Heritage Headlines

Page 2 and 3: Ongoing and New

Exhibits

Page 4 and 5: Educational Programs

Page 6: Board and Staff

Christmas Market

Page 7: German Eighth-Grade

English Lessons

Page 8: Meet a Researcher

Day of Remembrance Heritage Tour 2017

Page 9: Archive and Library

Additions PA Dutch Classes

Page 10: Brown Bag Lunches

Exile Society Meeting

Page 11: Fall Programs and

Exhibits

Page 12: Donor Thank You!

INSIDE

105 Seminary Street

Pennsburg, PA 18073-1898

Phone: 215.679.3103

Fax: 215.679.8175

info@schwenkfelder.com

www.schwenkfelder.com

Fall 2015 Volume 18, Issue 3

1

“A REAL SPECIAL OCCASION” HONORING DONORS AT THE HERITAGE CENTER

Sunday, July 19, drew 125 guests to the Heritage Center for a special tribute for a major donor – the unveiling of the portrait of Dr. Webster Schultz Stover – and for all our donors of the past year. That so many were present paid real tribute to the meaning of the Heritage Center in their lives. “I can’t believe how many people there were. They just kept coming and coming!”

Warmly welcomed by Executive Director Dave Luz and Board members, guests mingled and chatted around a well-laden refreshment table, admiring the Variable Star Quilt and the Fedor Sommer exhibitions as well as the Powwowing in Pennsylvania exhibition that opened for the first time that day. It was hard to lure people away from the food and fellowship, but Board President Jerry Heebner was up to the task. Drawing people into the Art Gallery, he thanked them for their 100% support of the Heritage Center. Enabling us to exceed annual fundraising goals, our donors make the collections, exhibitions, experiences, and people of the Heritage Center possible.

Reaching across continents, it was special to hear from visiting Silesian students Claudia Skrocki, translator for our 2014 Heritage Tour, and Konrad Zaprucki, met after the Fedor Sommer Conference in Jelenia Gora, Poland, about their time in America with us.

Moving into the library, the crowd joined by members of the press experienced the highlight of the day: the unveil-ing of the Dr. Webster Schultz Stover portrait by

Jerry Heebner and Senator David Argall – both Schultz descendants and distantly related to each other and to Dr. Stover. The unveiling celebrated an extraordinary gift of $1 million by an anonymous family member of Dr. Stover, who has shared with us the hope that “this gift would inspire the next million dollars to come to the Heritage Center!”

This was indeed a day to celebrate the contributions of many people. Our Heritage Center was founded on the foresightedness of those such as Wayne Meschter, Rev. Elmer Johnson, Prof. H.W. Kriebel, and Rev. Dr. O.S. Kriebel who gathered a precious collection

both here and abroad, and assembled it in this place for posterity. With our generous donors we will continue on the path of excel-lence they have set for us, in the present and into the future.

“Thanks so much for your kind hospitality to all the Schultz family. It turned into a mini reunion. The Center is really a “home base” for many! Our gratitude to all. We’ll be back!”

Please enjoy a short video of the event at YouTube.com/TheSchwenkfelderLibrary and look forward to next year’s “family reunion” at the Heritage Center!

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Text in Context: The Written Word in

Pennsylvania German Decorative Arts and Material Culture

Fraktur Gallery, through October 20

From samplers and quilts to fraktur and furniture, the written word is a vital part of Pennsylvania German material culture, whether to denote ownership through a beautifully handwritten name or to convey a significant message. This exhibit features the bounty of

inscribed objects in the Heritage Center collections, including a fraktur quilt, numerous samplers, the extraordinary Irwin Mensch desk, and of course, magnificent examples of handwriting – from the Baroque calligraphy of the 18th century to Spencerian pieces from the late 19th century. Visitors are welcome to photograph the objects and text them to their friends or post them on social media – selfies are encouraged!

A Celebration of the Variable Star Quilters Meeting Room, through October 18

The Variable Star Quilters, a guild with members throughout our local area, has been meeting for over three decades to share their quilts with each other and through shows open to the public. Nick-named “The Quiltie Ladies,” these extraordinarily talented women have consented to share some of their favorite quilts with our visitors. All of the quilts are contemporary works made by members of the guild – and you will be guaranteed a feast for the eye with their dazzling patchwork and applique!

