Placidus Kempf, St. Meinrad Abbey panoramic postcard
Collection — Folder: OB090
Identifier: OB090
Scope and Contents
This collection comprises an illustrated color panoramic postcard pasted to a board from Placidus Kempf at St. Meinrad Abbey in Spencer County, Indiana, circa 1920-1930. There are also three items pasted onto the board: a photograph of "Placidus Kempf, O.S.B., Librarian"; a close-up view of the abbey library with notes about the number of floors and volumes; and text indicating the location.
Dates
- circa 1920-1930
Creator
- Kempf, Placidus, 1895-1978 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Sylvester Kempf was born on September 10, 1895 to Joseph and Catherine (Daum) Kempf in Evansville, Indiana. He had an older brother, Joseph E., Jr., and a younger sister, Marie. By the age of 14, Kempf was studying at St. Meinrad Abbey in Spencer County, Indiana, along with his older brother. He studied at the abbey's theological seminary in anticipation of taking holy orders. By the age of 24, Kempf became a priest, known as Father Placidus, in the Order of St. Benedict at the abbey where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. By 1930, he worked as the librarian of the abbey's library, and by 1940, he was a teacher. Kempf died of congestive heart failure on March 19, 1978 and was buried in Saint Meinrad Archabbey Cemetery.
Sources:
Item in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Sylvester Kempf." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Sylvester Kempf." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1950 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. "Fr. Placidus Kempf." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61785483/placidus-kempf.
Sources:
Item in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Sylvester Kempf." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Sylvester Kempf." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." 1950 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Placidus Kempf." U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed December 6, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. "Fr. Placidus Kempf." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61785483/placidus-kempf.
Historical Note
St. Meinrad Abbey (also Archabbey) was founded in 1854 by Swiss monks from Einsiedeln Abbey, who came to Indiana to serve the German-speaking Catholic population and educate local men who wished to become priests. In 1861, the monks expanded their general courses to include undergraduate courses in philosophy and theology. It is one of only 2 archabbeys in the United States, meaning it is a chief Benedictine abbey. The abbey community comprises about 70 monks who "gather in community five times each day to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and celebrate Mass." Today, the abbey houses the Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.
Sources:
Saint Meinrad Archabbey. "History." Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.saintmeinrad.org/the-monastery/history.
Wikipedia.org. "St. Meinrad Archabbey." Wikipedia. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Meinrad_Archabbey.
Sources:
Saint Meinrad Archabbey. "History." Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.saintmeinrad.org/the-monastery/history.
Wikipedia.org. "St. Meinrad Archabbey." Wikipedia. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Meinrad_Archabbey.
Extent
0.05 Cubic Feet (1 medium oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection consists of one item.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Placidus Kempf in July 1930.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2022/12/06 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid created 2022/12/06 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Kempf, Placidus, 1895-1978 (Person)
- Title
- Placidus Kempf, St. Meinrad Abbey panoramic postcard
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
