Frank Gruenthal Collection
Preliminary arrangement and description by Special Collections staff; latest revision A. Demeter
Department of Special Collections
Davidson Library
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone: (805) 893-3062
Fax: (805) 893-5749
Email: special@library.ucsb.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections/
© 2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Preliminary Guide to the Frank Gruenthal Collection, ca. 1896-1926
Collection number: Bernath Mss 95
Department of Special Collections
Davidson Library
University of California, Santa Barbara
- Processed by:
- Special Collections staff
- Date Completed:
- May 8, 2012
- Encoded by:
- A. Demeter
© 2012 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Frank Gruenthal Collection
Dates: ca. 1896-1926
Collection number: Bernath Mss 95
Creator:
Gruenthal, Frank
Collection Size:
0.8 linear feet
(2 document boxes).
Repository:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections
Abstract: Photograph albums and diaries, primarily World War I era, from a German-Jewish ancestor of the Grünthal family.
Physical location: Del Norte.
Languages:
German
Access Restrictions
None.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]. Frank Gruenthal Collection. Bernath Mss 95. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University
of California, Santa Barbara.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Frank Gruenthal, 2003.
Scope and Content of Collection
Six photograph albums, three diaries and four military documents, primarily World War I era, from a German-Jewish ancestor
of the Grünthal family. Includes many black and white photos of soldiers, battlefields, trenches, bombed buildings.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Meyer, Curt
Grünthal family
France -- Pictorial works.
Germany.
World War, 1914-1918.
Box 1: 1
Photo album - World War I era photo album, 106 black and white photos with captions in German,
1914-1918.
Additional Note
Includes images of war ruins and soldiers in uniform, some portrait-style. Locations include Autrêches, Champagne, Somme,
Falvy, Vaulx, Bihucourt, Havrincourt (France).
Box 1: 2
Photo album - World War I era photo album, 97 black and white photos with captions in German, undated.
Additional Note
Includes images of war ruins, soldiers in uniform, and swimming and engaging in recreation. Locations include Marchelepot,
Somme, Marcatel (France).
Box 1: 3
Photo album - World War I era photo album, 84 black and white photos with captions in German, undated.
Additional Note
Includes images of war ruins, soldiers in uniform, a few biplanes. Locations include Mercatel, Laudemont, Bihucourt (France).
Box 1: 4
Documents - Four military documents re: Curt Meyer of Rostock, Germany (on the Baltic Sea),
ca. 1914-1919.
Box 1: 5
Diary - In German, with some black and white photos pasted in,
1896-1913.
Additional Note
Possibly three different writers. Starts in old German script describing several trips, including Italy (1896); Lubeck (1898);
Munich and Florence (1905); Sicily, Rome and Switzerland (1907). Handwriting appears to switch, describing trips to Paris,
Nimes, Lyon (1909); London, Windsor, Oxford, Plymouth (1910); London (1911); St. Moritz [Switzerland] and Partenkirchen [Bavaria]
(1912); and Florence and Siena, with Curt and Eva (1913). Switches to modern script presumably in the hand of Frank Gruenthal's
grandmother. According to Gruenthal, this section was written during World War II, when she was living in Sweden after having
been forced to leave Germany, and are her memoirs written at the request of her son, Curt Meyer. Lots of details: travel,
family history.
Box 2: 1
Diary - By Curt Meyer of Rostock, Germany; in German,
1914-1915.
Additional Note
Copy of a war diary Curt Meyer carried with him during World War I, to which he later added details. Meyer was a volunteer
in a "Fusilier Regiment" no. 90, Kaiser Wilhelm. This diary deals with events from July 29, 1914 to June 28, 1915.
Box 2: 2
Diary - By Curt Meyer of Rostock, Germany; in German,
1915-1926.
Additional Note
Begins on June 28, 1915 and ends October 25, 1926 when he visits the old battle grounds. He says he had "become a different
person."
Box 2: 3
Photo album - World War I era photo album, 81 black and white photos with captions in German, undated.
Additional Note
Includes images of soldiers in uniform.
Box 2: 4
Photo album - World War I era photo album, 24 black and white photos with captions in German, undated.
Additional Note
Includes images of soldiers and war ruins.
Box 2: 5
Photo album - 32 black and white photos,
ca. 1914-1926.
Additional Note
First few pages are sparsely captioned (in German) World War I era photos, including images of soldiers, battlefields, trenches.
Remainder of album appears to be travel photos, including images of ships/ocean travel, unidentified tropical location(s),
palm and banana trees, seaside and scenic views. One photo includes camels.
