The Rev. Otto Paul Kretzmann was president of Valparaiso University from 1940 to 1968. During his administration a new campus was developed, enrollment grew from 400 to 4,000, and the University became nationally recognized.

Before coming to Valpo, O.P., as he was affectionately known, had been executive secretary of the international Lutheran youth organization, the Walther League, for six years. Prior to that, he had served for ten years on the faculty of Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois.

A 1920 graduate of Concordia Collegiate Institute, Bronxville, New York, he received the Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1924 from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and pursued further graduate study at Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Chicago Universities. He was the recipient of ten honorary doctorates. He died on Holy Cross Day, September 14, 1975, in his 75th year.

This collection consists of 226 files within 53 folders containing addresses, sermons, and speeches created between the years 1921 to 1971. These documents are part of a larger collection of O.P. Kretzmann's personal papers and are housed within the Valparaiso University Archives and Special Collections.

Timeline


A chronological listing of Kretzmann's work is available here.

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Collection Records

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1900 Years Later is Pentecost a Dream or Reality?, 1936, O.P. Kretzmann

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Acts 4, 13, 1927 - 1930, O.P. Kretzmann

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A Relevant Theology: Dedication of Fuerbringer Hall at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis: John 8:31-32, 1962, O.P. Kretzmann

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Baccalaureate Sermon: John 16:4, 1965, O.P. Kretzmann

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Christmas Sermon, 1946, O.P. Kretzmann

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Christmas Vespers Sermon. 1959, Otto Paul Kretzmann

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Dedication of St. Paul's Parish House, Decatur, IL, 1928, O.P. Kretzmann

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Deuteronomy 33:27, 1921 - 1926, O.P. Kretzmann

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End of Remember (Fragment), 1967, O.P. Kretzmann

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Exodus 14:15, 1927 - 1930, O.P. Kretzmann

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Exodus 14:15 Copy 2, 1927 - 1930, O.P. Kretzmann

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Haggai 2:6-7, 1927 - 1930, O.P. Kretzmann

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Inaugural Address: The Destiny of a Christian University, 1940, O.P. Kretzmann

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In Remembrance of Me, n.d., O.P. Kretzmann

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Isaiah 26:1-2, 1927 - 1930, O.P. Kretzmann

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I Samuel 12:17, 1921 - 1926, O.P. Kretzmann

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Jeremiah 8:6, 1921 - 1926, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: Dismas, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: Foreword, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: I, Pontius Pilate, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: The Seven Words from the Cross: The Fifth Word, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: The Seven Words from the Cross: The First Word, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: The Seven Words from the Cross: The Fourth Word, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: The Seven Words from the Cross: The Second Word, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: The Seven Words from the Cross: The Seventh Word, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: The Seven Words from the Cross: The Sixth Word, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten and Easter Meditation: Voices of the Passion: The Seven Words from the Cross: The Third Word, 1944, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Editorial: I Remember, 1943, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: Excerpts from Noonday Sermon, 1939, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: It is Finished, 1947, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: Peace of the Cross, 1940, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Abundant Life, 1940, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Christian - His Life, n.d., O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Christian - His Tomorrow: Psalms 31:5, 1937, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Crucified Presence, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Farewell of the Cross, n.d., O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Finality of the Cross, n.d., O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Future of the Church: Galatians 6:17, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Head of the Church: Matthew 17:8, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Majesty of the Cross, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Memory of the Cross, n.d., O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Mission of the Church: Matthew 11:28, 1936, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Meditation: The Way of the Cross, n.d., O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 1: The Sign of Forgiveness: Luke 23:24, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 2: The Sign of Peace: John 14:27, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 3: The Sign of Understanding: Luke 22:61-62, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 4: The Sign of Agony: Luke 22:44, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 5: The Sign of Decision: Matthew 27:20-22, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 6: The Sign of Mystery: Luke 23:33, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 7: The Sign of Power: Matthew 28:18, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 8: The Sign of Finality: John 19:30, Luke 23:46, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Lenten Sermon 9: The Sign of His Presence: Luke 24:29-32, 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Luke 18:17, 1921 - 1926, O.P. Kretzmann

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Luke 23:33, n.d, O.P. Kretzmann

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Mark 7:33-34, 1921 - 1926, O.P. Kretzmann

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Matthew 27:22, 1927 - 1930, O.P. Kretzmann

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Matthew 3:1-2, 1921 - 1926, O.P. Kretzmann

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Memorial Service for Andrew Fladeland, David Hansen, Sandra Jensen, and Wayne Brutlag: The Benediction of Sorrow, 1962, O.P. Kretzmann

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Nahum 1:1, 1927 - 1930, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Alumni: Homecoming: Facing Tomorrow (John 6:5-6), 1951, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Alumni: Remember John 16:4, 1959, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: 2 Peter 1:5, 1945, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Behold Your King (John 19:14), 1954, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Blessed (Numbers 6:24-26), 1951, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Born of the Spirit (John 14:26) (Fragments), 1963, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: By Faith (Hebrews 11:40) (Fragments), 1948, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Invitation to Pilgrimage (Fragments), 1956, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: John 14:16 (Fragments), 1955, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Lord - Who? (Psalm 24:3-4) (Fragments), 1953, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Matthew 7:24-27 (Fragments), 1958, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Nothing New Under the Sun, 1964, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Quest and Achievement (Deuteronomy 34:4), 1943, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Remember (John 16:4a), 1947, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: The Modern Mind (Philippians 2:4) (Fragments), 1949, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: The Ultimate Question (Matthew 16:26), 1959, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Baccalaureate: Thy Will Be Done (Matthew 6:10), 1952, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address, 1945, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address, 1951, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address, 1962, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address, 1963, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address, 1964, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: A Few Reminders, 1962, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: Art Thou Not (John 18:25) (Fragments), 1963, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: Some Unfinished Tasks, 1952, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: The Law, 1960, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: The Worshipping University, 1961, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: Time, 1957, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: What Shall it Profit (Matthew 16:26), 1963, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Address: Worship, 1963, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Dedication: Beauty of Holiness (Psalm 96:9) (Fragments), 1966, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Matins: Peace in Christ, 1941, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Matins: The Beauty of Holiness (The Organization of the Chapel), 1964, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Sermon: The Glorious Company of Angels: 10th Anniversary of the Chapel (Hebrews 1:6-7), 1969, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Chapel Window Dedication: Christianity and the Fine Arts (Fragments), 1961, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Christmas Vesper: A Course in Christmas, 1946, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Christmas Vesper: Bethlehem Awake, 1952, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Christmas Vesper: Christmas 1945 (Luke 2), 1945, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Christmas Vesper: Christmas Chapel, 1943, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Christmas Vesper: Christmas Human and Divine, 1961, O.P. Kretzmann

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Notes: Christmas Vesper: Christmas Nevertheless, 1956, O.P. Kretzmann