Make a day of it – plan to visit the exhibit and have lunch at one of our superb local restaurants, such as the Carriage House outside of East Greenville or Jamison’s Publick House in Geryville. Powwowing in Pennsylvania:

Healing, Cosmology, and Tradition in the Dutch Country

with guest curator Patrick Donmoyer Art Gallery, through January 31, 2016

Mini Conference on Saturday, October 17

The lore of Pennsylvania German folk healing, commonly known as powwow in English or Braucherei in the Pennsylvania German dialect, is a topic that is of great fascination to many individuals – and with that, comes both a great deal of fact and fiction. Patrick Donmoyer of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown, a leading expert on the subject with his translation and annotation of A Friend in Need, an early Pennsylvania German powwow book, and numerous articles and lectures, will be serving as guest curator. The exhibit presents his personal collection of manuscripts, books, and other materials relating to folk healing in both Europe and Pennsylvania. This very significant collection will be supplemented with materials from the Heritage Center and other institutions’ collections. It is one of the first times an exhibit will delve into this important – and mysterious – subject matter.

Adam and Eve quilt by Variable Star Quilter Nancy Roan

Powwowing in Pennsylvania A Mini Conference

Saturday, October 17 11:00 am – 3:30 pm $20.00 Includes Lunch

Want to learn more about Powwow? Join us for a mini-conference on Saturday, October 17, with our Powwowing in Pennsylvania guest curator Patrick Donmoyer and Heritage Center Curator Candace Perry. Patrick will share his expertise on Powwow – the common name for Pennsylvania Dutch folk healing practices – in a special “Introduction to Powwow” session from 11:00 to 12:00. After a noon break for lunch, provided by the Heritage Center, we will return for our afternoon session. Candace Perry will speak on how the media and popular culture affected the perception of Powwow by the general public in the 20th century, and a special to-be-announced speaker will be sharing his personal experiences with contemporary Powwow practice. We will conclude with a brief gallery talk by Patrick on our Powwowing in Pennsylvania exhibit. Plenty of time for questions and sharing of audience members’ Powwow experiences will be available! Call Joanne at 215-679-3103 to register; the fee is $20.00 per person.

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Exploring Fedor Sommer Author of The Iron Collar

Local History Gallery, through October 20

The Heritage Center is pleased and proud to have the opportunity to host a special exhibit about the life and work of Fedor Sommer (1864 – 1930), whose novel The Iron Collar has been a staple in the Schwenkfelder bibliography since the 1950s, when it was translated by former Schwenkfelder Library Director An-drew Berky. This work of historical fiction, published first in serial form in 1911 in a German newspaper, tells the story of Schwenkfelders during the Counter-Reformation.

A special panel exhibit from The City Museum “Gerhart Hauptmann’s House” in Jelenia Góra, Poland has been obtained on loan by the Heritage Center to introduce our visitors to this important piece of Schwenkfelder heritage. The text panels are supplemented by manuscripts, books and other materials from the Heritage Center collection to help bring the story to life. English translations of The Iron Collar are available in the gift shop – stop in and purchase one before viewing the exhibit!

The Art of Walter E. Baum – Pennsylvania Painter & Schwenkfelder Descendant

October 25 – March 1 Meeting Room

Visit the Heritage Center over the winter months and enjoy this special opportunity to view the Heritage Center’s collection of Walter Emerson Baum paintings. Baum was a wonderful friend to the Schwenkfelder Library and enabled library officials to acquire an excellent collection of his work during his lifetime, and thanks to generous donors, we’ve been able to add to the collection over the intervening years. We are delighted to present this retrospective of his work to our visitors.

Warm and Bright: Artifacts for Warmth and Light from the Heritage Center Collection

November 5 – March 31 Fraktur Gallery

As the chill and earlier darkness of the Pennsyl-vania autumn starts to take hold, our thoughts turn to bundling up at home and outdoors. Today we might adjust the thermostat or flip a light switch. Yesterday’s options were a bit more challenging, and the Heritage Center has a wonderful collection of objects that were used to chase the chill and light the darkness in the 19th century. From printed buggy robes and wool quilts to an array of lamps and lanterns for the parlor and the barn, this exhibit will explore the options available to rural Pennsylvania families for keeping warm and bright in their homes (and vehicles) in the cold winter months.

