Title: Frank and Catharine (Bratton) Hornstein
Dates: 1928-1998
Collection Number: MSS 10843
Quantity: 8 feet
Abstract: Papers document the lives of Catharine (Bratton) and Frank Hornstein. Catharine’s papers include correspondence, scrapbooks and material relating to her education at MacPhail College of Music and Minot State College and career directing music at Mohall High School and Rugby High School, several musical compositions, organizational records of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Lambda Chapter of Alpha Omicron State, of which she was a charter member, a history of the Pierce County Tribune, (which Catharine’s father L. H. Bratton purchased in 1915), photographs and articles about Catharine’s career. Frank’s papers include correspondence, autobiographical information, editorials, a speech, a history of the Good Samaritan Hospital (Rugby), write ups by Margaret Thurmann for publication, material from the Rugby Lions Club, North Dakota Press Association, North Dakota Newspaper Association, North Dakota War Finance Committee, and North Dakota Class B basketball programs and miscellaneous printed material from the Pierce County fair and from Rugby (ND).
Provenance: The Frank and Catharine (Bratton) Hornstein Papers were donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by Julie Hornstein in November 2001. Material was added to the collection in August 2002.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code or an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Related Collections:
10842 Luther and Mary Estelle Bratton
10844 Pierce County Tribune Photo Collection
Transfer: A variety of items were transferred to the Museum Division on September 18, 2002. The items were from the three donations by Julie Hornstein (MSS 10842, 10843 and 10844). See case file for list of Museum holdings.
Three Modern Music Masters Society membership cards were transferred to the Archives from the Museum Division on July 24, 2008.
Publications from the collection were transferred to the State Archives’ publications in November 2012. Please see case file for titles.
Two pins/buttons from the collection were offered to the Museum Division of the SHSND in November 2012.
Twenty one concert programs from the Apollo Club (Minneapolis, MN), Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Auditorium (Minneapolis, MN), 1928-1930 were offered to the Minnesota Historical Society in November 2012.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, CATHARINE (BRATTON) HORNSTEIN
Hornstein’s obituary in the Pierce County Tribune December 27, 1997 p. 6
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998 at 2 p.m. at Emmanuel United Church, Rugby, for Catharine B. Hornstein, 87, Rugby; who died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at the Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby. Burial will be in Persilla Watts Cemetery, Rugby.
Catharine B. Hornstein was born on November 13, 1910 in Rugby, a daughter of Luther H. and Estella (Ritzman) Bratton. She grew up and was educated in Rugby public schools, graduating with the class of 1928. She taught her first piano lesson in Rugby in 1927 and was involved in some form of teaching or performance of music all her life until failing eyesight prevented her from reading the music. She held a music degree from the MacPhail College of Music and Dramatic Art, Minneapolis (1932); a Bachelor of Arts from Minot State College (1934) and two summer sessions graduate work at Columbia University in New York City (1965 and 1966), plus attendance at many workshops with Fred Waring in Pennsylvania. On August 13, 1934, she married Frank Hornstein in Rugby. Hornstein, longtime editor and publisher of the Pierce County Tribune in Rugby, died on July 2, 1981.
Catharine taught music in Alsen, Tolley, Mohall, Towner, and at Rugby High School. She also taught remedial reading at RHS. Throughout these years, she taught private lessons in voice and piano, directed adult choral groups and was the founder-director of “the Singing Farmers” of Pierce County. She directed musical programs and talent shows, recitals, etc., for many years, including RHS minstrel shows, which were hired to perform in surrounding towns and TV stations, and Christmas programs involving 350-400 students. She also served as organist and choir director in the Presbyterian Church and in several other churches in the community. She directed both band and vocal music in the early years, achieving top awards in the state in both. For many years she was the pianist for the singing at the weekly Lions Club meetings. She organized Rugby's first concert series and appeared twice on the national TV program, "Name That Tune" in New York City. One of her own compositions was accepted for performance by “The Ink Spots” quartet and another of her songs was published.
