The collection contains various documents, correspondence, a scrapbook, and newspaper clippings relating to John and Marie Bergmann, seven of their nine children, and two of John Bergmann’s nieces. The files are arranged alphabetically by name of family member (natural order) and date from 1905 to circa 1995. The bulk of the documents date from 1931 to 1956.

The earliest document in the collection is Marie (Happel) Bergmann’s 1905 confirmation certificate. There are also Marie and John Bergmann’s 1911 marriage certificate; a 1920 stock certificate for the Farmers & Merchants Milling Company of Union, Missouri; and a 1949 bank savings record. Most of John’s and Marie’s items pertain to the loss of their two children, Henry and Helen, and include letters of condolence and the settling of military survivor benefits after Henry was killed in action (f.18-20).

Documents relating to Henry Bergmann (1922-1943) date from circa 1934 to 1993 and include his confirmation certificate and several World War II military certificates for crossing the arctic circle and for his posthumous purple heart. There is a memorial scrapbook comprised of newspaper clippings, photographs, and letters written to Henry by his sister, Rose, which he did not receive before the USS LearyLeary sank on 24 December 1943. In 1993, the American Battle Monuments Commission informed Rose that Henry’s name, as a veteran lost at sea, was inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing of the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunisia. An unknown family member conducted research on the USS Leary and collected photocopies of accounts of its last day and its survivors (f.14-17).

Documents for Charles Bergmann (1931-2002) include birth and baptismal certificates, high school diploma, two pocket address books, church member cards, a bank savings book, and a union dues booklet. There are also documents relating to his service with the Marine Corps: his induction certificate as private first class, a certificate for crossing the 180th meridian, and his discharge papers. Charles kept two pieces of Korean money and a pamphlet printed in Korean from his military service (f.1-6).

Items from Emil (1927-2009) include his birth (copy), baptismal, and confirmation certificates; his military discharge; and a doctor’s letter and pay stub relating to his work (f.8). Note that his birth certificate reads “Andrew Emil.” It is understood that after his birth, Emil’s godparents asked John and Marie to change the order of Emil’s name to “Emil Andrew.”

Included for Eugene Bergmann (1933-2017) are his baptismal certificate, many items relating to high school such as commencement in 1951 and basketball passes, hunting and fishing licenses, miscellaneous pay stubs, and the order to report for induction letter from the Selective Service. He belonged to several clubs and organizations including the boy scouts, the St. Louis Jazz Club, and the Union baseball club (f.10-12).

There are few documents relating to the Bergmann daughters. For Elsie Lucido (1929-1983) there is only a commencement announcement from 1947 (f.7). For Rose Stupperich (1918-2000) there is a World War II letter written to her from Hawaii by Henry’s friend, Eldor Hanson, on 12 August 1944 congratulating her on her marriage (f.21). In Helen’s file are her baptismal certificate, confirmation booklet, an eighth grade completion certificate, and a school autograph book (f.13).

Two of John Bergmann’s nieces are represented in the collection. Erma Bergmann (1924-2015) was the daughter of Otto and Sophie Bergmann. There is one newspaper clipping about Erma which recounts her baseball days with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, with which she played for six years. The article also reveals that she was one of the earliest female police officers hired by the St. Louis Police Department allowed to carry a gun (f.9). Veronica (Vera) Bergmann (1904-1999) was the daughter of John and Rose Bergmann. There are two clippings with photos of Veronica from the Franklin County Tribune (f.22).