Inventory
3.00 Linear Feet
August 1986
Introduction
The Paulsen Family has resided in Lake and Porter Counties since 1911. Family members have worked in the steel mills for most of the years from their arrival to 1975. The records in this collection cover the history of the Paulsen and Kristelli Families and include information on their work and social activities.
Property rights in the collection are held by the Calumet Regional Archives; literary rights are dedicated to the public. There are no restrictions on access to the collection.
Linear feet of shelf space: 3.00 Linear Feet.
Number of containers: 5 boxes
Calumet Regional Archives
Collection 075
Processed by: John Kristelli
Date: August 1986
Scope and Content
The records in this collection primarily cover education and work experiences. Educational records cover the years 1929 to 1984 and include many schools of the Calumet Region. Work records include ledgers of people who have worked in the steel mills, spanning the years 1912 to 1958. Other material of interest includes a series of letters written by Robert Kristelli during his enlistment in the United States Army during the Second World War. A variety of paper memorabilia collected by the donor, as well as the variety of subjects covered in the photograph series, result in this collection's wide coverage of Northwest Indiana history.
Historical Sketch
The Paulsen Family arrived in Gary, Indiana in 1912, where Robert Paulsen, Sr., would become an electrician and foreman at U.S. Steel Gary Works. His family spent some years in a tarpaper shack, but the family later settled in a sturdier house in Garyton (now part of Portage, Indiana). The oldest child, Harriett, graduated from portage High School in 1936 and married Robert Kristelli the following year. Robert was born Bokslaw Antoni Krystali (alternately Krysteli and Kristeli; the name apparently changed during Robert's school years), the son of Polish immigrants living at 1638 Vermont Street in Gary. Robert and Harriett boarded in many Gary locations but settled in East Gary (aka Lake Station) in one of the many new housing developments in 1941. The surrounding area was dirt roads and forests, and the water had to be pumped from an underground well. Robert worked the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs of the New Deal until he entered the steel mills in 1937.
In December 1943, Robert was drafted into the U.S. Army's First Division. Harriett worked in five different businesses during Robert's service and rehabilitation, including Gary Screw and Bolt, Gary Sheet and Tube, and S.S. Kresge. When Robert returned from the military, he earned a degree in Business and established himself and a freelance accountant. The couple had five children. In 1963, Robert suffered a heart attack, aggravated by his war injuries, and died. Harriett took over as the head of the family, drawing social security and veterans benefits, and passed away in 1985.
| Box |
File |
Description |
| 1 |
1-2 |
Historical information, Paulsen/Kristelli Families |
|
3-6 |
Ledgers, Robert Paulsen, Sr. ,(1911-1943) |
|
6.5 |
Time book, Robert Kristelli, U.S. Steel Gary Works, 1937-1944 |
|
7 |
Ledger pages, Robert Kristelli, expenses, 1938-1944 |
|
8 |
Ledger, John A. Kristelli, Sr., 1939-1940 |
|
9 |
Ledger, Robert Paulsen, expenses, 1942-1958 |
|
10 |
Ledger, Robert Kristelli, expenses, 1947-1964 |
|
11 |
Address book, Robert Paulsen (inc. Conklins), ca. 1912 |
|
12 |
Birth/Toddler records, Harriett Paulsen; baptismal certificate, Robert Kristelli |
|
13 |
Diplomas, Portage High School, 1936; Froebel High School, 1947 |
|
14 |
Discharge papers, Robert Kristelli, Civilian Conservation Corps, 1934 |
|
15 |
Discharge papers, Edward Mucha, Civilian Conservation Corps, 1937 |
|
16 |
Discharge papers, Robert Kristelli, U.S. Army, 1946 |
|
17 |
Death certificate, Harriett Kristelli, 1985 |
|
18 |
Housing records, 1892, 1939 |
|
19 |
School papers, various, Portage HS, Griffith HS, Garyton School, (1932-1963) |
|
20 |
Commencement invitation, Portage HS, 1936 |
|
21 |
Class notes, Religious Studies, Evelyn Paulsen, ca. 1930 |
|
22 |
School papers, various, Hammond Baptist School, Henry S. Evans School, River Forest HS |
|
23 |
Booklet, Reflector, River Forest HS poetry and artwork publication, Vol. III, 1968 |
|
24 |
Commencement programs/invitations, River Forest HS, (1965-1981) |
|
25 |
Yearbooks, Henry S. Evans School, 1971-1975 |
|
26 |
Diploma, Henry S. Evans School, 1975 |
|
27 |
Yearbooks, River Forest Junior High School, 1976-1977 |
|
28-36 |
Newspaper, Ingot Informer, River Forest HS, 1976-1986 |
|
37 |
Correspondence, River Forest HS, 1976-1981 |
|
38 |
Class schedules/report cards, River Forest HS, 1976-1981 |
|
39 |
Handbooks, River Forest HS, 1979-1981 |
|
40 |
Program, River Forest HS, 1978 |
|
41 |
Various, River Forest HS clubs, 1980-1981 |
|
42 |
Class materials, Newspaper class, River Forest HS, 1980-1981 |
|
43 |
Various, Youth Conservation Improvement Program, 1979-1981 |
|
44 |
Various, Youth Advisory Council, 1979-1981 |
|
45 |
Newsarticles, drama productions, River Forest HS, 1980-1981 |
|
46 |
Newspapers, River Forest Junior HS, 1983-1984 |
| 2 |
47 |
Printed material, various, politics and railroads, (1891-1960) |
|
48 |
Address/telephone planner, Gary Trust and Savings Bank, ca. 1912 |
|
49 |
Manual, Business Writing, 1915 |
|
50 |
Booklet, The Taxpayer and the Gary Schools, 1934 |
|
51 |
Booklet, "Home Efficiency," Ladies Aid Society, United Brethren Church, Hammond, ca. 1930 |
|
52 |
Booklet, "Emergency Defense Coordinators and Service Chiefs," U.S. Steel, 1942 |
|
53 |
Map, Hammond, ca. 1970 |
|
54 |
Newspaper insert, "Televisions," Post-Tribune, 1978 (first issue) |
| 3 |
55-75 |
Correspondence, Robert and Harriett Kristelli, 1944-1946 |
|
76 |
Correspondence, Pvt. William Kristelli to Harriett Kristelli, 1975 |
Subject Tracings
- Emerson High School
- Knights of Columbus
- Sports
- Swartz, Eugene
- United States Steel
|
