Lorenz Family [RG4236.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID



RG4236.AM:  Lorenz Family



Papers:  1860s-2002, mostly 1941-1963

Gretna, Sarpy County, Nebraska:  Farmers

Size:  4.0 cu.ft.; 4 boxes



BACKGROUND NOTE



William M. Lorenz, son of Johannes and Elsebe Lorenz, was born on a farm near Gretna, Nebraska on September 1, 1893.  He attended the District 31 School at Gretna.  On February 6, 1918, Lorenz married Bertha Stange of Yutan.  The couple farmed for most of their lives in the Yutan and Gretna area.  They retired from farming and moved to Gretna in 1963.  William Lorenz died at the age of 81 on February 20, 1975.  Bertha Lorenz died in Phoenix, Arizona on October 3, 1981.  The couple had one daughter, Lorrain, born on February 26, 1920, and two sons, Merlynn, born on May 18, 1925 and Leslie, born on April 28, 1928.  Merlynn and Leslie farmed with their father until his retirement in 1963 when the farm was sold.  Leslie Lorenz died on September 5, 1995 at the age of 67.



SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE



This collection consists of four boxes and three oversized folders of manuscript materials arranged in two series:  1) Account Books, 1941-1962; and 2) Unprocessed materials.



Series 1 consists of twenty-six volumes of account books kept by William and Bertha Lorenz and their son, Leslie Lorenz.  They show income generated and expenses incurred in the running of their farm near Gretna, Nebraska.  Arranged chronologically, entries show money taken in for dairy products, crops, and livestock sold.  Costs for labor, supplies, maintenance, taxes, insurance, rent, and other expenses are also listed by date.  Bertha Stange Lorenz kept all the account books for her husband and shared in the decision making on the farm. 



Series 2 consists of 3.25 boxes of unprocessed family papers.  Some of the materials include business records, correspondence, biographical information, genealogy charts, and several oversized folders containing certificates, farm auction posters, and Saunders County Historical Society women’s work posters.  Some of these materials have been inventoried while others remain unidentified.  See the following inventory for more information.



Note:  RG4236.AU contains an accompanying oral history audio cassette.



INVENTORY



Series 1 – Account Books, 1941-1962

Box 1

Folder




    1. 1941-1942, (William Lorenz), Yutan Farm

    1. 1943, (William Lorenz), Gretna Farm

    1. 1944, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1948, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1949, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1950, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1951, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1952, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1953, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1953, (Leslie Lorenz) & Income Tax Information

    1. 1954, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1955, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1955, (Leslie Lorenz)

    1. 1956, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1956, (Leslie Lorenz)

    1. 1957, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1957, (William & Leslie Lorenz)

    1. 1958, (Leslie Lorenz) (Half shares with William)

    1. 1959, (Leslie Lorenz) & Income Tax Information

    1. 1960, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1960, (Leslie Lorenz) & Income Tax Information

    1. 1961, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1961, (Leslie Lorenz) & Income Tax Information

    1. 1961, (William & Leslie Lorenz)

    1. 1962, (William Lorenz)

    1. 1962, (Leslie Lorenz)



UNPROCESSED MATERIAL




    1. Biographical Information

    1. Obituaries

    1. William & Bertha Stange Lorenz, farm, conservation, etc., 1945-1951

    1. Elsabe Lorenz, greeting cards

    1. Elsabe & Harry Lorenz, receipts, etc., 1888-1930s

    1. Letters from Chris Lorenz and Nellie Grube Lorenz

    1. Letters from Serena Plambeck Lorenz, 1952

    1. Letters from John Lorenz and Kathryn Morrisey Mowinkle Lorenz, 1948-1950

    1. Letter from Ray Lorenz, 1945

    1. Letters from Robert Vierreger, 1945-1946

    1. Misc. correspondence, 1953-2002 and transcripts from Roland Olderog’s diary, 1942-1945

    1. Leslie Lorenz, estate info., employment info., etc.



Box 2

Folder




    1. Merlynn Lorenz, military service

    1. Merlynn Lorenz, correspondence, 1944

    1. Merlynn Lorenz, correspondence, 1945, Mar. 21 – Aug. 28

    1. Merlynn Lorenz, correspondence, 1945, Sept. 7 – Dec. 31

    1. Merlynn Lorenz, correspondence, 1946, Jan. 4 –

    1. Merlynn Lorenz, miscellany

    1. Miscellany

    1. Miscellany

    1. Miscellany

    1. Les Lorenz

    1. Unidentified

    1. Unidentified

    1. Unidentified

    1. Unidentified

    1. Unidentified

    1. Unidentified

    1. Unidentified

    1. Unidentified

    1. Johannes Lorenz, 1860s-1890s

    1. Bertha Stange Lorenz, recipe book

    1. Bertha Stange Lorenz, recipe book

    1. Bertha Stange Lorenz, recipe book



Box 3  Misc. unidentified/unprocessed material



Box 4  Misc. unidentified/unprocessed material



OB003

Folder




    1. Farm Auction Posters, 1963

    1. Auction posters and Saunders County Historical Society women’s work posters

    1. Certificates



 



Subject headings



Agricultural laborers — Nebraska

Agriculture — Nebraska

Farm life — Nebraska — Sarpy County

Gretna (Nebraska) — History

Lorenz family

Lorenz, Bertha Maria (Stange), 1898-1981

Lorenz, Johannes,

Lorenz, Leslie, 1928-1995

Lorenz, Merlynn D., 1925-2002

Lorenz, William M., 1893-1975



 



AIP/ksa                01-1990

TMM/kfk              07-30-1998

Revised TMM     01-16-2008

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.