Dubois County: Christian Communities in Southern Indiana, 1998-1999
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: Christian Communities in Southern Indiana, 1998-1999
Project No.
ohrc037
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 project consists of Southern Indiana inhabitants discussing
their life histories and their affiliation with area churches. Many of the
interviewees discuss growing up on a farm and community cooperation during
butchering and threshing seasons. Throughout these interviews they discuss
church history, church picnics, and the church community. They also talk about
the merger of the Congregational, Reformed and Evangelical churches into the
United Church of Christ. The interviewees discuss the changes this had on the
church ceremonies and activities. Two of the interviewees attend the Catholic
Churches in the area and they discuss traditions and changes that they have
seen in the Catholic Church since Vatican II and throughout their
lifetimes.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains ten interviews over the course of one year. Interviews range from 45 to 120 minutes. All 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
Beumer, Harry; Beumer, Catherine
April 19, 1999
Call Number
98-037
Physical Description
45 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 110 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Harry and Catherine Beumer discuss being members of St. Paul's
United Church of Christ in Holland, Indiana. Henry Beumer was raised in this
church and reminisces about the changes he has seen throughout his lifetime. He
also discusses his education and his father's construction business.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Augustina United Church of Christ
- St. Paul's Church Board
- St. Paul's League
- St. Paul's United Church of Christ
- Zoar United Methodist Church
-
-
Occupation Names
- contractor
- farmer
-
-
Personal Names
- Keller, Lori
- Overbeck, John
-
-
Place Names
- Holland, Indiana
- Pike County, Indiana
- Zoar, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church construction
- church changes
- church government
- church picnics
- church remodeling
- church youth activities
- Confirmation
- ecumenical services
- education
- funeral dinners
- German language
- Holland Centennial
- Sunday school
Interviewee
Hoppenjans, Diane
September 28,
1998
Call Number
98-035
Physical Description
54 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Diane Hoppenjans discusses her childhood in Mariah Hill,
Indiana. The topics she covers are her education, entertainment and the
Catholic Church, and family life. She discusses her teaching career and her
involvement with the Ferdinand, Indiana community. She is actively involved in
the Ferdinand Tourism Commission
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Dubois County Commission
- Dubois County Tourism Commission
- Ferdinand Tourism Commission
- Indiana State University
- Jaycee's Club
- Monte Cassino Shrine
- Tin Lizzies
-
-
Occupation Names
- educator
-
-
Personal Names
- Kemper, Jim
- Körber, Christian
- Kreinlein, Phillip
- Michelle, Jane
- Phillip, Mary
- Reichman, Ruth
-
-
Place Names
- Evansville, Indiana
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Jasper, Indiana
- Mariah Hill, Indiana
- Pfaffenweiler, Germany
- St. Meinrad, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church picnics
- church processions
- Christkindlmarkt
- college life
- community organizations
- Corpus Christi
- dating
- education
- family life
- foreign exchange program
- German heritage
- Germany trip
- historic preservation
- Lustigfest
- Monte Cassino pilgrimage
- sister city program
- tourism
- town children
- Windows to the World Program
Interviewee
Kahle, Edward
April 16, 1999
Call Number
98-038
Physical Description
28 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Edward Kahle, born in 1921, describes his childhood and
education. He explains what farm work consisted of throughout his lifetime. He
also discusses the changes in Holland, Indiana from the 1920s to the present
time. He also discusses changes in the church.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Paul's United Church of Christ
- United Methodist Church
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Schnuck, Louis
-
-
Place Names
- Holland, Indiana
- Maple Grove, Indiana
- Zoar, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- butchering
- campground
- church events
- church mergers
- community changes
- Confirmation
- Easter sunrise service
- ecumenical relationships
- education
- farming
- German language
- Great Depression
- logging
- shopping
- threshing
- transportation
Interviewee
Ley, Raymond
September 28,
1998
Call Number
98-034
Physical Description
35 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 85 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Raymond Ley discusses his career as a pastor for the United
Church of Christ. He also discusses the church ecumenical beliefs and its past
mergers with the Reformed Church and the Evangelical Church. Ley shares his
involvement with the church since he was a child as well as his education.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Congregational Christian Church
- Evangelical Synod of North America
- German Reformed Church
- Journey House
- McCormick Theological Seminary
- Mission House Academy
- Salem United Church of Christ
-
-
-
Place Names
- Boonville, Indiana
- Huntingburg, Indiana
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- St. Bernard, Ohio
-
-
Subjects
- church changes
- church choir
- church Christmas celebrations
- church membership
- church organizations
- church programs
- Communion
- Confirmation
- ecumenical work
- German language
- neighborhood ministry
- Protestant-Catholic relationship
- Religion in American Life ceremony
- urban churches
- volunteer work
Interviewee
Lindauer, Francis
September 8,
1998
Call Number
98-032
Physical Description
18 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 45 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Frances Lindauer discusses farming, childhood, and religion. He
describes the changes that have occurred in farming since he was a child. He
also discusses the use of the German language in the community. Lindauer
discusses the religious holidays he celebrated as a child and as an adult. He
also shares his concern for the displacement of farms and farmers by the
development of Ferdinand.
