Concordia Historical Institute Oral History Collection

The interviews were conducted over a 19-year period on audio cassettes. The people and the topics range from reminiscences of life at Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis) in the nineteenth century to discussions of synodical affairs with Dr. J. A. O. Preus after his retirement as synodical president. There are transcripts for seven of the nineteen interviews.

Dr. Suelflow conducted an interview with former LCMS president Dr. John W. Behnken in November 1965 which was recorded on one reel-to-reel audio tape. This has been copied onto two audio cassettes (a.c.30-31) to facilitate research use. In the interview Dr. Behnken speaks briefly on a variety of topics: his student days at Saint John (Winfield, Kansas) and at Concordia Seminary, faculty teaching practices, being a chaplain at Camp Logan during World War I, relations with European churches following the Second World War, mission activity, fellowship questions, and about theological questions that arose during his tenure as synodical president and which faced the LCMS at the time of the interview.

The two cassettes on the Chicago Study Club are not interviews. Rev. Paul Burgdorf and Rev. Harold Romoser simply recorded their replies to a set of questions supplied to them to CHI.

The interviews with Drs. Alvin Mueller and Carl Muhlenbruch were conducted at the same time. There is also a video recording of this session in the collection (v.c.1). Both gentlemen served on Synod’s Board of Directors and the interview deals with the turmoil of the 1970s, including the walkout by students and faculty at Concordia Seminary.

The extensive interview with Freida Erdmann was conducted by Rev. Otto A. Brillinger of First Lutheran Church in Kingsville, Ontario. The interview is in German.

Please note that cassette #26 (a.c.26) contains two interviews: Martin Scharlemann (side 2) and Rev. Gloria Weber (side 1).

Use copies of these cassettes have been made in an effort to prolong the life of the original recordings. These copies are to be used by researchers instead of the original cassettes and are located in Boxes 2, 3, and 4. They are arranged in the same manner as the original cassettes in Boxes 1 and 2.

Box 1

Original Cassettes (do not use for playback):
• a.c.1 Dr. Ralph Bohlmann (excerpts), 25 October 1976
• a.c.2 Chicago Study Club - Paul Burgdorf, undated
• a.c.3 Chicago Study Club - Harold Romoser, c. November 1984
• a.c.4 Paul Devantier (KFUO), 11 November 1976
• a.c.5-10 Frieda Erdmann (in German), c. October 1987
• a.c.11-15 Paul Koenig
• a.c.11 5 March 1986 (interviewed and edited by Richard Kraemer)
• a.c.12-13 27 December 1978 (interviewed by William Kramer)
• a.c.14-15 28 October 1984 (interviewed by Dr. and Mrs. John Klotz)
• a.c. 16 William C. Krato, “History of Concordia Seminary from My Perspective of 35 Years,” 22 January 1979
• a.c.17 Alvin W. Mueller, 17 October 1985
• a.c.18-19 Alvin W. Mueller and Carl Muhlenbruch, 9 June 1995

Box 2

Original Cassettes (do not use for playback):
• a.c.20 John F. Nau, 17 August 1982
• a.c.21-24 J. A. O. Preus (interviewed by A. R. Suelflow)
• a.c.21-22 18 June 1981
• a.c.23-24 19 February 1982
• a.c.25 Martin Schmidt, 12 November 1976
• a.c.26 Martin H. Scharlemann, 5 November 1976 (side 2)*
• a.c.27 Southern Illinois District Representatives, 2 May 1987
• a.c.28 Clarence Spiegel, undated
• a.c.29 E. C. Weber, c.May 1987
• a.c.26 Rev. Gloria Weber, 28 October 1976 (side 1)*
*Interviews are on the same original cassette.

Use Copies of Original Cassettes:
• a.c.1 Dr. Ralph Bohlmann (excerpts), 25 October 1976
• a.c.2 Chicago Study Club - Paul Burgdorf, undated
The original tape was discovered to be 90 minutes long during the copying process. Therefore, there are two 60 minute cassettes that comprise the use copy of this interview.
• a.c.3 Chicago Study Club - Harold Romoser, c. November 1984
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2
• a.c.4 Paul Devantier (KFUO), 11 November 1976
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2
• a.c.5-10 Frieda Erdmann (in German), c. October 1987
The original tapes were discovered to be 90 minutes long during the copying process. Therefore, there are two 60 minute cassettes that comprise each use copy of this extensive interview.

Box 3

Use Copies of Original Cassettes:
• a.c.6-10 Frieda Erdmann (in German), c. October 1987
• a.c.11 Paul Koenig — 5 March 1986 (interviewed by Richard Kraemer)
• a.c.12 Paul Koenig — 27 December 1978 (interviewed by William Kramer)
• a.c.13 Paul Koenig — 28 October 1984 (interviewed by Dr. and Mrs. John Klotz)
• a.c.14 Paul Koenig — 28 October 1984 (interviewed by Dr. and Mrs. John Klotz)
• a.c.15 Paul Koenig — 28 October 1984 (interviewed by Dr. and Mrs. John Klotz)
• a.c.16 Mr. C. Krato, 22 January 1979
• a.c.17 Dr. Alvin Mueller, 17 October 1985
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2

Box 4

Use Copies of Original Cassettes:
• a.c.17 Dr. Alvin Mueller, 17 October 1985
• a.c.18 Alvin W. Mueller and Carl Muhlenbruch, 9 June 1995
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2
• a.c.19 Alvin W. Mueller and Carl Muhlenbruch, 9 June 1995
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2
• a.c.20 John F. Nau, 17 August 1982
• a.c.21-22 Dr. J. A. O. Preus, 18 June 1981
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2
• a.c.23-24 Dr. J. A. O. Preus, 19 February 1982
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2
• a.c.25 Martin Schmidt, 12 Nov. 1976
• a.c.26 Rev. Gloria Weber, 28 Oct. 1976
• a.c.26 Dr. Martin Scharlemann, 5 Nov. 1976
• a.c.27 Southern Illinois District Representatives, 2 May 1987]
• a.c.28 Clarence Spielgel, undated
Two cassettes comprise this copy of the interview, Tape 1 and 2
• a.c.29 E. C. Weber, c. May 1987
• a.c.30-31 Dr. John W. Behnken, 11 November 1965
The original reel-to-reel tape was copied onto 2 audio cassettes by Concordia Seminary Media Services in June 1999.

Box 5

• f.1 Transcript - Chicago Study Club, Rev. Paul Burgdorf
• f.2 Transcript - Chicago Study Club, Rev. Harold Romoser
• f.3 Transcript - Dr. John F. Nau
• f.4 Transcript - Dr. J. A. O. Preus, 18 June 1981
• f.5 Transcript - Dr. J. A. O. Preus, 19 February 1982
• f.6 Transcript - Dr. Martin H. Scharlemann
• f.7 Background - Southern Illinois District Representatives
• f.8 Transcript - Rev. Gloria Weber
• v.c.1 Alvin W. Mueller and Carl Muhlenbruch, 9 June 1995
• tape 1 Interview - Dr. John W. Behnken, 11 November 1965