Hoeltzel & Reichardt Family History
The Riechardts first immigrated to America in the first half of the 1800s, with Edward Riechardt making his way as an 8-year-old in 1852.
Born in Little Rock, 1899, to Jacob Hoeltzel and Emma Reichardt, Pauline’s parents belonged to one of Arkansas’s earliest German immigrant families.
Pauline's mother Emma was heavily involved with education reform and activism, and local politics and social movements. Emma and her sister Eva both worked locally supporting the right for women to vote. Carrying on the tradition of civic activity and fundraising, Emma Reichardt served as a charter member of the Little Rock Women's Suffrage League.
Edward became well established as a businessman in Little Rock. He worked in his brother-in-law Frederick Kramer’s general store Kramer & Miller, and then later partnered with Gottlieb Eicholz trading cotton. Additionally, he owned a portion of the 1st Street Railway System and the railroad bridge over the Arkansas River.
Between Edward and his brother, who is described as one of Little Rock’s most successful and wealthy businessmen, the Reichardts flourished in the growing city. Pauline’s family had ties to the Little Rock Phone Company, the Exchange National Bank, the German Building and Loan Association, and the expanding railroad systems.
Built in 1871, the family home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is still standing and has been featured in historic preservation tours and magazines.
The Reihardt House
1201 S. Welch St. Little Rock, Arkansas
Pauline Circa 1915, Little Rock High School Yearbook
Early Life & Education
Pauline attended Kramer Elementary school in Little Rock as a child, and later Little Rock High School (modern-day Central High School).
Yearbooks from her high school days reflect her congeniality and charisma, as well as her interest in clubs and civil service. She kept mementos from dances, events, parties, and fundraisers that she participated in. Her favorite clubs were the Red Domino Society (a literacy club), Comedy, and debate.
She graduated from Little Rock High in June of 1916 and went on to finish her Bachelor's degree by the age of 19 in 1918. She attended college at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in German studies with a minor in English by 1919. By the time she returned to Arkansas in the 1920s, she would have a Master's degree in German.
Little Rock Junior College (left image) & students between classes at UA Little Rock. Old Student Union building in the background (right image).
Little Rock Junior College (Jaycee College) & the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Pauline was one of the first teachers when the Little Rock Junior College opened in 1927. She was enlisted as one of the founding faculty members for the new Jaycee College when it opened that fall.
The small size of classes helped to foster a sense of family and community between the students and professors. Many of Pauline's former students look back during this period fondly, especially when remembering their classes with Ms. Hoeltzel.
Her students described her as being an “exciting, demanding teacher.”
Pauline would stay with the Junior College as it gained accreditation and transitioned to a four-year degree institution. When talks began of the Junior College joining the University of Arkansas System, Pauline worked with the then-college president Granville Davis to ensure the transition went smoothly.
At the newly formed University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), she continued to inspire and encourage students. Pauline enjoyed working directly with her students and remained active in the classroom and extracurricular activities and events.
During her time as a professor there, she helped to establish a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, with which she stayed active as a faculty sponsor.
Pauline taught English, German, served as the faculty adviser for the German Language Club called Der Deutsche Verein, was the sponsor for the Phi Theta Kappa chapter, helped establish and sponsor the Trojan yearbook, and sponsored The Chatter which was an early version of UALR's student-run newspaper. Her high standards and expectations of her students extended to clubs too. The UALR newspaper won an award for the best Junior College Paper in the state for 1932.
Her high level of personal excellence and expectations of others may be one of the reasons she was chosen to become the head of the Humanities department, the Foreign Language department, and then finally the English department. During this time as a full-time professor, she steadily continued her work serving as the 1942 President of the American Association of University Women.
In 1950, Pauline was appointed by Governor Sid McMath to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, becoming the first woman to hold a position on the board. It would take an additional 14 years before another woman would be appointed.
“Pauline Hoeltzel was by all accounts one of the most respected and revered teachers in the history of this institution.”
- UALR Chancellor James H. Young 1989
Clubs, Committees, and Civil Service
Outside of her work as a professor and mentor, Pauline worked tirelessly to better her community.