Wild and Mild – Christmas Putz 2015 November 15 – March 15

Local History Gallery

An important component of the Heritage Center’s putz is always the huge collection of animals that we have to draw from for the display – so this year we’re going to feature them! The theme is “Wild and Mild” to showcase this amaz-ing collection of wild and domestic miniature animals from pre-World War II Germany, Austria, and England. Bring the children for a fun “I Spy” challenge that we’ll have avail-able to play.

Vintage Christmas Electrical Décor and More From the Collection of Matthew Roan

November 22 – February 28 Wall Cases

Our wall cases on the First Floor will be filled with vintage holiday cheer, courtesy of Matthew Roan, this winter. Stop in for a nostalgic trip down memory lane with this terrific collection of vintage electrics and much more!

Late 19th century Buggy or Sleigh Robe from the Heritage Center Collection

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A Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving Tuesday, September 22, 1:30 – 3:00 pm and

Saturday, September 26, 1:00 – 2:30 pm

We will learn about our local “pilgrims,” exploring our Heritage Center’s permanent exhibit and talking about those brave people who came to Pennsylvania to start a new life. We will also enjoy the traditional snack of Schwenkfelder Day of Remembrance, which is the oldest continually celebrated thanksgiving celebration in the United States.

The Art and Math of Quilts Tuesday, October 6, 1:30 – 3:00 pm and

Saturday, October 10, 1:00 – 2:30 pm

Join us as we take a look at our beautiful current installation, “A Celebration of the Variable Star Quilters.” We’ll have a “seek and find” to try to see all the great detail in these amaz-ing works of art! Then we’ll try our hands at some quilt designing and even make a quilt patterned snack!

Mysterious Concoctions Tuesday, October 27, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, and

Saturday, October 31, 1:00 – 2:30 pm

OoOOooHHhh. Is there something spooky in the museum? Come explore our magical exhibit on “Powwowing in Pennsylvania – Folk Healing, Cosmology, and Tradition in the Dutch Country.” We’ll take a closer look at the myths and realities of this combination of spiritual, ritual, and herbal medicine. We will even make a tasty “brew” of our own!

Local Native American History and Culture

Tuesday, November 17, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, and

Saturday, November 21, 1:00 – 2:30 pm

We celebrate Thanksgiving every year, but what do we know about our local history with Native Americans? We will read some books, look at artifacts, do a craft, and learn more about the First

Peoples of Pennsylvania.

AMERICAN GIRL® TEATIME 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Thursdays

Sept. 24, Oct. 29, Nov. 19, Dec. 17

How about a spot of history with your tea? Come join us, boys and girls alike,

bring your grown-ups, if you wish, and your favorite doll if you want to. The focus of our teas is to learn about eras of US history, as highlighted by each of the American Girl Dolls. We enjoy friendship, foods of the times, and learn about a famous American woman at each tea. Please join us at these fun, free learning experiences.

Thursday, September 24, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Caroline, from 1812 Thursday, October 29, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Rebecca, from 1914 Thursday, November 19, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Kaya, from 1764 Thursday, December 17, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Samantha, from 1904

For more information, please contact Museum Educator Maggie Buckwalter, 215-679-3103 or email her directly at maggie@schwenkfelder.com

CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS Themes and activities are based on temporary and permanent exhibition topics, gallery discussions, and related Pennsylvania history. Each workshop is $5 per participant. Parents are welcome to participate in the activities. Most lessons and activities are designed for the elementary and middle level but some exceptions apply. Please pre-register for workshops! You can find the registration form at www.schwenkfelder.com. Please call Museum Educator Maggie Buckwalter at 215-679-3103 or via email at maggie@schwenkfelder.com for additional information.

MUSEUM EDUCATION ROOM WISH LIST

Help us with some supplies needed for our Education Programs!

$25.00 – CRAFT SUPPLIES: Aleene’s Tacky Glue, Acrylic and/or Tempera paints, Craft felt squares

$50.00 – 4 foot tall bookcase (used is fine!)

$50.00 – or gift cards from Amazon, Michael’s, Joanne’s, Walmart for books, craft supplies and snacks.

Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas Tuesday, December 8, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, and

Saturday, December 12, 1:00 – 2:30 pm

Everyone’s heard about Santa, but do you know Belsnickel? Better watch out! Come have some fun and tasty PA Dutch snacks while we learn about him and other Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas traditions, and then we will make our own decoration to take home.

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Heritage Headlines

CHILDREN’S BOOK CLUB

We’re trying out a new time for this group, so we can welcome more readers! We will try Sundays, in hopes for a calm pause before our busy weeks begin again. (Please give Maggie, our educator, your opinions on this new day and time.) All our selections come from Scholastic Inc.’s young adult historical fiction “diaries,” called the “Dear America” series. These are an easy, fun way for kids to learn more about American history, and are written for kids grades 4th – 8th, but all are welcome – grown-ups, too!

Sunday, September 27, 2:00 – 3:00 pm: With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley, Virginia, 1954, by Andrea Davis Pickney. We will celebrate “back to school” with this story of one of the first African-Americans in the south to attend a previously all-white school after desegregation.

Sunday, October 25, 2:00 – 3:00 pm: Standing in the Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763, by Mary Pope Osborne. Learn about our local history through this very well researched book.

Sunday, November 22, 2:00 – 3:00 pm: The Jour-nal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce: A Pilgrim Boy, Plymouth, 1620, by Ann Rinaldi. Just in time for Thanksgiving, we will read about life of a boy who traveled to the “New World” for a new beginning.

Sunday, December 13. 2:00 – 3:00 pm: The Winter of the Red Snow: The Revolutionary Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, PA, 1777, by Kristiana Gregory. We’ll take a closer look at Washington’s winter at Valley Forge through this “first hand” account by a local teen.

Contact Maggie at 215-679-3103 or send her an email at maggie@schwenkfelder.com about attending.

PA GERMAN DIALECT CONVERSATION GROUP

Meetings occur on the third Thursday of the month: September 17, October 15, and November 19 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm in the Heritage Center's Meeting Room.

If you would like to be a part of the conversation, call the Heritage Center to be on the telephone list: 215-679-3103.

CHARLES J. ADAMS, III: UPPER PERKIOMEN

VALLEY GHOST STORIES

Sunday, November 8, 2:00 pm

The Friends of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center invite members and the public to a hauntingly delightful talk by famed local ghost story collector Charles J. Adams III.

Mr. Adams will be joined by several members of the community with their own stories and tales to share. Among them will be the Hereford Hotel.

Charles J. Adams III was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1947 and resides there today. Adams has been a speaker at the International Ghost Hunters Alliance and GhostWorld conventions in Gettysburg, Pa., and at regional paranormal conferences in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. He has also appeared on The History Channel's "Haunted America: New York" and "Haunted America: Philadelphia" programs and has served as consultant and on-air "expert" for programs on hauntings and ghosts on The Learning Channel, MTV, and The Travel Channel.

Join us for an afternoon of chills and thrills!

GERMAN AND LATIN LESSONS 2015-2016

Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced German and Latin classes will be offered again for children and youth between 8 and 16 years old. These lessons emphasize vocab-ulary acquisition and use in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Latin students learn reading and writing. Students learn through activities such as crossword puzzles, search-a-word puzzles, scrabble, other games, music, and art projects. Intermediate and advanced students use textbooks as well. These classes are group lessons with some individual attention. Classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 11:30 am and from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Students may attend from 1 to 4 classes per week. The cost of each class (1.5 hours) is $7. Monthly rates are available. For additional information and registration contact Allen Viehmeyer 215-679-3103 or email allen@schwenkfelder.com.

September: 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, Oct 2 (8 lessons) October: 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 (8 lessons) November: 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, (7 lessons) December: 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 (7 lessons)

Monthly Rates – Cost of Lessons per Child per Month: 1=$7; 4=$28 ($25); 8=$56 ($50); 12=$84 ($80) 16=$112 ($100)

Saturday lessons for public school children are available. These students have one lesson (1½ hours) each Saturday up to 4 lessons per month.

