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.
Collection Number:
MS 299
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
Biographical Note
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.
Scope and Content Note
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."
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish
from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record,
the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The
user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s)
Brockman, Paul
Guenther, Edgar
Uplegger, Alfred --
Archives
Uplegger, Francis J., 1867-1964 --
Archives
Corporate Name(s)
Evangelical Lutheran Mission -- (San
Carlos, Ariz.)
The first folder contains a history of the Evangelical Lutheran
Mission among the Apache Indians on the San Carlos Reservation from 1892 to
March, 1903; the articles of incorporation of the Joint Synod of Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska; photocopies of two articles about the
Upleggers; and the obituary of Francis Uplegger. The following three folders
contain turn-of-the-century editions of Lutheran periodicals in German; class
notes and school assignments belonging to Alfred Uplegger; and an assortment of
items ranging from business cards to newspaper clippings to exercise
instructions. All of these materials date from prior to the Upleggers' move to
Arizona to become missionaries to the Apaches.
box
folder
1
1
History of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission among the
Apache; Articles of Incorporation of the Joint Synod of Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Michigan and Nebraska; photocopies of magazine articles about the Uplegger
family.
, 1892-March
1903
1
2
Lutheran newspapers, in German.
, 1899-1906
1
3
Class notes and school assignments.
, c.1908-c.1915
The first folder contains a wide variety of items, including
drawings, invoices, certificates, and lyrics. The next two folders contain
mission reports. The following twelve folders contain mission
correspondence.
The first folder contains letters from Francis Uplegger to various
persons. The next two folders contain letters from Francis Uplegger to Alfred
Uplegger. The third folder contains letters from Johana Uplegger to Alfred. The
fourth contains letters from other relatives, such as uncles and cousins, to
Alfred. The last two folders contain letters to Alfred from friends and
acquaintances.
box
folder
2
13
Francis Uplegger.
, 1901-1904
2
14
Francis Uplegger (to Alfred Uplegger).
, 1912-1915
2
15
Francis Uplegger (to Alfred Uplegger).
, 1917-1925
2
16
Alfred Uplegger (from Johana Uplegger).
, 1913-1917
2
17
Alfred Uplegger (from various relatives).
, 1914-1925
The first eleven folders contain sermon-related material, including
outlines, illustrations, and Biblical texts. The last three contain
miscellaneous material such as essays, lyrics, and lists. Reel-to-reel
audiotapes of sermons by Alfred Uplegger, dating from 1957-1964, are available
in boxes seven and eight.
Sermon outlines, including extensive translations of Biblical texts
into the Apache language. Reel-to-reel audiotapes of sermons by Francis
Uplegger, dating from 1957-c.1961, are available in boxes seven and eight. Most
of these audiotape sermons by Francis Uplegger are in the Apache language.
Among the stories, by far the lengthiest is the one entitled "The Desire of the
Nations Among the Apache." It is nineteen chapters in length, and is partly an
autobiographical account of Francis Uplegger's experiences with the Apache
people and partly a theological essay about the spiritual beliefs of the Apache
and the Apaches' place within the Christian framework of history. The other
stories are much briefer, and are essentially works of fiction designed to
illustrate and teach Biblical ethics and doctrines. One folder contains
teaching material on the Apache language. Nearly all of the unarranged material
consists of documents written by Francis Uplegger in German.
box
folder
4
1
Sermons: Genesis to Deuteronomy.
, c.1920-c.1960
4
2
Sermons: Genesis to Malachi.
, c.1920-c.1960
4
3
Sermons: Gospel According to Matthew.
, c.1920-c.1960
4
4
Gospel According to Luke.
, c.1920-c.1960
box
folder
5
1
Sermons: Gospel According to John.
, c.1920-c.1960
5
2
Sermons: Romans to Galatians.
, c.1920-c.1960
5
3
Sermons: Ephesians to Revelation.
, c.1920-c.1960
5
4
Sermons on various texts and topics.
, c.1920-c.1960
5
5
Sermons from the year 1956.
, 1956
box
folder
6
1
"The Desire of the Nations Among the Apache," chs. 1-4.
, c.1920-c.1960
6
2
"The Desire of the Nations Among the Apache," chs. 5-7.
, c.1920-c.1960
6
3
"The Desire of the Nations Among the Apache," chs. 8-12.
, c.1920-c.1960
6
4
"The Desire of the Nations Among the Apache," chs. 13-19.
, c.1920-c.1960
6
5
"The Engagement in the Church at Quidnors".
, c.1920-c.1960
6
6
"Glennis".
, c.1920-c.1960
6
7
"The Judgment in the Green Court" - Part 2.
, c.1920-c.1960
6
8
"The Oath and the Agreement".
, c.1920-c.1960
6
9
"A Remarkable Night at Quidnors".
, c.1920-c.1960
6
10
"A Visit at Nadowawigoning".
, c.1920-c.1960
6
11
"What Satisfies - Queries and Answers".
, c.1920-c.1960
