Most Rev. Daniel W. Kucera, O.S.B. Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the activities of the Most Rev. Daniel W. Kucera, O.S.B., who was the President of St. Procopius College and fifth abbot of St. Procopius Abbey at different times during the 1960s and 1970s. The bulk of the materials covers this time period. The collection is largely composed of photographs, which primarily document Kucera’s ordination, abbatial blessing, and years as abbot, although a few photographs from the 1930s capture Kucera as a student. Also included is a large scrapbook containing press releases, telegrams, and newspaper clippings regarding Kucera’s appointment as abbot. In addition, the collection includes a few magazines from the 1960s and 1970s that feature stories about Kucera, as well as a St. Procopius College annual report and booklet about construction of a new library, both published during Kucera’s presidency.
Dates
- 1937 - 1975
Creator
- Kucera, Daniel W., 1923-2017 (Person)
Biographical / Historical
The Most Rev. Daniel William Kucera, O.S.B., was born William Kucera in 1923 and educated at St. Procopius Academy (now Benet Academy) and St. Procopius College (now Benedictine University). He took the religious name of Daniel when he professed religious vows in 1944 at St. Procopius Abbey in the Order of Saint Benedict. In 1949, Kucera was ordained a priest.
After earning a doctorate in education from The Catholic University of America in 1954, Kucera served in various administrative positions at St. Procopius College until named president in 1959. Five years later, in 1964, he was named the fifth Abbot of St. Procopius Abbey. Kucera served as abbot until 1971, when he resigned to once again become president of St. Procopius College, soon after renamed Illinois Benedictine College. In 1976, he resigned the presidency.
Early the next year, Pope Paul VI appointed Kucera Titular Bishop of Natchez and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet, and in 1980, Pope John Paul II appointed him the eighth Bishop of Salina, Kansas. In 1983, Kucera was named the eighth Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa, and was installed the following year. He served as Archbishop until his resignation in 1995. Kucera moved to Aurora, Colorado for about a decade before returning to Dubuque, where he resided until his death on May 30, 2017, at the age of 94. He was interred in the cemetery of St. Procopius Abbey.
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Original order of the photographs has been maintained except for two photographs in Box 1 Folder 3 that could not be removed from their album without damaging them; those two photographs are still in album page sleeves and have been placed at the back of the folder. All other photos are in original order. Publications arranged chronologically.
Condition Description
Two photographs in Box 1 Folder 3 are in original page sleeves from a photograph album due to glue. The photograph album in Box 2 is broken at the spine. Many items in the scrapbook in Box 3 are fragile and coming loose.
- Benedictine University (Lisle, Ill.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Benet Academy Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Kucera, Daniel W., 1923-2017 Subject Source: Local sources
- St. Procopius Abbey (Lisle, Ill.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Most Rev. Daniel W. Kucera, O.S.B. Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Kurpiel
- Date
- 2018-09
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Archives and Special Collections Repository
Benedictine University
5700 College Rd.
Lisle IL 60532 United States