6 Heritage Headlines www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 3

Board of Directors Merrill Anders Michelle Badman Sara Borr John W. Bryant Eugene Cestrone Kenneth W. Clemens Diane L. Dunn Evonne Glenn Anne Goda Gerald A. Heebner, President Waldo L. Johnson Martin Kriebel Helen Krieble Kathryn Lesieur, Secretary Rebecca Clemens McBrien George W. Meschter, Vice-President Richard Nickel Fred L. Seipt

Vernon Seipt Carl Sensenig H. Drake Williams, Jr., Treasurer Sandy Williams Honorary Board Members PA Senator David G. Argall The Honorable Richard S. Schweiker Staff David Luz, Executive Director Joanne Jalowy, Administrative Assistant Candace Perry, Curator of Collections Hunt Schenkel, Archivist/Librarian Maggie Buckwalter, Museum Educator Rachel Osborn, Development Officer L. Allen Viehmeyer, Associate Director of Research Peter C. Erb, Associate Director of Theology

Christmas Market A wonderful tour of Pennsylvania German Christmas traditions

and folk art presented by three preservation societies.

Saturday, December 5, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Sunday, December 6, noon – 4:00 pm

Each of the venues presents unique exhibitions as well as seasonal holiday shopping. The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center features a well-stocked gift shop and an elaborate Christmas Putz while the Mennonite Heritage Center has a wide selection of reproduction folk art. The Goschenhoppen Historians transform Red Men’s Hall into a Christmas wonderland. There is a wonder-ful selection of Pennsylvania Dutch treats including baked goods, candies and chow-chow to name a few.

The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center

105 Seminary Street Pennsburg, PA 18073

The Mennonite Heritage Center 565 Yoder Road

Harleysville, PA 19438

Goschenhoppen Historians 116 Gravel Pike

Green Lane, PA 18054

SCHWENKFELDER LIBRARY & HERITAGE CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF

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Heritage Headlines

This spring eighth-graders at the Große Schule in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, had a unique month-long project in their English class during May. By using authentic sources and photographs, they learned what is was like for the American Schwenkfelder Rolland Johnson to grow up in their city between 1904 and 1919.

When Rolland’s father Elmer Johnson went to Wolfenbüttel to join the team of researchers working on the Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum, Rolland and his mother Agnus went along, of course. Rolland was 2½ years old when he arrived in Wolfenbüttel. In 1905 his mother wrote a day-to-day diary of all his activities. His father was fond of photography and took numerous pictures of Rolland, many of which are now in the Heritage Center archives. The diary was written, of course, in English, and this diary became the historical document for the eighth-grade English project. It was

sent to the English teacher by email along with some 20 photos taken by Elmer between 1904 and 1910 that illustrated people, places, and things men-tioned in the diary.

Martina Knauer, English teacher, assigned the diary for reading, devised several research projects, and planned field trips to round out the students’ expe-riences. The research projects were “Places from Rolland’s Diary”, “People in the Diary”, “Rolland’s Activities”, “Trips”, “German Skills of the Johnson Family”, “The Schwenkfelders – German Language and Traditions” “The Schwenkfelders Then and Now”, “Soldiers in the German Empire”. One field trip was to the Duke August Library where Johnson and others re-searched the writings of Caspar Schwenckfeld. The other field trip was to the State Archive.

Each topic was researched by a group of 3 or 4 students. They not only searched the Internet for infor-mation, but they also wrote emails to the SLHC asking for information or clarifications. A part of the Schwenkfelder tradition was Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. After online research batches of cookies were made and a shoo-fly pie, too. All of this research was in English.

Each group prepared a poster with English texts and photos about the results of their investigation topic. These findings were presented orally in English to their parents, who were invited to the classroom one evening to hear the reports.

Both students and the parents were excited about the project because they learned not only about the Johnsons and the Schwenkfelders, but also about the history of their own city during the first decade of the twentieth century.

The Rolland project was the culmination of a simple inquiry to the Heritage Center. Martina Knauer, who had visited the Heritage Center several years ago, wrote an email in 2013 inquiring whether we would like to become a partner school. Since we are not a school, we wrote back and suggested that we could work with her to develop the Rolland’s diary into a unique English learning experience for her students, creating ties between the Schwenkfelders and some young people from the city where Rolland Johnson had grown up and gone to school. The project was indeed a wonderful experience on both sides of the Atlantic.