She was a life member of the American Choral Directors (state and national); National Music Educators Association; First Chair of America, a national honor society of music directors; life member of the National Council for Exceptional Children; and Modern Music Masters of RHS. She was a patroness of the national music honorary fraternity of Sigma Alpha Iota, Minot State College, and served on the Board of Regents at Minot State University. In June of 1989 she received the Golden Award from Minot State University. In October of 1988 she was elected to the Music Teachers' Hall of Fame, sponsored by the North Dakota Music Educators Association. She was a past Worthy Matron in Century Chapter of The Order of Eastern Star; Mother Advisor for the Rugby Assembly of the Order of Rainbow for Girls; a charter member of the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma; a life member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliaries; a troop leader for Girl Scouts and a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also a champion amateur golfer in ND. She is survived by her children, Dr. MaryLynne Knutson, Arcadia, CA, and Dr. Daniel Hornstein, Minot; her grandchildren; Felice Lynne Ward, Arcadia, CA; 'Kathryn Jo Dupere, Fontana, CA,; Hans Hornstein, San Diego, CA., and Miriam Esther Hornstein, Minot and Oberlin, OH; and one great-granddaughter, Hannah Merrie Ward-Mathews, Arcadia, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank; a sister Marjorie Stenberg; two brothers, Robert and Walter Bratton; and a nephew, Robert B. Stenberg.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, FRANK HORNSTEIN
Hornstein’s obituary in the Pierce County Tribune July 8, 1981 p. 1
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, July 7 at Little Flower Catholic Church, Rugby, for Francis (Frank) Hornstein, 74, longtime Editor-Publisher of the Pierce County Tribune, who died Thursday, July 2 at Rugby’s Good Samaritan Hospital following a six-month bout with cancer.
Burial followed in Rugby’s Persilla Watts Cemetery.
Mr. Hornstein was born October 23, 1906 in a homestead shanty about 20 miles southeast of Towner to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Hornstein.
He was the oldest of 11 children.
He attended rural grade schools and graduated from Rugby High School in 1925 after three years of study. He attended Minot State College one summer and taught in rural schools two terms before completing his education at UND, Grand Forks, and at Minot State Teacher’s College. In six years of teaching at Tolley (where he also served as superintendent two years), and four years at Mohall, his experience included coaching dramatics and athletics.
He married the former Catharine Bratton August 13, 1934 at Rugby. Mrs. Hornstein’s father, Luther Bratton, published the Tribune many years before Mr. Hornstein began work here in 1940.
He and his wife had lived in her family’s home, which has been used by five generations of Brattons.
Mr. Hornstein’s involvement in community activities was extensive and varied. He was a member and former president of the Lions Club, the Greater Rugby Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rugby School Board, Rugby Country Club and the North Dakota Newspaper Association. H was also a member of the Hall of Fame Committee for the North Dakota Newspaper Association and was a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi (North Dakota chapter).
He was a county director for the Greater North Dakota Association, County chairman for the Sister Kenny Foundation and a life member of the Minot Elks Lodge No. 1089.
He was a Past Worshipful Master of the Rugby Masonic Lodge, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a 40 year member of the Minot Community Concert Association and a member of the KEM Temple of the Shrine and Century Chapter No. 36 of the Order of Eastern Star, Rugby.
He had won several awards for his work in the newspaper field over the years. Of particular interest are two first place awards he won in recent years in the “Best Personal Column” competition of the North Dakota Better Newspaper Contest.
He began writing his column, “Up and Down the Street,” the first week he was on the job. In the early years it contained numerous items of local news. It later developed into personal and editorial comment.
His writing skills earned him an invitation, during World War II, to write a story for the Saturday Evening Post on what was wrong with rationing.
His publishing career spanned two areas of the newspaper industry. From 1940 to 1969 he worked with a sheet-fed letterpress in the basement of the Tribune building.
