This collection, 1928-2020 (Scattered), and undated, contains biographical materials, awards, books, letters, plaques, photographs, newspaper clippings, sketches, medals, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, CDs, a U-Matic colored videocassette and a scrapbook. The majority of the collections contains photographs of Rose Traines’ metal sculptures. There are also photographs of Rose throughout her life and of her husband Robert Traines. There are letters sent to Rose by Robert before they got married (see Robert Traines Letters folder). There are letters from Michigan Governor William Milliken and his wife, Helen Wallbank Milliken, sent to Rose Traines for consecutive years while he was in office. There are also letters from Michigan state and federal politicians (see Political Letters folder). A sample was retained from sketches of metal sculptures drawn by Rose Traines. There are two autographs in the collection from American Actress Carol Channing and Miss America Mary Ann Mobley (See Autographs folder). There two folders of programs that provide details about Rose, her metal sculptures and exhibits (see Programs folders). There is one folder with a paper titled ‘sentenced to life’ which is a personal account by Rose telling her life story and listing her major accomplishments. There isa also a copper raised outline of Rose’s hand attached to a piece of wood (see Metal Hand Print folder). There are two boxes of VHS tapes, CDs, and Cassette tapes that document Rose’s metal sculpture exhibits. The oversized Box contains a scrapbook of Rose’s time in Alpha Phi, a CMU alumni frame, self-portrait art works, oversized photographs, a large love letter, and a 90th birthday signed poster.
Objects in the collection include: her childhood dress and nightie, baby clothes, CMCH anniversary medal, her Ames Draft-Pak, a mobile drafting/drawing case, and her adult, large navy blue, cotton sweater with her name monogrammed on it, The childhood clothes are a white, silk handmade little girl’s slip with matching ribbons, a littles girl’s two-piece dress with a plaid skirt with the colors red, white, blue, green, purple and yellow with cream sleeveless top with six buttons. The baby clothes are a handmade knitted baby girl’s pink sweater with matching hat with pink ribbons and two sets of boots made of silk and leather, one pair with white laces and the other with pink laces, and a baby’s pink waterproof pants with laced trim.
Biography:
Rose Wunderbaum Traines was a metal sculptress who made hundreds of art pieces which were displayed across the United States. Rose Wunderbaum was born in 1928 near Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her family owned a salvage business and moved to Montpelier, Indiana in 1932. By age 12, Rose was proficient with a welding torch. Rose worked alongside her father cutting down old trucks, cars, farm machinery and other salvageable objects, sometimes “inventing” things. After graduating high school, Rose attended Indiana State and then moved to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, with her family, to expand their business. She then attended Michigan State University, during which time she dated Robert Traines. On June 25, 1949, Rose married Robert. They had two daughters, born in 1952 and 1954. She graduated from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech and a serious interest in sculpting.
With continued interest in metal sculpting, Rose created hundreds of works of art which were either sold or donated. In 1964 Rose was invited to exhibit her work at alma matter and was soon lecturing and demonstrating her craft at schools, universities, art centers, and museums across the country. In 1983, the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel, Inc. invited her to lecture and exhibit at its international convention in Miami, Florida. Rose had over 50 solo exhibitions and many group shows. She also had a collection of awards and prizes. Rose had memberships in the Salmagundi Club, Allied Artist of America, The Copley Society of Boston, the Hilton Head Art League, National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Smithsonian Associates, the International Sculpture Center, Arts Midland, Galleries and Schools, and Art Reach of Mid-Michigan.
Rose and Robert were married for 64 years until Robert passed away at 86 years old. Rose lived to be 91, passing away in 2020 in Mount Pleasant. Rose’s Jewish faith was important to her. Many of her art works are still displayed, including one in the Park Library at CMU and another in the former Mount Pleasant Central Michigan Community Hospital (CMCH), now McLaren Central Michigan Hospital, where she volunteered in the Auxiliary. (This information is from the collection.)
