with the Soviet Regime. Melita’s father, Puis, was sent to Siberia, they lost their property and forced the children into a Russian Language School. In 1941, German army troops invaded Russia, Puis Miller came back, and they got their house and land back. A German Language school opened and Melita was accepted. In 1944, the German people left, so the Miller family left Selz in covered wagons, staying in Poland for a few months. While in Poland, Puis was sent into the army to West Germany, and Melita’s mother Eva and her two sisters sent to Siberia. After the war, Melita found her father in West Germany. In 1948, relatives in Canada invited them to immigrate to Canada. They settled in Regina, Saskatchewan. Later, Melita Miller moved to Yakima, Washington, to help an aunt.

Extent

6 Folders

Language of Materials

English

Summary

Consists of the family history of the Balzer and Melita (Schall) Miller family including immigration stories from Germany to Russia, back to Germany, and later to Canada. Also included are family photographs.

Provenance

Materials donated by Mary Ann Miller on December 17, 2014.

Property Rights

The Germans from Russia Heritage Collection owns the property rights to this collection.
Title
Finding Aid to the Mary Ann Miller Collection
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection Repository

Contact:
NDSU Dept 2080
PO Box 6050
Fargo ND 58108-6050 United States
(701) 231-6596