History Discovered in a Box
As historians, we love exploring the lives of people that have come before us, what they accomplished, and how they shaped their communities. As curator, I’m particularly drawn to how the physical items tell someone's life story or even just provide a small glimpse. Our collection contains stories of numerous different people from around Sauk County. Lately, I have particularly been interested in the life of Arthur Boettcher, a long time resident of Baraboo.
Baraboo Track Team 1937
Baraboo High School Football Team
Arthur "Art" Boettcher
In 2017 we received a donation from a family member of Arthur’s, which spans many years of his life, and includes many photographs, letters and postcards, documents, and objects. The photograph collection starts early in Arthur’s life with a photo of Arthur and his St. John’s confirmation class around 1927, showing the students all dressed in their finest for their big day. The photos jump ahead a few years to high school where he is pictured in group photos for football and track at Baraboo High School. The photographs continue past high school graduation, where Arthur documents his time in the army in WWII with self portraits and images of his comrades.
The paper documents start even earlier than the photos, with Arthur’s baptismal certificate, written in German, for his baptism performed in 1919 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Baraboo. Included in the collection is Arthur’s high school diploma for graduation from Baraboo High School in 1937. Around his high school years, Arthur traveled with his father Emil Boettcher on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, evidenced by three railway passes dated between 1932 and 1938. The collection continues through WWII, with Arthur’s enlistment record, change of address cards sent home from the army, and honorable discharge following a leg wound during battle.
The most intimate look into Arthur’s life during World War II comes in a collection of over 100 letters, written between Arthur and his father Emil, and between Arthur and his later wife Vera Berger. The letters between Arthur and his father span from his induction into the army in 1942 through his honorable discharge in 1946. Letters between Arthur and Vera are written during his time away at war from 1944 to 1946. As common with many soldiers far away in Europe, the letters express a lot of longing for family and those at home.
If you are interested in seeing this Arthur Boettcher collection in person, please email me at curator@saukcountyhistory.org or call 608-356-1001 to schedule an appointment during our open hours. The History Center is open Wednesday through Friday from 12-4 pm.
