Interview Rendezvous: Keith Sprunger

By Aaron Voth

Aaron Voth: How does it feel to be teaching again?
Keith Sprunger: I am rediscovering teaching is work. I have always enjoyed teaching and am regaining the momentum of teaching. It is a definite change, because now I have to be places at certain times.
AV: What is your official title at Bethel College?
KS: Right now I am a part-time history professor. My title is the Oswald H. Wedel Professor of History Emeritus. This means that I was formally an active professor but am now in retirement.
AV: I understand your main area of research was about the Dutch printing press in the seventeenth century. What sparked your interest in this topic?
KS: It was a process; it evolved over time. I was researching an English Puritan who had to go into exile to Holland, where he became a professional printer. He smuggled banned materials back to England and some to America. I was interested about how ideas were communicated and the whole process of the printing press. I also looked at the Anabaptist printing of banned material. Now I am interested in church architecture.
AV: Since you have an interest in architecture, what are some of your favorite churches?
KS: It depends on the mood. I enjoy the medieval gothic architecture of churches like Chartres church in France. On the other hand there is the simplicity of the Germantown Mennonite meeting place in Philadelphia, which is only one room. They represent different ways of looking at religion. It is more exciting to go into a church for a first time than subsequent times.
AV: On to more recent events—who do you think will win the nominations?
KS: Right now McCain for the Republicans has it. On the Democratic side it is too close to call. Obama has more enthusiasm, but Clinton has the organization. Right now I would say that organization will trump enthusiasm.
AV: Will the current History Professor duo of Penny Moon and Mark Jantzen have the same legendary status that you had with Jim Juhnke?
KS: I think Penny and Mark will exceed what Jim and I accomplished. Penny and Mark carry the department well.
AV: Are you looking forward to the senior seminar season?
KS: Senior seminars were always one of my favorite times of the year; I kept a notebook with all the papers.
It was an opportunity for me to learn about a topic alongside the student. When I meet former students I usually remember their seminar topics.