Dubois County: Religion, Community and Ethnic Identity, 1995-1996
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: Religion, Community and Ethnic Identity, 1995-1996
Project No.
ohrc038
Interviews
11 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 the role of religion and
ethnicity, specifically German-American, in Dubois County, Indiana. Subjects
range from church celebrations and events to the use of nuns as teachers in the
public schools. The use of the German language in the community is also widely
covered, such as where it was used, who spoke it, and when it began to change
primarily to English.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains eleven interviews over the course of one year. Interviews range from 74 to 220 minutes. All interviews
consist of audio tapes and some have typed transcripts.
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
Abel-Crecelius, Maria
August 22,
1995;
May 28, 1996
Call Number
95-041
Physical Description
not transcribed; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 137
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Maria Abel-Crecelious is a naturalist for the Patoka Lake
Reservoir maintained by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. She was
interested in stories and interviewed her neighbors to satisfy her interest and
preserve their memories. She describes the process of making and working two
life-size puppets, Hazel and Rosie, for which she and another woman received a
grant. She was hired by the DNR and quickly became involved in the Patoka
Heritage Collection where she was responsible for gathering the memories of
those families forced to move from the construction of the reservoir. She also
discusses the multiple uses of hte reservoir and interactions with those who
visit.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- Kentucky Foundation for Women
-
-
Place Names
- Patoka Lake, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- atrifacts
- Kitten steam engine
- log rafts
- moonshine
- oral history
- Patoka Heritage Collection
- puppets
- youth programs
Interviewee
Dilger, Theodore; Dilger, Irma
August 18,
1995
Call Number
95-040
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 100 minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Theodore and Irma Dilger speak abou the history of Ferdinand,
their family history, growing up during the Great Depression, and church
events. Theodore became the township trustee in later years, and discusses some
of the debate about the influence of religion on the schools, and the
controversy over school consolidation.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Ferdinand Catholic School
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- St. Meinrad, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church
- church events
- Dubois County public schools
- farming
- gardening
- German language
- Great Depression
- hoboes
- hog prices
- logging
- one-room schoolhouses
- school consolidation
- threshing machines
- turtle soup
- World War II
Interviewee
Doane, Ruth Ellen
August 16,
1995
Call Number
95-036
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 117
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ruth Doane, born 1936, speaks about her early life, becoming a
nun, and earning a master's degree in math from Cornell Unviersity. She became
a teacher and discusses the various schools where she was employed, the
students, and how she taught. She also discusses the history of Jasper, Sisters
of Providence, and German-American traditions in Dubois County.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Sisters of Providence
- St. Ferdinand Parish
-
-
-
Place Names
- Jasper, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- Catholicism
- German-American traditions
Interviewee
Gelhausen, Sylvia
August 17,
1995
Call Number
95-037
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 83
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Sister Syliva Gelhausen discusses her early life and education
in the small German-Catholic farming community of Ferdinand, Indiana. She
speaks of the importance of religion and family in her life. She recalls
entering the convent and her various teaching experiences. She discusses the
many changes that have come about in both religious life and education. Sr.
Sylvia discusses local history and the once prevalent use of the German
language throughout the area. She also talks about her religious life
today.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Cornell University
- Monastery Immaculate Conception
- Providence High School
- Sisters of Providence
- St. Ferdinand Catholic School
- St. Mary of the Woods College
- St. Patrick's School
-
-
Place Names
- Chicago, Illinois
- Dusseldorf, Germany
- Evanston, Illinois
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Jasper, Indiana
-
-
Occupation Names
- math teacher
- nun
-
-
Subjects
- campus riots
- communion
- Corpus Christi
- education changes
- German-American traditions
- schooling
- students
- religious life
- teaching
- Vatican II
Interviewee
Harder, Anette; Seitz, Calvin G.
August 15,
1995
Call Number
95-035
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 115
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Scope and Content Note
Anette Harder, born on January 13, 1919, and Calvin Seitz, born
on April 22, 1926, with some friends, speak about their schooling, farm life,
the Great Depression, religion, and German-American traditions in Dubois
County. They recall their early family lives including food, the German
language, threshing and, religion. They discusses the changes in schooling,
farming, and the church. They talk about the history of the area. They also
discuss the role religion plays in their lives today.
