Burdorf Family Photograph Collection, ca. 1870-1960s

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Burdorf Family

Title: Photograph Collection, ca. 1870-1960s

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these photographs, contact the Collections Department.

Size of Collection: 1 cubic foot

Location Number:  010PC42

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of material related to the multi-generational and intermarried families of Fred Burdorf, Sr. and Irene Mills Burdorf, Henry Philip Isert and Mary Lentsch Isert, Cecil Cooke Burdorf and Fred G. Burdorf, Jr., and Truman Cooke and Ferdie Isert Cooke.

Folders 1-3 include photographic albums of black-and-white snapshots compiled by the Burdorf family of various subjects, and loose photographs that were in the albums [010PC42.1-.28].

Folder 4 includes both identified and unidentified couples, including Mr. and Mrs. Arthur P. Mills [010PC42.29], Fred Burdorf, Sr. and Irene Mills Burdorf [010PC42.30], and Fred G. Burdorf, Jr., and Cecil Cooke Burdorf [010PC42.31-.32].

Folder 5 includes unidentified couples [010PC42.33-.39].

Folder 6 includes identified children and families including Alma Shirley Lentsch [010PC42.40], the Isert family (Theodore Aminius, John Henry, and Ferdie Garfield) [010PC42.41-.42], Ferdie Garfield Isert [010PC42.43-.44], Cecil Raleigh Cooke [010PC42.45-.47], Truman and Mary Frances Cooke [010PC42.48], Burton E. Dieruf [010PC42.49], James Van Dyke Isert [010PC41.50], Robert Lamar Taylor [010PC42.51], James Stewart “Jimmy” Isert [010PC42.52-55], and Cecil Raleigh and Mary Frances Cooke with others [010PC42.56], and other unidentified children [010PC42.57-.70].

Folder 7 includes unidentified children and families [010PC42.70-.114].

Folder 8 includes identified women including Mary Katherine Lentsch Isert [010PC42.116-.119], Aileen Miller [010PC42.120-.121], Mary Frances Cooke (McKee) [010PC42.122], Ferdie Isert Cooke [010PC42.123], Marilyn Burdorf Smith [010PC42.124], Irene Mills Burdorf [010PC42.125-126], Fanny Thomas Cooke [010PC41.127], and unidentified others [010PC42.128-.160].

Folder 9 includes identified men including “Uncle Theo” (possibly J. Theodore Isert) [010PC42.161], Truman Cooke [010PC42.162-.164], Henry Phillip Isert [010PC42.165], Fred Burdorf, Sr. [010PC42.166-.174], and unidentified others [010PC42.175-.192].

Folder 10 includes groups and families including the Burdorf family [010PC42.193-.196], a 1907 Y. M. C. A. camp group [010PC42.197], Belknap School, ca. 1950 [010PC42.198], Santa Monica Senior High School [010PC42.200], Cecil Women’s Club [010PC42.204], and other unidentified groups [010PC42.205-.235].

Folder 11 includes miscellaneous scenic shots and buildings [010PC42.236-.258N].

Folder 12 includes miscellaneous clippings and greeting cards from the collection.

 

Biographical Note

Fred G. Burdorf, Sr. (1886-1962) was born to German immigrants Hermann G. Burdorf (1859-1940) and Elizabeth Brockmann Burdorf (1862-1927) in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1886. The Burdorfs were a family of manufacturers, with Hermann as a builder and Fred manufacturing mantels as a young man. Fred went on to become the president of the Plumbing and Mill Employer Co. before joining business in Burdorf’s-Brecher, a company which manufactured gas lighting, fireplace mantles, tile, fire brick, and fireplace accessories in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

In 1918, Brecher split from the company to form Brecher Lighting Co. Fred created Burdorf’s Furnishings Co. at 415 Main St. Burdorf’s company occupied several locations throughout its history: the Seelbach Hotel, 642 S. 4^th St., and on Broadway. The name of the company can still be seen on the 2^nd St. building.

Fred Sr. was married to Irene Clair Mills (1886-1978). Fred and Irene had two children together: Catherine Claire Burdorf (1909-1953) and Fred G. Burdorf, Jr. (1911-1995). Fred Jr. joined the family business as vice president, becoming president after his father’s death, but ultimately sold the company to Herman Kessler, Jr. in 1976. Fred Jr., married Cecil Raleigh Cooke (1912-1991). They had three daughters together: Anne, Marilyn, and Catherine.

 

Folder List

Box 1

Folder 1: Snapshot album, ca. 1930s

Photographic album of black-and-white snapshots relating to the Isert and Dieruf families.

Folder 2: Burdorf snapshot album, ca. 1930s

Photographic album of black-and-white snapshots and an envelope of photographs that were loose in the album.

Album 3: Card photograph album, ca. 1870s-1890s

Includes loose photographs removed from album [010PC42.13]

Folder 4: Loose photographs removed from album, ca. 1870s-1910s

Folder 5: Identified and unidentified couples, ca. 1880s-1960s

Folder 6: Identified and unidentified children, ca. 1880s-1920s

Folder 7: Identified and unidentified children, ca. 1880s-1940s

Folder 8: Identified and unidentified women, ca. 1880s-1930s

Folder 9: Identified and unidentified men, ca. 1880s-1958

Folder 10: Miscellaneous groups and families, ca. 1890s-1950s

Folder 11: Miscellaneous scenery and buildings, ca. 1900-1950s

Folder 12: Miscellaneous news clippings and greeting cards

 

Removed from collection

010PC42.257: Oversized mounted photographic print of a horse