History of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, 1980
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
TitleHistory of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, 1980
Project No.
ohrc050
Interviews
4 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Frankling 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 interviews with three members of the
Benedictine order who lived and worked at Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Some major
topics of discussion include religious training and education, daily monastic
life, the business ventures of the abbey, and the history of the abbey. In
addition, the interviewees discuss the vows and roles of priests and monks, as
well as the abbey's relationship with the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic
Church.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains four interviews conducted in 1977 and 1980. The interviews are 90 minutes each. All interviews
consist of audio reels and most 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
Daly, Simeon
March 7,
1980
Call Number
80-019
Physical Description
32 pages; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; no index; xeroxed
photograph of interviewee, 3 St. Meinrad College brochures, 1979 St. Meinrad
Annual Report, 2 St. Meinrad Archabbey pamphlets
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A., Jr.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Father Simeon Daly, of the Order of Saint Benedict, born on May
9, 1922, discusses the background and purposes of Saint Meinrad Archabbey and
Monastery, as well as the changes he has witnessed since he came in 1943.
Father Daly comments on the organization of the monastery, the differences
between priest and non-priest monks, the content of Benedictine vows, and
religious training at the Archabbey. In addition, he describes daily life at
the monastery, as well as its relationship with the greater Roman Catholic
Church.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Order of Saint Benedict
- Swiss-American Federation
-
-
Occupation Names
- Catholic priest
- Benedictine monk
- librarian
-
-
Subjects
- Benedictine vows
- church hierarchy
- monastery history
- monastery organization
- monastic life
- religious education
Interviewee
Heck, Theodore
March 7,
1980
Call Number
80-018
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A., Jr.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Theodore Heck, born in 1901, discusses Saint
Meinrad Archabbey and Seminary. In addition, he speaks of education at Saint
Meinrad College and School of Theology.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Meinrad College
- St. Meinrad School of Theology
-
-
Subjects
- religious education
Interviewee
Ostdick, Rupert
March 7,
1980
Call Number
80-017
Physical Description
37 pages; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A., Jr.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Father Rupert Ostdick, born on November 14, 1921, discusses his
experiences as a Benedictine monk and priest, business manager, and treasurer
at Saint Meinrad Archabbey. He speaks of the Archabbey's trials during the
Great Depression, its degree of self-sufficiency, and its business ventures,
including forestry, a sandstone quarry, and the Abbey Press. In addition,
Father Ostdick describes monastic life and the impact the abbey has had on
employment in Spencer County, Indiana.
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Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Abbey Press
-
-
Occupation Names
- abbey treasurer
- Benedictine monk
- business manager
- Catholic priest
-
-
Personal Names
- Gillis, Bertrand
-
-
Place Names
- Spencer County, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- abbey business ventures
- abbey vandalism
- agriculture
- forestry
- Great Depression
- monastic life
- religious education
- religious vocation
- sandstone quarry
Interviewee
Tolliver, Foster
November 16,
1977
Call Number
77-038
Physical Description
38 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A., Jr.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Foster Tolliver, born 1921, grew up in Posey County, Indiana,
but did not move to New Harmony until after World War II. He was a local
businessman and town councilman for many years before becoming mayor. He
discusses many of the public works projects he was involved with during this
period. Some, such as the Sanitary Sewer System, were successful, but others,
such as the installation of water meters, met stiff opposition and failed. He
describes the benefit of historic preservation in terms of tourism and
increased land values, but feels the town has been in a general decline since
World War II.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Historic New Harmony, Incorporated
- Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company
- Tree of Life Clinic
-
-
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Personal Names
- Owen, Jane
-
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Place Names
- Poseyville, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- community changes
- community development
- education system
- electric utility system
- flood plain ordinance
- historic preservation
- sanitary sewer system
- water meters