Access Status
Open
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Baseline School, Indiana
- Christ Church
- St. Paul's Church
-
-
Place Names
- Haysville, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- family life
- farm life
- foodways
- German language
- Great Depression
- one-room schoolhouses
- religion
- threshing
Interviewee
Lueken, Norbert
August 25,
1995
Call Number
95-043
Physical Description
44 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 150 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Norbert Lueken speaks about his family history, school and the
various jobs he held. Later, he describes becoming interested in history and
joining several local and state historical associations.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Knights of Columbus
- Ohio Valley Hardware
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
-
-
Personal Names
- Buettner, Julius
- Schuct, John
-
-
Place Names
- Birdseye, Indiana
- Evansville, Indiana
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Jasper, Indiana
- Schnellville, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- Dubois County public schools
- electrification
- German language
- historical associations
- historical museums
- religion
- school activities
- World War II
Interviewee
Olinger, Alice
August 18,
1995
Call Number
95-038
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 102
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Mary Elizabeth Olinger, better known as Alice, born in 1913,
discusses her early life and education. She talks about her family, teaching
and the changes that have occurred in schools. She speaks about about the large
role religion plays in her life, the traditional services of the area's
Catholic churches, and the community events through the parish. She speaks of
the effects of Vatican II. Olinger discusses some local history, genealogy, and
the prevalence of the German language.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Monastery Immaculate Conception
- Monte Cassino
- St. Ferdinand Parish
-
-
Family Names
- Broerman
- Laake
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church picnics
- Dubois County public schools
- genealogy
- German language
- Great Depression
- local history
- religion
- special services
- teaching
- Vatican II
Interviewee
Olinger, Wilfred M.
August 29,
1995
Call Number
95-046
Physical Description
40 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Wilfred Olinger, born 1910, grew up near Ferdinand, Indiana and
speaks about his early life, school, playing baseball, and Prohibition. He also
speaks about the importance of religion and the Catholic church in his life and
the community. He describes the religious celebrations, masses, and the use or
non-use of the German language on those occasions.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Ferdinand Furniture Company
- Ku Klux Klan
- Moebe Furniture
-
-
Occupation Names
- town treasurer
-
-
Personal Names
- Schotno, John
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Huntingburg, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- baseball
- Catholicism
- Dubois County public schools
- German language
- Great Depression
- local government
- moonshine
- Prohibition
- religious ceremonies
- World War I
Interviewee
Rauscher, Jeanette E.
August 25,
1995
Call Number
95-044
Physical Description
59 pages; 4 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 220 minutes; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Jeanette Rauscher, born 1908, speaks about her early life,
family history, and schooling. She also describes the church camp at Maple
Grove, Indiana, and discusses the various church denominations in the area. She
also speaks a good deal about farming and life during the Great Depression.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Dubois County Historical Society
- Emmanuel Evangelical Church
- Homemakers Club
- Purdue University
- Rural Electrification Board
- United Brethren Church
- Warnsman School
-
-
Place Names
- Duff, Indiana
- Huntingburg, Indiana
- Maple Grove, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church camp
- farm life
- farming
- Great Depression
- insurance business
- local business
- local history
- one-room schoolhouses
- religion
Interviewee
Steffe, Robert J.
August 29,
1995;
May 6, 1996
Call Number
95-045
Physical Description
35 pages; 4 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 194 minutes; last tape not
transcribed; index
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Robert Steffe, born 1929, speaks about his genealogy, school
activities, and his Korean War experiences. He became involved with the Dubois
County Tourism Association and discusses the increased tourism in the county.
He also speaks about church tours, church architecture, and an increases sense
of historic preservation due to tourism. He also describes and recites a couple
of the Ed Meyer stories he has come to be known for.
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Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Dubois County Bank
- Dubois County Tourism Association
- St. Joseph School
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Bernadette, Anne
- Kundek, Joseph
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
- Jasper, Indiana
- Pfaffenweiler, Germany
-
-
Subjects
- banking
- church architecture
- folk narrative
- German language
- historic preservation
- Korean War experiences
- school activities
- tourism
- Vatican II
Interviewee
Verkamp, Lauretta
August 18,
1995
Call Number
95-039
Physical Description
not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 74
minutes
Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Lauretta Verkamp, born October 9, 1915, discusses her early life
and education, growing up in a small German American farming community in
Indiana. She speaks a little of her genealogy. She talks about farm life,
school and religion. Verkamp recalls special services and events celebrated
through the Catholic church in the area. She discusses some local history and
the changes that have come about there.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Sisters of St. Benedict
- St. Ferdinand Catholic Church
-
-
Place Names
- Ferdinand, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- farm life
- genealogy
- German-American traditions