She was involved with teaching organizations, ensuring the voice of women educators was heard.
In 1953 Pauline and J.H. Atkinson, a fellow professor from the Little Rock Jr. College and UALR, helped to found the Pulaski County Historical Society. Pauline went on to serve as President of the organization. The Society awarded Pauline a lifelong membership in 1988 for her work. In 1987 Pauline was chosen as the recipient of the Parker Westbrook Award for Historic Preservation.
Pauline held a soft spot for veterans and active-duty military members. Her work as the United Spanish War Veterans Auxiliary President gained her recognition. Additionally, she was given an award for her work with the Council of Social Agency's Volunteer Service Bureau for her work during WWII.
Pauline was interested and active in local and national politics.
Appointed by Judge Newton, in 1941 she became a member of the Local Defense Council.
Her interest and support of the Democratic Party gained her tickets to see the 1941 Presidential Inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Pauline served both as the Justice of the Peace in 1942 and the Deputy Tax Assessor for Pulaski County.
During 1944, she served as the Democratic Party Organization's Secretary and also worked on David Terry's gubernatorial campaign.
She continued her political activities in 1964 by working with the Women's Chamber of Commerce.
In a 1986 interview with Pauline, she admits that if it had been possible during the time to run for office and keep up with her workload at the University, she would have run for a political office, perhaps even the legislature.
The Legacy of a Legend
Pauline Hoeltzel was described in a 1984 article in the UALR Review as "classy, sophisticated, genteel, intelligent, mannered, strong, individualistic, exacting."
She retired after 37 years with the University. Claiming it is an exaggeration, some teased that after her retirement she was involved with so many departments and side projects that when she left in the 1960s, it took 5 people to replace her.
She received over 163 notes of congratulation on her retirement. Among former students, coworkers, department chairs and personal friends she received notes from:
- The National Geographic Society
- Duke University
- University of Michigan
- The National Council of the Episcopal Church
- The Terry Family
- The Little Rock First Lutheran Church
- State of Arkansas Department of Education
- The Christian Theological Seminary in Indiana
- University of North Carolina at Raleigh
In recognition of her years of service and dedication, she was presented with a DDT degree at a ceremony hosted by the University. Collections were made and she was presented with a brand new color t.v. set, a silver punch bowl, and an electric typewriter. Over 200 people attended and showered her with praise, memories, and good wishes.
An indication of her impact on the community, in 1949 Pauline was voted by the Arkansas Democrat readers as "Little Rock's Woman of the Year."
A major achievement of Ms. Hoeltzel was her work in passing legislation to stagger the terms of board members. The affected groups were state, educational, charity, and penal boards who before were not subject to regularly scheduled terms.
In 1992, UALR established an award in her honor for students who exhibit the same passion for community and campus leadership.
Bibliography
- The Arkansas historical Quartely, Vol 60, No 1. (Spring 2001), pp 122-125
- The Arkansas historical Quartely, Vol 60, No 1. (Spring 2001), pp 122-125
- Arkansas Historic Preservation Sandwiching in History Tour, May 7th, 2010
- National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Reichardt House, 1975.
- Pauline R. Hoeltzel Papers, MSS 97-35, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Arkansas Studies Institute, File 1.
- Eva Reichardt Masingill and Pauline
- Hoeltzel papers, UALR.MS.0094. UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.
- Bill Mourot Interview with Pauline Hoeltzel, UALR.ORH.0021, UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.
- Ellen Terry Recording about Pauline Hoeltzel, UALR.ORH.0386, UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.
- Frances Ross Interviews Pauline Hoeltzel, UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.
For more information about Pauline Hoeltzel's life or the Reichardt Family, check out these archival collections!
- The Pauline R. Hoeltzel Papers
- The Eva Reichardt Masingill & Pauline Hoeltzel Papers
- Bill Mourot's Inverview with Pauline Hoeltzel
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock Photograph Collection
- Horizons: 100 Arkansas Women of Achivement Records, 1980
- Collection of Ed Reichardt’s Store Records, located at Arkansas State Archives
Created by Laura Fuentes 2020