The Archive

Photographs

Portraits, gravestones, military service, and family gatherings — arranged by era, oldest first. Each one links back to a name on the family tree.

Nineteenth & early twentieth century

1719 – 1919
Facsimile of the oath of allegiance signed by the Snow Molly's passengers at Philadelphia, 10 September 1737, with Johann Philipp Kratzer's signature last in the left column
The oath of allegiance signed by the Snow Molly’s passengers at the Philadelphia courthouse — Johann Philipp Kratzer’s own signature is the last in the left column. Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol. II, p. 177
10 September 1737
Heinrich Kratzer's German-inscribed tombstone
Heinrich Kratzer's tombstone, with a family translation alongside it
1719–1778
Printed roll of the 4th Company, 4th Battalion, Northampton County Militia, listing Anthony Kratzer as Ensign and Philip Kratzer in the 4th Class
The militia roll: 4th Company, 4th Battalion, Northampton County — Anthony Kratzer, Ensign; Philip Kratzer, 4th Class. Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Ser., Vol. VIII, p. 339
20 April 1782
Philip Krotzer's headstone, Clarion County
Philip Krotzer's headstone
1763–1841
A cube-shaped monument inscribed Our Grandparents Krotzer, marking Philip Krotzer's own grave at Churchville Cemetery
Philip Krotzer's second grave marker, Churchville Cemetery
at Philip's grave
Clarion County Courthouse
Clarion County Courthouse
present day
Henry J. Krotzer, portrait
Henry J. Krotzer
1833–1909
Henry J. Krotzer (2nd row, 2nd from left) with extended family in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, soon after the Civil War
Henry J. Krotzer, 2nd row 2nd from left, with family in Clarion Co., PA — five generations and 129 years before his great-great-great-grandchildren
soon after 1865
Duran Krotzer, young portrait
Duran Krotzer, before the Navy
c. 1910
Frank Zurawka, Mary Zebroski, and their children Hattie and John (Lala), circa 1896
Frank Zurawka, Mary Zebroski, Hattie and John ("Lala")
c. 1896
Josephine Zebroski, Adam Jankowski, and their children Stella and Stanley, who raised Hattie and John Zurawka
Mary's sister Josephine Zebroski, Adam Jankowski, Stella and Stanley
early 1900s
The armored cruiser USS Montana
USS Montana, Duran's ship
c. 1911–1919
Lillian Rose Stafinski with her sister Ann, 1917
Lillian Stafinski ("Granny") and her sister Ann
1917
John Francis Zurawka ("Lala") in U.S. Army uniform, WWI
John Francis Zurawka ("Lala") — off to France
WWI, 1917–1919
John Zurawka and Lillian Stafinski's wedding, June 21 1920
John and Lillian's wedding
21 June 1920
Laura May Chitwood (right), with a companion, young portrait
Laura May Chitwood, before she became Laura Krotzer
before 1916

Mid-century

1919 – 1959
George Milton Krotzer, formal portrait
George Milton Krotzer
1919–1978
George Milton Krotzer in Navy uniform, beside a car
George, U.S. Navy
service years
Reginald F. Zurawka, Christine "Penny" Zurawka's younger brother, who died at age 11
"Our Darling" Reginald F. Zurawka
d. 1936, age 11
A hand-drawn Father's Day card Reggie Zurawka made for his father, Lala, June 1936
Reggie's hand-drawn Father's Day card to Lala
June 1936
Krotzer brothers, 1939
Krotzer Brothers
1939
Robert Keith Krotzer, U.S. Navy portrait
Robert Keith Krotzer, U.S. Navy
WWII era
Christine "Penny" Zurawka, U.S. Navy portrait
Christine "Penny" Zurawka, U.S. Navy
WWII era
Robert Keith Krotzer's Navy rating badge, framed — eagle and chevrons over a pharmacist's red cross
Robert's Navy rating badge, kept framed
WWII era
Newspaper clipping of Christine "Penny" Zurawka as a Navy Nurse
"Penny at War" — Navy Nurse
WWII era
Robert Keith Krotzer and Christine "Penny" Zurawka, wartime portrait
Robert & Penny, during the war
WWII era
Laura, Robert, and Duran, captioned Home from the War
"Laura, my Dad, Duran. Home from the War."
WWII era
Detroit newspaper clipping, Witnesses Japanese Formal Surrender, naming Robert K. Krotzer
"Witnesses Japanese Formal Surrender" — the Detroit papers pick up the story
2 Sept 1945
Card certifying Robert Keith Krotzer's presence aboard USS Pilotfish for the Japanese surrender, signed by Fleet Admiral Nimitz, Vice Admiral Lockwood, and Admiral Halsey
Signed by Nimitz, Lockwood, and Halsey — carried in his wallet ever after
2 Sept 1945
The wreck of USS Pilotfish, photographed underwater
The Pilotfish today — expended as a target ship in the postwar Bikini atomic tests, resting at about 80 feet
sunk postwar, Bikini Atoll
Robert Keith Krotzer and Christine Zurawka's wedding party
Robert & Christine's wedding party, 1946
1946
Marion's cabin in Winchester, Tennessee, where Robert and Christine spent their honeymoon
Marion's cabin, Winchester, TN — the honeymoon
1946
A rifle with fixed bayonet, kept among the family's collection of keepsakes
A rifle, kept among the family's keepsakes
kept by the family
An antique double-barrel shotgun, kept among the family's collection of keepsakes
An antique shotgun, kept among the family's keepsakes
kept by the family
A vintage 48-star American flag, kept by the family
A 48-star flag, kept by the family
kept by the family
Easter 1959 at the Zurawka's
Easter, at the Zurawka's
1959
more to come —
this archive grows
as photos are added