Edward and Margaret Gehrke

RG0849.AM:  Gehrke, Edward Arthur, 1880-1939, and Margaret May Patton, 1883-1978

Papers:  1909-1970, n.d.
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb.:  Travelers, photograph enthusiasts
Size:  0.5 cu. ft.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Edward Arthur Gehrke was born in Seward County, Nebraska on August 24, 1880. He was the son of Edward C. Gehrke and Ottilia E. Duehning and the fifth of 14 children. Edward was a successful contractor and real estate agent, and called himself the "Bungalow Man." He built an estimated 300 Craftsman-style homes in Lincoln. He also served on the board of the Lancaster County Humane Society for 16 years, the last ten as Superintendent.

Margaret May Patton, "Maggie" was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1883. At some time early in her life, she and her mother moved to Nebraska. On October 26, 1905, Margaret married Edward Gehrke. She graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1910.

The Gehrkes traveled extensively by automobile throughout the United States and Canada, after 1931 in a "house-car" of Edwardís own design, which they called the "Bungie-Weck." Edward Gehrke died in 1939 at the age of 58. Margaret survived him for almost 40 years, dying in 1978 at the age of 95. She traveled only infrequently after Edwardís death.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The manuscript portion of this collection consists mostly of the writings of Margaret May Patton Gehrke. It is arranged in six series: 1) Travel journal entries, 1909-1953; 2) Poetry; 3) Prose; 4) Quotation journals; 5) Correspondence, 1964-1965; and 6) Miscellany.

The travel journal entries of Series One comprise the bulk of the collection. They were handwritten by Margaret and describe trips around the United States and Canada. The journals are complemented by 15 albums of photographs taken by Edward, which came to the Nebraska State Historical Society as part of the same donation. The photographs correspond in large part to the journal entries. Neither format should be viewed without the other, as together they capture the spirit and experiences of this unique and talented couple.

The journal entries are listed by the year and title given by the author. Ask the Reference staff for assistance with the photograph albums.

Series Two contains poetry written by Margaret Gehrke, mostly undated typescripts. A 20 page compilation [photocopied] of the typescripts is present, but it is unknown if Margaret determined the order of the poems in this copy. Many of the poems explore themes of grief and loneliness, written in the long years following Edwardís death. All reveal the talent, sensitivity, wit, and keen powers of observation that characterize Margaretís writing.

Series Three consists of a few short prose compositions by Margaret, most notably ìTo a Dog,î written in honor of Barney, ìfaithful companion on a long motor trip, seven thousand miles of gypsy-trail thru the west.î

The quotation journals [photocopies only] of Series Four are written in Margaretís hand. The quotations were taken from the works of writers, poets, philosophers, etc. whom she admired. The original journals are not in the collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Three letters to Rosalind Morris comprise Series Five, Correspondence.

Series Six contains miscellaneous items, including the ìGehrke Family Recordî with ages, birth and death dates of Edwardís parents and siblings. Also included are Edwardís obituary, Maggie's instructions for her funeral, and reminiscences about Margaret by close friends, Doris Gates; and Charles Stephen.

DESCRIPTION

Series 1 ñ Travel journal entries, 1909-1953

Box 1
Folder

1. List of entries, c. 1955
2. "California and the West," 1909
3. "Chicago," 1910
4. "Kansas City," 1911
5. "Canada and the Northwest," 1912
6. "Cities of the East," 1914
7. "Canada and the Northwest," 1914
8. "California and the Exposition," 1915
9. "A Thousand Mile Motor Trip thru Western Nebraska," 1916
10. "Yellowstone National Park and Colorado," 1917
11. "Kansas City and Kansas (a short business trip)," 1917
12. "A Motor Trip thru Colorado," 1918
13. "Glacier National Park," 1919
14. "Washington and Northern Idaho," 1919
15. "A 7,000 Mile Motor Trip West. Crater and Rainier," 1921
16. "A 6,000 Mile Motor Trip thru Eastern States," 1922
17. "The Black Hills and Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park," 1923
18. "Texas and the Gulf. Hot Springs and Platt National Park," 1923
19. "To Minnesota Lake Region and Sully Hill National Park and Wisconsin," 1924
20. "A Second Trip to Minnesota Lake Region. Lake Vermillion," 1925
21. "Colorado: Mesa Verde National Park," 1925
22. "A Third Motor Trip to Minnesota Lake Region," 1926
23. "Excursion to Chicago," 1927
24. "A Little Trip to the Ozarks," 1928
25. "California National Parks. Zion and Bryce. Big Trees. Yosemite. Mt. Lassen. Zion. Bryce," 1929
26. "To St. Louis, Missouri. Humane [Society] Convention," 1929
27. "Spokane: the Anniversary Trip," 1930
28. ìëBungie-Weck,' the House Car, takes a Maiden Trip [in Nebraska]," 1931
29. "To Colorado . . . again. We Stay in 'Rose-Den'," 1934
30. "To Chicago: 'The Century of Progress'," 1934
31. "The House-Car goes to Minnesota," 1936
32. "The House-Car goes to Minnesota -- to the Canadian Boundary," 1937
33. "To the Humane [Society] Convention at Milwaukee, Wisconsin," 1937
34. "To New York City with the Cathedral Choir," 1939
35. "To Estes Park -- Margaret Weber and I in 'Rose-Den'," 1948
36. "To Washington by Plane -- to Spokane and the Family," 1950
37. "To California by Plane," 1951
38. "To Pittsburg, Kansas [two trips]," 1951, 1953

Series 2 - Poetry

39. Poetry
40. Compiled poetry [photocopies], 20 p. 2 copies

Series 3 - Prose

41. Prose

Series 4 ñ Quotation journals

42. ìTherein: many wise sayings and some others not so wise which I have enjoyedî
43. ìTherein: More Wisdomî

Series 5 ñ Correspondence

44. Correspondence, 1964-1965

Series 6 ñ Miscellany

45. Miscellany

 

 

ADDED ENTRIES:

Automobile travel
California -- Description and travel
Colorado -- Description and travel
Gehrke, Edward Arthur, 1880-1939
Gehrke, Margaret May Patton, 1883-1978
Glacier National Park (Mont.)
Kansas -- Description and travel
Minnesota -- Description and travel
Nebraska -- Description and travel
Poetry
Travelers -- Nebraska
Washington -- Description and travel
Wisconsin -- Description and travel
Women poets -- Nebraska -- Lincoln
Wyoming -- Description and travel
Yellowstone National Park (Wyo.)

 

12-07-2006  Revised TMM

For additional information about this collection, please contact our Library Staff.