GERMAN EIGHTH-GRADERS LEARN ABOUT THE JOHNSON FAMILY

Field Trip to State Archive

Finding Photos for Poster

Students and Parents Learning Together

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SCHWENKFELDER HERITAGE TOUR 2017

Plans are underway for another Heritage Tour to our Silesian homelands with Allen Viehmeyer and David Luz. While details are still in process, we are planning for a mid-to-late June departure date in 2017. Our friends in Germany and Poland are already looking forward to our visit! Robert Skrocki, of Dresden, Germany and Twardocice, Poland recently wrote:

“It was a great experience and pleasure for us to accompany the Schwenkfelder Tour for a few days last year. The Schwenkfelders have left their mark in Twardocice, and we, as a family, are happy that we can make a small contribution, so that people who are now living there in Twardocice can learn more about the life and fate of the Schwenkfelders.

“We are very pleasantly surprised by their charisma and by their kindness that meets us in every new contact.

“It was quite remarkable how many people in the region of Twardocice are true friends of the Schwenkfelders. With the new media that we use daily, we are able to maintain and expand these contacts every day.

“We would like to invite you to visit us. Come to the places where your ancestors laid the foundations of your religion. Where they experienced much suffer-ing and rejoicing. Where they gave their life for your faith. Come and experience Polish hospitality.”

If you would like information about the tour once planning is complete, please contact David Luz at 215-679-3103 or via email: info@schwenkfelder.com.

GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AT THE HERITAGE CENTER

A face long familiar to Heritage Center staff is that of Cindy Buck Seok. She has been coming to the Library since the time when it was known simply as The Schwenkfelder Library. She remembers first coming here in the early 1980s. Her goal has always been to fill in her family tree as fully as possible. During the 1990s she took time out, however, to raise her children.

About 2004 she came back to her project and the Heritage Center on Thursday nights while her children were at play rehearsals at Perkiomen School. Since then she continues to come almost every Thursday evening to work with all the genealogical materials in the Library. Cindy stated, “I don’t know if it will ever end; I keep finding more ancestors.” Indeed, she believes that she has found forbearers that go back to the mid-1500s.

Over the years Cindy has made use of most of the “Church Records” from Montgomery and the four surrounding counties. She has also gone through all of the published family histories in our collection. The local histories, too, have been a great source of infor-mation for her.

Cindy says that she is fond of coming here and is happy that her ancestors and family were all from this area. In addition, she likes to look at all the exhibits and displays.

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE GEDÄCHTNISTAG 3:00 pm, September 27

Meadowood Retirement Community

The Schwenkfelder Church will be celebrating its annual services of Gedächtnistag, or Day of Remembrance on Sunday, September 27, at 3:00 pm at the Meadowood Retirement Community, 3205 W Skippack Pike, Worcester, PA 19490. This traditional service of Thanksgiving is the oldest continuous celebration of thanks in the United States.

Following the service, the day concludes with a traditional meal of bread, butter, apple butter, and water – a reminder of the very first gathering in 1734.

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New to the Library

A History of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, David Dunn, et al. Donated by Frances Eshbach Kinney.

Church Records of the Maxatawny, or DeLong's Reformed Church, Bowers, Berks County. Donated by Kay Bachkai.

Die Fiere un Sechtzich Fersommling, Grundsow Lodsh No. 7. Donated by Carl Arner.

Eshbach (Eshbach-Eshbaugh-Ashbaugh) Families of Pennsylvania. Donated by Edwin Eshbach.

German Americana, 1800-1955: A Comprehensive Bibliography of German, Austrian, and Swiss books and Dissertations on the United States, Christoph Strupp, et al. Donated by David B. Long.

Rauch, Handwerk & Co. Builders, Jordan, PA: A Family's Contribution to Early Transportation and Commerce, by Sarajane Rauch Williams and Stephen P. Rauch. Donated by Sarajane Williams.

The Pennsylvania German Fraktur of the Free Library of Philadelphia: An Illustrated Catalogue, compiled by Frederick S. Weiser & Howell J. Heaney. Donated by Corinne Machmer.

Family collection of Schwenkfelder books. Donated by Barbara Felton.

Die Schwenckfelder aus der Berthelsdorfer Chronik. DVD. Verein Schwenckfeldhaus Berthelsdorf

Pastor Ron Krick, retirement dinner, 1997. DVD. Donated by Edmund Kuhns.

