Francis J. Uplegger papers
Masthead of Lutheran newspaper, August 20, 1899.
Collection area: Arizona and Southwest
Collection dates: 1867-1964 (bulk 1917-1960) 1867-1964 (bulk 1917-1960) 1892-1916 1917-1964 1901-1925 1917-1964 c. 1920-c. 1960
Includes correspondence, writings, Bible translations, sermons, reports, and audiotapes, chiefly from 1917-1960, of Francis J. Uplegger, 1867-1964, and his son, Alfred Uplegger, relating to their work as Lutheran missionaries on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona.
The Biographical and Background Materials consist of photocopies of two magazine articles about the Upleggers and their work at the San Carlos mission and a photocopy of the newspaper obituary of Francis Uplegger. Also included are school-related materials from Alfred Uplegger's days as a student, and miscellaneous materials from Alfred's life prior to his move to Arizona in 1917.
The Mission Records, 1917-1964, consist of miscellaneous material, reports, and correspondence. The miscellaneous materials range from such items as song lyrics and baptismal certificates to architectural plans for new buildings. The reports were prepared by Alfred Uplegger and provided quarterly updates to the mission sponsors on such matters as numbers of new converts and the financial condition of the mission. The correspondence consists primarily of letters to and from Alfred Uplegger regarding activities at the mission and events on the reservation at large.
Many of the letters are to and from fellow Lutherans in Uplegger's home state of Wisconsin. Other letters involve business-related matters such as insurance accounts and supplies for the mission. Major correspondents include Edgar Guenther and Paul Brockmann.
The Family Correspondence, 1901-1925, consists of letters from Francis and Johana Uplegger to Alfred Uplegger, letters from other relatives, such as uncles and cousins, to Alfred, and letters from friends and acquaintances to Alfred. Some of the letters are written in German.
The Works of Alfred Uplegger involve sermons and miscellaneous material. The sermon-related material consists of notes and outlines of sermons and sermons on reel-to-reel audiotape. The audiotapes are in records carton boxes, separate from the written material in manuscript boxes. The miscellaneous material consists of items ranging from song lyrics to essays to Bible study outlines.
The Works of Francis Uplegger likewise involve sermons and a wide assortment of other items. Since he eventually learned to preach in Apache, there are sermon notes in both English and Apache. There are also portions of the Bible translated into Apache. Many of the audiotapes contain sermons preached in Apache by Francis, along with ones preached in English by Alfred. Included in his Works are also lessons on how to speak Apache and several short stories which he wrote, along with a longer narrative work entitled "The Desire of the Nations Among the Apache."
Some material in German and Apache.
Francis J. Uplegger was born in Rastozk, Germany on October 29, 1867, and died on the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona on June 13, 1964. Educated in Germany, he emigrated to the United States at age nineteen and enrolled at Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained pastor of Saint John's Congregation in Hermansfort, Wisconsin, in July, 1891 and continued an active preaching career until his retirement, nearly 70 years later, in February, 1961.
His son Alfred Uplegger followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a Lutheran minister. In 1917 he moved to Arizona to be a missionary to the Apache Indians on the San Carlos Reservation. Two years later Francis Uplegger joined him on the reservation and ministered there for the rest of his life.
Adept at languages, Francis quickly began to learn how to speak and write the Apache language. He went on to compile the first Apache dictionary. He also wrote approximately twenty-five Gospel hymns in Apache and translated several important Lutheran liturgical documents and portions of the Bible into Apache.
Held in high esteem by many of the members of the tribe, he was affectionately called "Old Man Missionary." He assisted the tribe in drawing up a constitution in 1930-31 that was later used as a model by several other tribes. In 1957 Concordia Theological Seminary conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him. Francis Uplegger was married to Emma Plass, who had come from Germany to be his bride in 1891. Their children were Dorothea, Gertrude, Johana, and Alfred.
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