Oren Ernest Frazee Papers
Scope and Contents
The materials in the Frazee genealogical collection are a compilation of information representing the histories of over 90 different families collected by Frazee during his years of genealogical research. The collection has been divided into three categories: family records, state records, and Frazee records. Materials in these categories are arranged by family name, state name, or Frazee first name. The collection offers a fascinating view into how genealogy research tools and methods evolved up to the mid 20th century.
Materials in the state records include information taken from census records of the particular state, excerpts from state and local histories, cemetery records and state and county records. There are also some state records in the Frazee files.
The information found in the family and Frazee records consist mainly of correspondence dealing with genealogical inquiries, hand-drawn family charts, newspaper clippings pertaining to the family genealogy, and some photographs of family members. Only a few of the files contain photographs, but most of these photographs include the names of the people in them and the dates that they were taken. There are also some greeting cards, church announcements and announcements of family events (births, reunions, weddings, etc.) in the collection.
Other Frazee records contain correspondence, materials from a genealogy presentation presented by Oren Frazee, and Frazee’s membership materials from the American Institute of Genealogy. There are also three notebooks, titled Record Books, which are a compilation of research and correspondence of the Frazee family. Individual analysis cards, which provide information on individuals within the extended Frazee family, are included here. Numbered composition books which include various notes are also among the materials. Composition book four is either missing or is one of the two unnumbered composition books.
A card file, made up of 3 x 5 cards, contains a mixture of notes about individuals and clippings. Cards are alphabetized by last name with the exception of individuals whose surname is Frazee. Those individuals are alphabetized by their first names.
Dates
- circa 1920-1958
Creator
- Frazee, Oren Ernest (Person)
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Historical Note
Oren Ernest Frazee, professor of biology and avid genealogist, was born March 10, 1880, in Wabash County, Indiana. He attended the Indiana State Normal School in Terre Haute, Indiana, and later received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Indiana in 1909. In 1912, Frazee earned his Master of Arts degree, also at the University of Indiana. Other formal education included graduate work at Harvard in 1928. Frazee taught at elementary and secondary schools in Indiana and Illinois from 1906 to 1915. In 1915 he became head of the biology department at the Minnesota State Teacher’s College in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In 1920 Frazee came to La Crosse to accept a position as head of the biological sciences department at what was then called the La Crosse Normal School. He remained at that position until his retirement in 1950.
Frazee was a member of the American Association of University Professors, the Association of Wisconsin State College Faculties and the Presbyterian Church. Upon his retirement in 1950, the Board of Regents of the State Colleges bestowed upon him the title of professor emeritus. In 1956 the La Crosse State College established an award named after Frazee that was given to students who excelled in the sciences.
With his keen interest in genealogy, Frazee collected information and wrote manuscripts on several related families. Fifteen of these manuscripts are on file with the Institute of American Genealogy in Chicago. Frazee was a member of the Institution of American Genealogy and had received that organization’s Award of Merit. Frazee collaborated in the publication of the Genealogy of Doniphan-Frazee-Hamilton Lines published in 1929. The La Crosse Public Library has a copy of this genealogy in the book collection.
Frazee married the former Alice B. Devol in 1912. They had one daughter, Mrs. Alice Ginn. Frazee died March 22, 1960.
Extent
4.6 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Genealogical files of Oren Ernest Frazee, a professor of biology and avid genealogist, who lived from 1880-1960. The collection is categorized into family records, state records, and Frazee family records. An index to over 90 family surnames is included in the register. Besides the Frazee surname lines, the Devol family lines are also represented.
The collection offers a fascinating view into how genealogy research tools and methods evolved up to the mid 20th century.
Arrangement
Arranged in three series:
Series 1: Family Records
Series 2: State Records
Series 3: Frazee Records
Acquisitions Information
Donated by Alice Frazee Ginn before 1970
(Accession No. x.027)
Physical Description
11 archives boxes, 1 card box
OCLC Number
41359852
Processing Information
Processed by Bill Petersen, August 1984; Nancy Steinhoff, October 1989; and Christine Stolz, March 2004
Creator
- Frazee, Oren Ernest (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Oren Ernest Frazee Papers, 1920-1958
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Bill Petersen, August 1984; Nancy Steinhoff, October 1989; and Christine Stolz, March 2004
- Date
- 2004 March
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the La Crosse Public Library Archives Repository