He was a key to the development of the state’s first offset central printing plant, North Central Printing, Rugby.
When the plant was established in 1969 he helped organize personnel and facilities to begin the operation. North Central’s printing operations were located in the Tribune building several years, until the firm acquired a new building in Rugby’s Industrial Park over two years ago.
He had served as secretary-treasurer of the printing company since its inception.
He had discovered his illness early this year when he and his wife left Rugby for their annual winter vacation in Texas.
He was hospitalized for a short time in Rochester, MN, before returning to Rugby. He has been at home and in the Good Samaritan Hospital since his return.
He is survived by his wife, Catharine; one daughter, Dr. MaryLynne Ward (Williams), who is an associate professor at California State University Los Angeles and her husband, Richard Williams of Arcadia, Calif.; one son, Daniel Luther Hornstein, professor of music and conductor of the UTA/Arlington Symphony at the University of Texas, Arlington, and music director/conductor of the East Texas Symphony, Tyler, Tex., and his wife, Julie Ann, Arlington, Texas; three granddaughters, Felice Lynn Ward, Encino, Calif., Kathryn Jo Ward, Arcadia, Calif., and Miriam Esther Hornstein, Arlington, Texas; one grandson, Johan Francis Hornstein, Arlington, Texas; brothers Pete, Rugby, Dr. Roy Hornstein, Minot, Pius, Tioga, John, Wapato, Wash., Tony, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Rev. Eugene Hornstein, Jamestown; and sisters Mrs. Leona Powell, Fullerton, Calif., and Sister Joan Marie Hornstein, Lakewood, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Joe.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
(loose) Scrapbook documenting the Hornsteins’ time at Mohall High School, as principal (Frank) and music teacher and Band Master (Catharine), including news clippings and printed material about sports, music, organizations, students, and school activities, 1938-1940. Includes Catharine’s handwritten notes about activities during High School Week, Also includes a concert program from a Minot Teachers College, 1939
(loose) Scrapbook documenting the Catharine Hornstein’s career, including her time teaching, producing and directing music at Mohall and Rugby High Schools, the publication of one of her songs, work as Grand Mother Advisor of the Rugby Order of the Rainbow girls, organizational activities, material relating to Catharine’s father L. H. Bratton, the program for the 1957 ND Press Association convention (Frank Hornstein was President), 1938-1958. Includes the following photographs:
10843-001 Composite portrait of Mohall High School class of 1940
10843-002 Unidentified building, might be the Bratton (Hornstein) home in Rugby, ca. 1951
10843-003 Mohall High School girls’ glee club with Class B trophy portrait, ca. 1939
10843-004 Mohall High School boys’ choir portrait, ca. 1939
10843-005 Mohall High School band portrait, ca. 1939-1942
10843-006 Mohall High School music group portrait, ca. 1939-1942
10843-007 Unidentified young woman Mohall High School class of 1942 portrait
10843-008 Might be Mohall High School band portrait, ca. 1939-1942
10843-009 Order of the Rainbow for Girls with sick child, ca. 1950s
10843-010 Rugby High School performance
10843-011 – 012 Rugby High School Dixieland Minstrels (blackface), 1955
10843-013 Rugby High School musical performance, ca. 1955
10843-014 Rugby High School Christmas performance, 1954
10843-015 – 017 Rugby High School Christmas performance, 1957
10843-018 Rugby High School boys portrait, ca. 1957
10843-019 Rugby High School girls portrait, ca. 1957
10843-020 - 023 Rugby High School portraits, ca. 1957
10843-024 – 026 Rugby High School minstrel show (blackface), 1957
