Alfred Arthur Frantz papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-062

Staff Only

Content description

The collection contains material on the life of publicist Alfred Arthur Frantz, as well as his family history and the family history of his wife Rosebud Yellow Robe.

The collection is divided into five series: Correspondence, Diaries, Photographs, Printed Materials, Typescripts and Ephemera. The family name is ether spelled France or Frantz. The original spelling was Frantz and at some point, they decided to change it to France. Alfred A. Frantz was the only member of his family to use the original spelling, although he occasionally used France.

Correspondence is the largest series in the collection. The majority of the letters are incoming and outgoing letters between Alfred Frantz and his Mother, Josephine Leona Brown France. There are also letters to his father, sister and a mass of outgoing letters addressed to “Everybody”. These letters together document the course of Frantz’s life, including his experiences at Universities of South Dakota and Minnesota, his time in New York, and trips to South America. The Outgoing correspondence to John B. France or “Jackie” and Karen Moy contain Brown, Frantz, and Yellow Robe family histories. The histories relate antidotal information about where the families came from, how people are related, farming in South Dakota and other interesting stories.

The Diaries series contains three diaries written by Frantz’s maternal grandfather, Alfred George Brown.

The Photographs series contains 12 photographs of an unidentified baby, all taken in 1935.

The Printed Materials series includes Newspaper Clippings are that were enclosed in the correspondence. They are organized by date.

In the Typescripts series are several writings by Alfred A. Frantz including a family history and some of his work for the Institute of Foreign Travel. His work A Death on the Prairie is one of six known copies. There are also several articles from the Institute of Foreign Travel.

The Ephemera series contains photocopies of the Frantz family tree and graduation invitation to Frantz’s graduation from the University of Minnesota. There is a note card with Frantz’s name spelled France.

Dates

Creation: 1901 - 1977

Creator

Frantz, Alfred A. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research without restrictions. Researchers are advised to contact the Archives and Special Collections prior to visiting. Advance notice may be needed to retrieve items for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers must obtain a signed Permission to Publish Form if they wish to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information from published and unpublished works held by ASC. Permission to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information materials from ASC does not constitute permission from the holder of copyright or literary rights. The researcher is responsible for securing permission from the copyright holder to publish or reproduce content from materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Alfred Arthur Frantz was the son of Bert L. and Josephine Leona Brown France, born on March 13, 1908. Frantz attended Sioux Falls High School until 1924 when his grandfather, Alfred George Brown, became ill and the family moved to California to enable Frantz’s mother to care for him. In 1926, Frantz graduated from the San Diego High School and then returned to South Dakota to attend the University of South Dakota. After his first year at USD, he transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he received a degree in Journalism in 1930. Frantz began postgraduate work at the University of Texas but ran out of money after one semester. He then spent time “riding the rails” and working odd jobs. He eventually ended up writing travel publicity for the Institute of Foreign Travel in New York City, the Public Relations branch for Lines of the Trans-Atlantic Passenger Conference. Frantz founded his own Public Relations business in 1937. It was through his work in promoting the Norwegian Liner Oslofjord that Frantz met Rosebud Yellow Robe. They had attended USD at the same time, but had never met. He had heard she was working in New York and asked her if she would dress in her traditional Indian clothing to welcome the ship to America. After the success of the event, Frantz and Yellow Robe became friends and eventually married in June of 1951. Alfred Frantz died in 1993.

Relations to Alfred A. Frantz as they appear in this collection: Brown, Alfred George – Maternal Grandfather France, Bert L. - Father France, Constance (married name Reichelt) - Sister France, John - Uncle France, John B. “Jackie” - Nephew France, John C. – Brother France, Josephine Leona Brown – Mother Iverson, Rolf – Friend Moy, Karen Winona – Granddaughter (Step-granddaughter) Yellow Robe, Rosebud – Wife

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (1 record carton and 1 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection contains material on the life of publicist Alfred Arthur Frantz, as well as his family history and the family history of his wife Rosebud Yellow Robe.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into five series: Correspondence, Diaries, Photographs, Printed Materials, Typescripts and Ephemera.

Related Materials

Frantz, Alfred A. Collection, Center for Western Studies, Augustana College

Yellow Robe, Rosebud, Richardson Collections, Special Collections, University of South Dakota