Skip to main content

Heilner, Sanford Joseph, 1936-1985

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1936 - 1985

Biographical History

Sanford Joseph Heilner (1936-1985) was an entrepreneur and genealogist.

Sanford Joseph Heilner was born on April 21, 1936, to Sanford and Marion Yancey Heilner. He was raised in Baker, Oregon. In 1956, when he was 19, he was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stuttgart, Germany. While there he learned to love not only the German people but the German language. As always he learned it perfectly and used it throughout his life. Upon his return from his mission, Sanford completed his college education at Brigham Young University, married Margaret Madsen, had a family, and became successful in his professional life. Around 1977, he decided to teach himself to read Old German script in order to translate over 1000 family letters. He and Margaret visited Germany several times to facilitate this project. Sanford died October 26, 1985, at the age of 49.

Citation:
UPB files, August 2012 (born April 21, 1936; entrepreneur; genealogist; creative as a child; taught himself to read Old German Script; son of Sanford and Marion Heilner; raised in Baker Oregon; attended Brigham Young University; served a mission in Stuggart, Germany; married and had children; translated Heilner family letters; took trips to Germany; verified information in Germany; made contributions to art, music, film, and historical research; died October 26, 1985)

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Aron Heilner family letters and documents, approximately 1813-2010

 Series
Identifier: MSS 6721 Series 1
Scope and Contents Materials include letters written to brothers Sigmund and Seligmann Heilner, living in America, from the Heilner family who were living in Germany, including their father, Aron. Also includes letters sent between Sigmund and Seligmann, and between them and their spouses and family members in America. Each handwritten letter is either transcribed from English or translated from German (many in Old German script) to English. Also contains photographs, transcribed entries from Sigmund Heilner's...
Dates: approximately 1813-2010
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman collection on the Aron Heilner family

Heilner family business letters and documents, 1826-2010

 Series
Identifier: MSS 6721 Series 2
Scope and Contents Materials include letters (many of which are transcriptions with underlined portions that point out the references to business dealings), and documents related to Sigmund and Seligmann Heilner's business dealings in America, such as deeds, checks, receipts, bills of sale, indenture papers, and agreements. Many of these records relate to their department store in Baker City, Oregon. Also contains some materials that add context to the management of the businesses, such as photographs,...
Dates: 1826-2010
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman collection on the Aron Heilner family

Heilner family letters and diaries, 1853-2010

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 6721 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents Materials include letters written to brothers Sigmund and Seligmann Heilner, living in America, from the Heilner family, including their father, Aron, who were living in Germany. Also includes letters sent between Sigmund and Seligmann, and between them and their spouses and family members in America. Also contains photographs, ephemera, Sigmund's transcribed diary, and other historical clippings and documents that give context to the subjects and places mentioned in the letters. The family...
Dates: 1853-2010
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman collection on the Aron Heilner family / Aron Heilner family letters and documents

Heilner family letters between American family members and associates, approximately 1860-2009

 Series
Identifier: MSS 6721 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Materials include personal letters written between American family members and associates. Also includes documents interwoven throughout the letters that give context to the subjects discussed, such as photocopies of documents from other series, clippings and articles, and books about Baker City, Oregon. Materials date from approximately 1860 to 2009.

Dates: approximately 1860-2009
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman collection on the Aron Heilner family

Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman collection on the Aron Heilner family

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 6721
Scope and Contents Collection contains letters written to brothers Sigmund and Seligmann Heilner, Jewish German immigrants in America, sent from the Heilner family in Germany. Also includes letters sent between Sigmund and Seligmann in America, and between them and their spouses and family members in America. Each handwritten letter is either transcribed from English or translated from German (many in Old German script) to English. Also contains business records, mainly about the Heilner's department store in...
Dates: approximately 1813-2013; Majority of material found within 1850-1920
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman historical background on Heilner family, approximately 1813-2010

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 6721 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Materials include photographs, maps, genealogy, and other collected documents and publications, including written historical narrative on Germany and the family of Aron Heilner. Dated from approximately 1813 to 2009.

Dates: approximately 1813-2010
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman collection on the Aron Heilner family / Aron Heilner family letters and documents
Image of Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman introductory letter to Heilner family
Image of Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire...

Sanford Joseph Heilner and Claire Heilner Freedman introductory letter to Heilner family

 Digital Record
Identifier: MSS6721_S1_SS1_I1_B1_F1
Dates: 1977-2010
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 5
Digital Record 1
Collection 1
 
Subject
Baker City (Or.) 6
Letters 6
Businessmen 5
Photographs 3
Printed ephemera 3
∨ more
Business records 2
Diaries 2
Family histories 2
Histories (Literary works) 2
Businessmen -- Oregon 1
Department stores -- Oregon 1
Genealogies 1
Graphs 1
Idaho 1
Jews -- United States -- History 1
Maps 1
Photocopies 1
San Francisco (Calif.) 1
+ ∧ less
 

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.