10843-027 – 028 Fred Waring visit to Rugby High School, 1957
10843-029 Hywel C. Rowland, UND, attending vocal clinic, Rugby High School, March 11, 1958
10843-030 Rugby High School girls’ choir, ca. 1957-1958
10843-031 Rugby High School boys’ choir, ca. 1957-1958
10843-032 Unidentified group portrait of students, music? Ca. 1957-1958
10843-033 Portrait of Catharine Hornstein, ca. 1950s
Catharine (Bratton) Hornstein Papers
Box 1:
1 Correspondence, 1957-1965
2 Graduation announcement, certificates, diplomas, genealogical information, MacPhail materials, teacher evaluation, funeral program, stock certificate (purchased by Catharine’s maternal grandmother), 1928-1998
3 Original compositions, ca. 1940s-1950s
4 Rugby High School songs performed, ca. 1940s-1950s
5 History of the Pierce County Tribune researched and written by Catharine, 1993
6 Rugby High School music programs and printed material, 1944-1965
7 Rugby High School graduation announcements, 1956-1964
8 Rugby High School cheer book and Modern Music Masters Society membership
cards, ca. 1940s-1965
9 Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Lambda Chapter of Alpha Omicron State, 1968-1987 (bylaws, yearbooks, songbooks, newsletter, ephemera)
10 Event programs from miscellaneous events Catharine attended, 1937-1989
11 Clippings about Catharine, 1940-1989
Frank Hornstein Papers
Box 2:
1 Correspondence, 1942-1978
2 Autobiographical information, ca. 1955
3 Editorials and speech, ca. 1940s-1960s
4 History of the Good Samaritan Hospital, Rugby, ca. 1960
5 Write ups by Margaret Thurmann for publication in the Pierce County Tribune or Der Deutsche Zeitung or Der Staats=Anzieger, ca. 1945 (“Welcome to America!” and “When the Russians Came to Berlin,” both in German)
6 Rugby Lions Club 36th annual ladies night flyer, 1965
7 North Dakota Press Association and North Dakota Newspaper Association convention programs and hall of fame induction, 1957, 1985
8 North Dakota War Finance Committee
9 North Dakota Class B basketball programs, 1936-1963
10 Miscellaneous printed material: Pierce County Tribune and Rugby Optimist Letterhead; Rugby Milling Company envelope with logo; State of North Dakota Directory of officials, boards and institutions, 1944; amended election calendar, 1944; KCJB/KSJB flyer, 1960; and “Origins of North Dakota Place Names” with a note to Hornstein from author Mary Ann Barnes Williams, 1959
11 Silver Star award to Thomas A. Fettig, n.d. (after 1944)
12 Pierce County fair programs, 1922-1931 [gaps]
Box 3:
Certificate - life membership in the Music Educators National conference granted to Catharine B. Hornstein, ca. 1940s
Broadside – band concert by the Jamestown College Band, directed by Professor D. W. Morris, ca. 1940s-1950s
Broadside – Rugby High School Vocal Music Department presents the Dixieland Minstrels, July 5, 1955
Diploma – Catharine M. Bratton completed the Regular Course of Study for graduation from the Public School Music Department, MacPhail School of Music and Dramatic Art, Minneapolis, MN, June 19, 1930
Painting of Catharine Bratton, likely by a student, ca. 1950s
Broadside – Rugby High School Senior Class presents “And Home Came Ted,” May 12-13, either 1943 or 1953
Box 4: Photographs 10843-0034 – 10843-0075
Box 5: Photographs 10843-0076 – 10843-0115
Box 6: Photographs 10843-0116 – 10843-0155
Box 7: Photographs 10843-0156 – 10843-0195
Box 8: Photographs 10843-0196 – 10843-0235
Box 9: Photographs 10843-0236 – 10843-0254
Box 10: Photographs 10843-0255 – 10843-0275
Box 11: Photographs 10843-0276 – 10843-0295
Box 12: Photographs 10843-0296 – 10843-0306
Box 13: Photographs 10843-0307 – 10843-0328
Box 14: Photographs 10843-0329 – 10843-0357
Box 15: Photographs 10843-0358 – 10843-359, 10843-0362 – 10843-0367
Oversized (Map case folder) Photographs 10843-0360 and 10843-0361
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