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Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Johannaman School
- Monte Cassino Shrine
- St. Ferdinand Catholic Church
- St. Henry Catholic Church
-
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Jasper, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- alcohol
- butchering
- Catholicism
- childhood activities
- church picnics
- farm machinery
- farming
- Ferdinand city development
- German language
- German personality
- German traditions
- Great Depression
- People's Pilgrimage
- Rogation Days
- wheat threshing
- winemaking
Interviewee
Peters, Doris; Peters. Clayton
March 18, 1999
Call Number
98-036
Physical Description
55 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Clayton and Doris Peters talk about their childhood and
educational experiences in Dubois County. Doris Discusses St. Paul's United
Church of Christ and its changes. Clayton Peters describes farming with his
father. He also discusses neighborhood butchering and threshing and his
childhood jobs on the farm. Clayton also shares a brief timeline of his
career.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Augustina United Church of Christ
- Holland Dairies
- Salem United Church of Christ
- St. Paul's United Church of Christ
-
-
Occupation Names
- bookkeeper
- dairy farmer
- farmer
- fire fighter
-
-
Personal Names
- Schnuck, Louis
-
-
Place Names
- Evansville, Indiana
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Holland, Indiana
- Huntingburg, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- butchering
- Catholic community
- childhood activities
- church choir
- church events
- church mergers
- church picnics
- Confirmation
- farming
- ecumenical relationships
- education
- German language
- Germany trip
- Great Depression
- threshing
- women's guild
- World War II
Interviewee
Schmidt, Gilbert
May 12, 1999
Call Number
98-040
Physical Description
42 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Gilbert Schmidt, born in 1926, describes his life as a farmer
and the modernization of farming through tractors and computerization. He
discusses the family farm transition from a general farm to a primarily dairy
farm. Schmidt discusses his childhood in Warrick County and his life long
affiliation with St. Matthew's United Church of Christ. He reminisces about his
Confirmation and the church's activities.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 4-H Club
- Holland Dairies
- St. Matthew's United Church of Christ
- Tecumseh High School
-
-
Occupation Names
- farmer
- Sunday school superintendant
-
-
Personal Names
- Combs, Marjorie
- Held, Konrad
-
-
Place Names
- Lynnville, Indiana
- Warrick County, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- butchering
- blackberry wine
- childhood activities
- church changes
- church council
- church organizations
- Confirmation
- dairy farming
- education
- farming
- gardening
- German language
- Great Depression
- minister search
- moonshine
- school basketball
- special services
- technological changes
- turkey farming
Interviewee
Schroeder, Melvin
September 8,
1998
Call Number
98-031
Physical Description
22 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Melvin Shroeder, born November 7, 1925, discusses his memories
of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Dubois County, Indiana. He describes
past church picnics, Confirmation rituals and German church services that were
separated by gender. He continues by describing present church activities
including picnics, Confirmation, and services. Shroeder also shares his
personal family experiences and community involvement in Dubois County.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Boy Scouts of America
- Holland Dairies
- St. Paul's United Church of Christ
-
-
Occupation Names
- carpenter
-
-
Personal Names
- Schnuck, Louis
-
-
Place Names
- Holland, Indiana
- Ladbergen, Germany
-
-
Subjects
- child discipline
- church activities
- church architecture
- church changes
- church construction
- church picnics
- community involvement
- Confirmation
- education
- Evangelical and Reformed church
- farming
- gender segregation
- German language
- local churches
- murals
- planing mill
- social activities
- wooden shoes
Interviewee
Tollas, William
April 16, 1999;
April 28, 1999
Call Number
98-039
Physical Description
39 pages; 4 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
William Tollas, former pastor of St. Matthew's United Church of
Christ, discusses his career as a minister for the United Church of Christ. He
shares his educational experiences at Michigan State and at Eden Seminary after
his tour in World War II. He also discusses the merger of the Congregational,
Evangelical, and Reformed churches. Tollas talks about church government as
well as church activities.
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Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Buckskin Evangelical Church
- Eden Seminary
- Good Samaritan Cooperation
- Indiana-Kentucky United Church of Christ
Conference
- Lincoln Land Association
- Michigan State College
- St. Matthew's United Church of Christ
-
-
-
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Personal Names
- Bender, August
- Schneider, Karl
-
-
Place Names
- Baroda, Michigan
- Batesville, Indiana
- Evansville, Indiana
- Lynnville, Indiana
- Moscow Mills, Missouri
- Troy, Missouri
-
-
Subjects
- bible study groups
- charismatic Christian movement
- church mergers
- church youth activities
- college life
- community involvement
- Confirmation
- Congregational Church merger
- cooperatives
- evangelical seminary
- German traditions
- lay leadership
- ministry
- racial segregation
- synod government
- women's guild
- World War II
- worship services
Interviewee
Werne, Benno; Werne, Bernitha
September 22,
1998
Call Number
98-033
Physical Description
38 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 74 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Benno (Bing) and Bernitha Werne talk about their involvement
with and responsibilities to St. Henry Catholic Church. They discuss their
childhoods, education and St. Henry, Indiana. Benno also discusses serving in
World War II and the disability he acquired as a result. He talks about his
hometown St. Meinrad, Indiana. The Wernes also describe the changes in the
Catholic church since Vatican II.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Dale High School
- Monte Cassino Shrine
- St. Ferdinand Catholic School
- St. Henry Catholic Church
- St. Meinrad Catholic Church
-
-
Place Names
- Holland, Indiana
- Mariah Hill, Indiana
- St. Henry, Indiana
- St. Meinrad, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church maintenance
- church picnics
- Dubois County public schools
- education
- huckster wagon
- German language
- Great Depression
- religious ceremonies
- Rogation Days
- Vatican II
- World War II