A Time of Sifting: Mystical Marriage and the Crisis of Moravian Piety in the Eighteenth Century, Paul Peucker. SLHC purchase.

Abstracts of Montgomery County Wills, 1784-1823, edited by Ellwood Roberts. SLHC purchase.

Religion and Profit: Moravians in Early America, Katherine Carté Engle. SLHC purchase.

Two Troubled Souls: An Eighteenth Century Couple’s Spiritual Journey in the Atlantic World, Aaron Spencer Fogleman. SLHC purchase.

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY, FALL 2015

PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN LANGUAGE CLASSES

Upper Macungie Township Mondays, September 14 – November 9

PA German Beginner Language classes will meet Monday evenings 7:00—8:30 pm for 8 weeks, September 14—November 9 at Independence Park, 150 Independent Road, Breinigsville, PA 18031. Keith Brintzenhoff, a retired Social Studies teacher, will teach the class. He is certified in German and has an extensive history in German-American as well as PA German language and music. Advanced registration a must, $60.00. Contact Upper Macungie Township, 8330 Shantz Road, Breinigsville, PA 18031 to register or for information. Do you live near the Heritage Center and are interested in a PA German language class being taught at the Heritage Center? Please contact Joanne or Dave at 215-679-3103.

New to the Archives: Donated by Nancy Palmer: 1771 Estate inventory of Christopher Reinwald. 1854 Worcester Township deed between John and Susanna Frick, and John and Elizabeth Metz, and Jacob H. Crater.

Donated by Chershe Derr: Collection of Kehl family papers, including items relating to the death of Lewis E. Kehl, Private, U.S. Army, killed in battle, November 1, 1918. Lewis E. Kehl was the first resident of Pennsburg killed in World War I.

Donated by Ed Bieler: Large collection of family photographs and papers, including images of the Bieler & Reigner building and the 1965 Articles of Incorporation and Decree for the Upper Perkiomen Industrial Development Corporation.

Donated by Faye Hoffman: Souvenir school attendance card, Stella C. Snyder, 1896-97, Reed's School, Upper Hanover Township.

Donated by Ellis Kriebel: Copies of photographs of the Aaron and Eliza Kriebel farm and of the 1953 Schwenkies softball team.

Donated by Dennis Stephan: Fraktur, made in memory of Dina Kriebel, dated 1863.

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FALL LECTURE SERIES

As is our custom, we are offering a variety of lectures in various formats. The popular Brown Bag (BB) lunches are held on the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Bring your lunch – beverages provided – and enjoy a free lecture while you eat. These programs are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, September 9, noon The Strange Case of the Murder of Norman Bechtel

Candace Perry

When Boyertown native Norman Bechtel was murdered under unusual circumstances in Philadelphia in 1932, the newspa-pers were quick to call it a “hex murder,” similar to the slaying of Nelson Rehmeyer in York in 1928. The case went unsolved for five years as detectives pursued one false lead after another. This illustrated lecture will tell the tale of this unusual case of Bechtel’s untimely death, and how the media sensationalized it.

Wednesday, October 14, noon

Not Only Flying Fish Allen Viehmeyer

The impact of the migration experience on the Schwenkfelders is the focus of this lecture. Just how did life

change for the Schwenkfelders from the time they left Harpersdorf until 1760? How did their experiences in Herrnhut /Berthelsdorf, on the transatlantic voyage, and in their encounters with various religious and political groups influence and shape their interactions among themselves and with other groups?

Wednesday, November 11, noon Christopher Heebner Family

Presented by Allen Viehmeyer

Christopher Heebner (1690–1763), his wife Maria (1693–1768) and their son Hans Christopher Heebner (1718-1804) came to Pennsylvania in 1737. Their daughter Rosina (1713–1790) married and stayed on the Heebner family farm in Lower Harpersdorf. Several letters survive from the father’s and daughter’s correspondence and form the basis of this presentation. Information from other sources help round out the story of this important and divided family.

Wednesday, December 9, noon Perkiomen School Photos

Presented by Allen Viehmeyer

Original photos of the outside and inside of the buildings on the Perkiomen campus between the 1900s and the 1930s give a good glimpse into campus life during those times. Some of the old course catalogs give interesting rules and regula-tions for boarding and day

students. Come and find out what the campus, students, teachers, and activities looked like some 90 years ago.

