A Guide to the Luerson-Franke Papers, [ca. 1861]-1927, 1956, 1966

Biographical Note

Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1843, Henry Franke immigrated to Brenham, Texas in 1858, where he began a career as a gunsmith. In 1870, he married Louise Minkwitz, with whom he had several children, though only three survived into adulthood. Franke himself died in 1925.

Scope and Contents

Legal and financial records, printed material, and photographs in the Luerson-Franke Papers, [ca. 1861]-1927, 1956, 1966, document the life of Brenham gunsmith Henry Franke and his family. The bulk of the collection consists of legal documents related to the efforts of family members to gain American citizenship in the late 19th century. Documents consist of an oath of citizenship, naturalization papers, affidavits, and a passport. Other legal documents include lease agreements, wills, and insurance policies. Additionally, newspaper obituaries and funeral notices between 1870-1925 pertain to the lives and deaths of family members and Brenham citizens. A small portion of the collection includes correspondence and literary productions. Photographs mostly consist of unidentified portraits.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Luerson-Franke Papers, [ca. 1861]-1927, 1956, 1966, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing Information

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project, 2009-2011.

Detailed Description of the Papers