The daughter of parents who came to America from Russia in 1909, Diede was born in a one-room sod house in southwest Mercer County. We often did not have the privileges and advantages of other nationalities. Nevertheless, we brought a lot of culture into the society and the offspring became progressive, hard-working citizens. Braaten said the clothing collection provides a visual addition to the first-person history Diede has provided in her many writings. They definitely maintained aspects of their Germans from Russia identity, but they adapted into the American way of doing things.
Clothing is so visible and it is often one of the first things that change.
Braaten describes Diede as a very fashionable lady who came from a family that was not wealthy. But she dressed in a way that was current with the times. Having items from North Dakotans who were not as prosperous helps us to understand the dress of all people. The Reynolds Collection focuses on clothing, textiles and related items from across the state, region and world. The collection works with the NDSU Libraries to preserve and collect items representing Germans from Russia Heritage.