MS-278 Frank Martin Krebs Collection at WSU Special Collections & Archives

MS-278 Frank Martin Krebs Collection

The Frank M. Krebs collection was donated by Mr. Krebs’ granddaughter, Julie Lopez, and was arranged in the Summer of 1997. The collection consists of 18 files contained in 2 boxes, and includes newspaper clippings, photographs, and correspondence relating to Frank M. Krebs’ life and his career as mayor of Dayton from 1942-1945.

Biographical Sketch

Frank Martin Krebs was born in Miami Township, Ohio on October 30, 1886. He is the third son of Bartholomew Krebs and his second wife, Katherine Oster. As a boy, he attended school in both Greene County and Dayton. He attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs.

Between 1910 and 1944 Mr. Krebs’ business career was rather prosperous. From 1910 to 1915 he owned and operated the Krebs Café, located at 25 W. Sixth Street, in Dayton. Later, approximately between 1928 and 1940, he was the co-founder and President of KrebsCo., also located in Dayton. And from 1919 through 1944 he maintained the title of President and General Manager of the Dixie Sales Company, which was also known as the Krebs Brothers Tire Company.

Mr. Krebs’ 1932 election to Dayton City Commissioner began his extensive and successful career in politics. During his tenure as City Commissioner, a position he held until 1941, he was instrumental in the development of the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority. In 1942, Mr. Krebs was elected Mayor of Dayton and held the position until 1945. Being the political leader of a growing metropolitan city and military center is not an easy task, and one made more difficult for him during the extremely difficult years of World War II. During his tenure as Mayor, Mr. Krebs focused much of his attention on maintaining civic morale and encouraging strong support for the American war cause. Victory gardens, War Bonds, and recycling were among his favorite causes.

The completion of his mayoral term in 1945 did not mark the end of Mr. Krebs’ political career. In 1946 he was named as the Ohio State Liquor Board Commissioner. He maintained this position until 1957. During much of this time, approximately 1950 and continuing until 1962, Mr. Krebs also held the local position of Montgomery County Clerk of Courts.

Throughout his rather extensive and successful civic and political career, Frank Krebs was supported by a stable and fulfilling home-life. On September 24, 1907 he married Adelaide Jane Hibbert, the daughter of William Hibbert and Jeanette Croghan. Mr. and Mrs. Krebs had three daughters; Marie Catherine, born July 23, 1908, Dorothy Jane, born July 19, 1912, and Louise Frances, born December 31, 1913. All three of his daughters eventually married and bore children of their own.

After a full and successful personal, professional, political life, Mr. Krebs passed away on June 3, 1965.

Scope and Content

The Frank M. Krebs Collection is divided into 3 series.

Series I: Correspondence consists of 8 files of letters. Included is correspondence between Adelaide (Hibbert) Krebs and various members of her family, Charles cross and various members of the Krebs family, J. Trevor Cross and Caroline Hibbert, Dorothy Zimmerman and the Krebs family. Also included are two files of personal and mayoral letters (and wires) to Frank Krebs.

Series II: Memorabilia consist of 5 files. Included in the series is a variety of personal and mayoral related material. Memorabilia contains the Frank Krebs and Adelade Hibbert genealogies. World War II ration books, various mayoral related items, and newspaper clippings relating to Mr. Krebs’ political career are also included.

Series III: Photographs, consists of 5 files. The photographs in this series document many of the political functions attended by Mr. Krebs. Also included is a series of studio photographs of Mr. Krebs over a period of nearly 20 years.

Container Listing

Series I: Correspondence
Box	File	Description		Date

1	1	Charles Cross – including newspaper reports of his death		1911-1921
	2	J. Trevor Cross to Caroline Hibbert		1909-1910
	3	Caroline Hibbert’s will and financial papers		c. 1917
	4	Letter sent to Mary from Adelaide Krebs		July 12, 1930
	5	Dorothy Zimmerman (daughter) – including a copy of a letter sent to Red Cross requesting the release of her husband, Lt. E.F. Zimmerman because of Dorothy’s failing health		1943-1945
	6	Misc. correspondence to Adelaide Krebs		1900-1941
	7	Misc. correspondence to Frank Krebs relating to mayoral duties		1941-1946
	8	Misc. correspondence to Frank Krebs’ genealogy requests		1909-1937

Series II: Memorabilia
Box	File	Description	Date

1	9	Frank Krebs and Adelaide Hibbert genealogies
	10	WWII Ration books, H.S. Graduation Announcements	1943, 1931
	11	Service Women’s Club opening invitation U.S.S. Dayton Commissioning program & invitation - copy State Liquor Control Chairman certificate “Resolution of Tribute and Respect” from Dayton City Commissioners	1945 1944 1953 1965
	12	Speech to the Aeroproducts division of General Motors	n.d.
	13	Newspaper clippings of and about Frank Krebs’ career and family	1941-1957

Series III: Photographs
Box	File	Description	Date

1	14	Frank Krebs studio portraits	1928-1940
	15	Christening of the U.S.S. Dayton	Mar. 19, 1944
	16	Misc. group photos including Frank Krebs	1930s-1940s
	17	Misc. group meal photos including Frank Krebs	n.d.
	18	Misc. non-mayoral photographs	n.d.

2	1	Misc. oversized photographs

ITEMS FROM FRANK M. KREBS COLLECTION INCLUDED IN OVERSIZED COLLECTIONS

Collier’s magazine: December 25, 1948
Cover: “The Story of American Aviation: The Wright Brothers”

Dayton Daily News: Saturday, January 31, 1948
Headline: “Orville Wright Funeral Arranged for Monday”

The Dayton Herald: Saturday, January 31, 1948
Headline” “Orville Wright’s Funeral Monday: Famous Inventor Dies in Sleep of Heart Attack”

Dayton Journal: Saturday, January 31, 1948
Headline: “Orville Wright Dies in Sleep: Famed Dayton Inventor Victim of Heart Illness; Relatives at Bedside”

Dayton Journal: Tuesday, February 3, 1948
Headline: “Thousands Honor Orville Wright: Inventor Eulogized at Rites”