Dubois County: Hoosier Faiths, Hoosier Communities, 1996-1997
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleDubois County: Hoosier Faiths, Hoosier
Communities, 1996-1997
Project No.
ohrc036
Interviews
10 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
This collection of interviews deals with life in Hoosier communities in southern
Indiana, primarily during the mid-twentieth century. Emphasis is placed on the use
of the German language, German culture, and religion, and how they have molded the
community.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains ten interviews over the course of two years. Interviews range from 50 to 165 minutes. Most of the
interviews consist of typed transcripts and audio tapes.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Dilger, Theodore
July 9,
1996
Call Number
96-100
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Theodore Dilger speaks about life in the early twentieth
century. He discusses some of his jobs, such as farming, working on a threshing
crew, and later his position as town trustee. He also goes into detail about
his education in a one-room schoolhouse, his teachers, and when the use of the
German language was discontinued.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Ferdinand Catholic School
-
-
Personal Names
- Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- St. Meinrad, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- Dubois County public schools
- community decline
- farming
- farming changes
- high school
- moonshining
- one-room schoolhouses
- Prohibition
- school activities
- school construction
- school subjects
- threshing
Interviewee
Haake, Roy
July 31,
1996
Call Number
96-102
Physical Description
51 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 150 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Roy Haake, born 1921, grew up in Ferdinand, Indiana. He speaks
about the importance of the moonshine industry to the economic stability of the
area during the Great Depression. He discusses his schooling and the importance
of religion to both himself and the community. His family owned the
Ferdinand News which he took over after his
military service during World War II. He describes how the paper was printed
and discusses the nuances of the industry.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Ferdinand News
- Ferdinand State Forest
- Kitten Machine Shop
- Works Progress Administration
-
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Tell City, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church picnics
- Dubois County public schools
- farming
- Ferdinanad Centennial
-
Ferdinand Flyer
train
- furniture factory
- Great Depression
- moonshine
- newspaper publishing
- recreational events
- religion
- school consolidation
- tobacco farming
- turtle soup
Interviewee
Hoffman, Lavella
August 26,
1997
Call Number
96-105
Physical Description
32 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Lavella Hoffman, born 1904, grew up in Haysville and moved to
Portersville when she was married in 1922. She speaks about her early life
including the non-use of German, the holidays, and particularly the influence
of religion in her life. She also discusses some memories of World War I,
Prohibition, and the Great Depression.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Christ Evangelical Church
- St. Paul's Lutheran Church
-
-
Place Names
- Haysville, Indiana
- Portersville, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- family history
- gardening
- German language
- Great Depression
- holidays
- Prohibition
- recreational events
- religion
- World War I
Interviewee
Jackle, Ceril; Jackle, Cleda
August 27,
1997
Call Number
96-107
Physical Description
75 pp. 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 105 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ceril, born 1912, and Cleda Jackle, born 1914, speak about their
life in Dubois County. They discuss the use of the German language at home and
in church. They speak about their early life including their schooling,
courtship, and life together farming.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Christ Evangelical Church
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Lochenour School
- St. Paul's Lutheran Church
-
-
Place Names
- Haysville, Indiana
- Portersville, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church events
- courtship
- Dubois County public schools
- electrification
- farming
- German language
- moonshine
- Prohibition
- World War I
Interviewee
Kearby, Minnie
August 26,
1997
Call Number
96-104
Physical Description
not transcribed; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Minnie Kearby, born in April 1893, discusses her early childhood
and education. She recalls growing up on a farm in Ireland, Indiana and all the
work that went into it. She discusses World War I. Kearby, talks about the
changes that have come about in farming, schooling, transportation, and
business. She shares anecdotes about her life.
-
Keywords
-
-
Place Names
- Ireland, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- family
- farming
- religion
Interviewee
Keller, Ernest
August 31,
1997
Call Number
96-109
Physical Description
87 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 165 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ernest Keller, born 1915, speaks about life during the early
twentieth century. He discusses his family history, school, the Great
Depression, and religious activities. Descriptions of Prohibition and
moonshining are included. He also discusses some of his jobs, such as logging,
farming, and the construction of the Ferdinand State Forest.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Civilian Conservation Corps
- Dubois County Bank
- Ferdinand Farm Insurance Company
- Works Progress Administration
-
-
Personal Names
- Capone, Al
-
-
Place Names
- Devil's Corner, Indiana
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Portersville, Indiana
- St. Croix, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- butchering
- Dubois County public schools
- family history
- farming
- German language
- Great Depression
- insurance business
- lake construction
- logging
- moonshine
- Prohibition
- religious tensions
- tobacco farming
- turtle soup
Interviewee
Krampe, August; Krampe, Frances
July 31,
1996
Call Number
96-103
Physical Description
not transcribed; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 150
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
August and Frances Krampe discuss their memories of childhood,
farming, education, and religion in Ferdinand, Indiana. They share details of
farm life, butchering, threshing, and farm changes. The Krampes discuss church
activities, religious instruction and church picnics. They also describe the
moving of their house when Interstate 69 was constructed.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Ferdinand Farmers Mutual Insurance
- Kitten Engines
- St. Ferdinand Catholic Church
-
-
Occupation Names
- farmer
- secretary
- township trustee
-
-
Place Names
- Dale, Indiana
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Harrison Township, Indiana
- Santa Clause, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- business
- butchering
- church activities
- church picnics
- employment
- family history
- farming
- farm changes
- farm machinery
- gardening
- German language
- Great Depression
- house moving
- insurance
- moonshine
- New Deal programs
- one-room schools
- processions
- religious instruction
- schooling
- threshing
- town changes
Interviewee
Loewenstein, Albert
July 17,
1996
Call Number
96-101
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Albert Lowewenstein worked at the Holland National Bank for over
fifty years. He discusses the importance of his church in his life and the
community with reminiscences of the church choir, picnics, and other religious
events. He also speaks about his education and the schools of the community as
well as the banking business during the Great Depression.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Holland National Bank
- St. James Lutheran Evangelical Church
-
-
Place Names
- Holland, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- banking business
- church choir
- church picnics
- Confirmation
- Dubois County public schools
- farming
- Great Depression
- huckster wagon
- local businesses
- local history
Interviewee
Mann, Ralph; Mann, Hilda
August 27,
1997
Call Number
96-106
Physical Description
not transcribed; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 50 minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ralph and Hilda Mann speak about farming, family traditions, and
Lutheran communities in Dubois County.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. John's Lutheran School
-
-
Subjects
- family traditions
- farming
- Lutheran communities
Interviewee
Oeding, Gregory; Oeding, Rufina
August 30,
1997
Call Number
96-108
Physical Description
not transcribed; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 140
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Gregory Oeding and his wife, Rufina, discuss their early lives
and education in the small German communities of Dubois County, Indiana. They
recall family life and farming, including hog butchering and wheat threshing,
winemaking and moonshine, and the German language. They describe life during
the Great Depression. The Oedings discuss the role religion has played in their
lives, recall church traditions and gatherings, and talk about the changes that
have occurred since Vatican II. They discuss the changes in the area over the
years including health care, school, language, and farming.
-
Keywords
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- St. Henry, Indiana
- St. Meinrad, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- butchering
- church picnics
- church traditions
- Dubois County public schools
- family history
- family life
- farming
- German language
- Great Depression
- health care
- moonshine
- religion
- sausage making
- turtle soup
- Vatican II
- wheat threshing
- winemaking
