John William Kurtz Papers, 1976-1982, n.d.
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Administrative/Biographical History
Professor of German John William Kurtz was born in the small rural community of Earlville, Illinois on 17 November 1906. He received his A.B. from the University of Iowa (1927). Before coming to Oberlin in 1932, Kurtz was a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois (M.A. 1929, Ph.D. 1932), and he spent a year as an exchange student at the University of Munich under the Institute of International Education. While at Oberlin College (1932-73), Kurtz served as head of the Department of German and Russian (1956-70). Kurtz and Dean Blair Stewart designed summer sessions abroad for Oberlin’s foreign language departments, with the first going to Vienna in 1959. He also helped to establish the annual German Exchange Program with the Federation of German-American Clubs. Kurtz served on the College Faculty Council; committees that helped establish the hospital insurance plan, increased salaries and retirement policy (age 66) for the faculty; and, the committee that designed the Oberlin’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program.
In 1976 he published a biography of John Frederick Oberlin entitled John Frederic Oberlin (Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado), the Alsatian pastor after whom Oberlin College was named. The work also later appeared in a German edition.
He married Edith Davis and the couple had four sons, David, Eric, Robert, and Karl. John Kurtz died in Oberlin on 2 February 1984. He had a history of heart disease.
Edith Davis Kurtz died on 21 September 2004 at Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin. She was 100 years old.
Sources Consulted
Faculty of John Kurtz (RG 28/3); and the memorial minute for John Kurtz by Joseph Reichard, the Oberlin Alumni Magazine, summer 1984, page 64.
Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative Information
The papers of John W. Kurtz consist of materials for the publication John Frederic Oberlin, including research materials (photocopies), manuscript with editorial comments (photocopy), manuscripts for the first revision, and the manuscript (photocopy) used to print the book. A copy of the book John Frederic Oberlin and Johann Fredrich Oberlin Sein Leben and Wirken, 1940-1826 (Metzinger/Wuntt, Verlag Ernst Franz, 1982) are included in the collection. The papers also include hand drawn and printed illustrations of Oberlin and his parish, and a sample of Bible verses printed by John Frederic Oberlin for his parishioners. 72 photographs and 43 negatives are also included in this collection. Note: the negatives are not to be used for research by the public.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Research Materials
Research materials includes various research materials, including photocopies, microfilm, and miscellaneous printed essays.
Series 2. Writings
Writings include the manuscripts of his book, John Frederic Oberlin. In addition, two copies of the book, John Frederic Oberlin are included. Westview Press in Colorado printed the first copy. The second copy was printed in Germen, by Metzingen/Wurtt, Verlag Ernst Franz in 1982.
Series 3. Non-Textual
Non-textual items include an oversize box of illustrations and prints, and a second box of photographs and negatives.
INVENTORY
Series 1. Research Materials
Box 1
Research materials
Photocopy of Lebensgefechichte by
J.F. Oberlin, 1843 (5f)
Microfilm of manuscript material used
in the published volume, n.d.
Miscellaneous printed essays, n.d.
Photocopies, printed material, and
illustrations, 1971-72,
n.d. [1985/17]
Series 2. Writings
Box 2
Manuscript of John Frederic Oberlin, by John W.
Kurtz (photocopy with editorial markings,
in German), 1981-82 (4f)
Manuscript of John Frederic Oberlin, 1st revision by
John W. Kurtz (in English), n.d. (5f)
Box 3
Manuscript (copy) from which John Frederic Oberlin
was printed by Westview Press, Boulder,
Colorado, n.d. (5f)
Box 4
John Frederic Oberlin, Westview Press, Boulder,
Colorado,1976
Johann Frederich Oberlin, Sein Leben and Wirken,
1740-1826, Metzingen/Wurtt, Verlag Ernst
Franz,1982
Series 3. Non-Textual Materials
Box 5 (oversize; RNG 36)
Illustration of John Frederic Oberlin used for Kurtz's
books about Oberlin (12.75" x 18.5")
Prints of Waldersbach and Bible verses printed by
John Frederic Oberlin, 1967, n.d. [1985/17]
Box 6
Photographs, n.d.
Photographs used in German edition of
John Frederic Oberlin, n.d.
Negatives, n.d.