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Dubois County: German Americans, 1993-1994

Interviewee
Doane, Lillian October 23, 1993 

Call Number
93-074

Physical Description

95 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 110 minutes; index

Interviewer
Muehr, Heiko

Access Status

Open

Scope and Content Note

Lillian Doane, born in 1913, discusses her early life in the small German Catholic farming community of Jasper, Indiana. She recalls the hard work, family life and traditions, and education of the times as well as the community's joint work such as threshing, butchering, and sometimes moonshine- producing. She also recalls other community interactions such as dances and quilting bees. She discusses different German dialects and the dialect that seemed to form specifically in the area. She talks about transient groups including gypsies, tramps, and 'Jesse James'- type groups that raised havoc. Doane discusses her interest in the rich history of the area and what it has to offer tourists. She talks about those who basically set the cornerstones for the community, especially Fr. Joseph Kundek and Clem Doane, and about the importance of and growing interest in genealogy. She talks about the reemergence of German pride after and era of anti- German sentiment following both World War I and World War II. She discusses the central role St. Joseph's Catholic church has historically held in the community and recalls the special services it has held. She talks about the coming of the union and the effect it had on the community. Doane also talks about the rivalries between surrounding towns and the controversy over saloons.

  • Keywords
    • Corporation Names
    • Jasper Courier
    • St. Joseph's Church
    • Family Names
    • Fehrenbach
    • Fehribach
    • Occupation Names
    • librarian
    • town historian
    • Personal Names
    • Buecher, Ruth
    • Doane, Clem
    • Fierst, John
    • Kundek, Joseph
    • Place Names
    • Celestine, Indiana
    • Ferdinand, Indiana
    • Huntingburg, Indiana
    • Ireland, Indiana
    • Jasper, Indiana
    • Subjects
    • butchering
    • Catholicism
    • community rivalries
    • farming
    • genealogy
    • German dialects
    • German heritage
    • moonshine
    • religious celebrations
    • saloons
    • school
    • traditional celebrations
    • transient population
    • unions
    • wheat threshing
    • World War I
    • World War II