South Bend Collector Amasses 10,000 Notre Dame Items

Local resident Jonnie Rectenwal maintains a vast collection of historic Notre Dame sports memorabilia.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Collecting

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a vintage leather football helmet and antique brass key, representing a vast private collection of local sports memorabilia. — South Bend resident Jonnie Rectenwal has assembled a personal archive of 10,000 sports memorabilia pieces, preserving decades of university and local athletic history. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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South Bend resident Jonnie Rectenwal has built an expansive collection of 10,000 Notre Dame sports memorabilia items. The collection features rare artifacts ranging from game tickets predating World War II to remnants from the iconic university stadium.

Why it matters

The collection serves as a physical archive of local history, preserving specific artifacts from university landmarks and athletic events. By consolidating thousands of individual pieces, the collection highlights the cultural significance of the university to the local area.

The collection includes 10,000 individual pieces accumulated since 2019, including specific items like a 1947 playbook. Rectenwal also secured unique materials such as gold flakes recovered from the Golden Dome during its 2023 regilding.

The players

Jonnie Rectenwal

He is a 34-year-old collector based in South Bend who has amassed thousands of sports artifacts.

The details

Rectenwal sourced his vast array of items through platforms like Facebook Marketplace to secure diverse memorabilia. His collection highlights include salvaged pieces from the Notre Dame Stadium limestone and signed footballs, alongside secondary collections of Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Reds gear.

The collection includes tickets from games played before World War II.
Rectenwal officially began his memorabilia collection in 2019.
The regilding of the Golden Dome took place in 2023.

Culture Shift

This collection reflects a broader shift toward personal archiving as fans utilize online marketplaces to reclaim local history. These efforts highlight a growing societal interest in material nostalgia and the preservation of institutional artifacts.

The collection demonstrates how individuals can preserve regional heritage by salvaging items from historic local renovations and games. Residents interested in similar hobbies can utilize digital marketplaces to find and secure significant local artifacts.

The takeaway

Large-scale collecting requires consistent effort and a keen eye for sourcing rare materials through online platforms. Enthusiasts can start small by focusing on specific local landmarks or teams to build a meaningful personal archive.