Bechtel Portrait

flying fish

Heebner deed

Perkiomen Chapel

SOCIETY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF

THE SCHWENKFELDIAN EXILES Annual Fall Meeting & Election of Officers

Sunday, October 25, 2:00 pm Program, 2:30 pm

Walter Emerson Baum: Sellersville Artist of Schwenkfelder Ancestry

Public is invited

Presented by Larry Grim, oldest grandchild of Walter Baum, a Perkasie Lawyer, past president of Bucks County Bar Association, past director of the Baum School of Art and James A. Michener Art Museum; assisted by Kathleen O’Dea, a fine arts consultant who completed the course of study at the Barnes Foundation and did graduate studies in art at NYU, holding a BA from the College of New Jersey and MA in Teaching from University of Pennsylvania. Public invited, refreshments to follow program.

www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 3 11 Heritage Headlines

Fall 2015 Programs and Events

Oct 27 – 1:30 pm Children’s Workshop: Mysterious Concoctions

Oct 29 – 4:30 pm American Girl Tea Time

Oct 31 – 1:00 pm Children’s Workshop: Mysterious Concoctions

Nov 8 – 2:00 pm Charles J. Adams III: Upper Perkiomen Valley Ghost Stories

Nov 11 – noon BB Lecture: Christopher Heebner Family

Nov 17 – 1:30 pm and Nov 21 – 1:00 pm Children’s Workshop: Local Native American History and Culture

Nov 19 – 2:00 pm PA Dutch Conversation Group

Nov 22 – 2:00 pm Children’s Book Club

Nov 26 – 4:30 pm American Girl Tea Time

Dec 5, 9:30 am and Dec 6, noon Christmas Market

Dec 8 – 1:30 pm and Dec 12 – 1:00 pm Children’s Workshop: Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas

Dec 9 – noon BB Lecture: Perkiomen School Photos

Through October 18 A Celebration of the Variable Star Quilters Meeting Room

Through October 20 Text in Context: The Written Word in Pennsylvania German Decorative Arts and Material Culture Fraktur Gallery

Through October 20 Exploring Fedor Sommer Author of The Iron Collar Local History Gallery

Through January 31, 2016 Powwowing in Pennsylvania: Healing, Cosmology, and Tradition in the Dutch Country with guest curator Patrick Donmoyer Art Gallery

Fall 2015 Exhibits

October 25 – March 1 The Art of Walter E. Baum Meeting Room

November 5 – March 31 Warm and Bright: Artifacts for Warmth and Light from the Heritage Center Collection Fraktur Gallery

November 15 – March 15 Wild and Mild – Christmas Putz 2015 Local History Gallery

November 22 – February 28 Vintage Christmas Electrical Décor and More Wall Cases

Sept 9 – noon BB Lecture: The Strange Case of Norman Bechtel

Sept 17 – 2:00 pm PA Dutch Conversation Group

Sept 22 – 1:30 pm and Sept 26 – 1:00 pm Children’s Workshop: A Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving

Sept 24 – 4:30 pm American Girl Tea Time

Sept 27 – 2:00 pm Children’s Book Club

Sept 27 – 3:00 pm Schwenkfelder Day of Remembrance at Meadowood

Oct 6 – 1:30 pm and Oct 10 – 1:00 pm Children’s Workshop: Art and Math of Quilts

Oct 14 – noon BB Lecture: Not Only Flying Fish

Oct 15 – 2:00 pm PA Dutch Conversation Group

Oct 17 – 11:00 am Powwowing in Pennsylvania Mini Conference

Oct 25 – 2:00 pm Children’s Book Club

Oct 25 – 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm Exile Society meeting, Walter Baum program

www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 3

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“BLESSINGS FOR THE LIBRARY & HERITAGE CENTER!”

Your gift to the Heritage Center brings joy to many. This year’s Annual Fund campaign begins soon! When you receive your personal mailing in September, please join us. Generous fr iends and donors like you help preserve and present our collection and keep our welcoming doors open free to all. The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center relies upon your support!

We invite you to join us for our special exhibitions, our educational programs for adults and children, or to make use of the resources of the library and our talented staff. This is your Heritage Center! Please enjoy it, and help us share its rich legacy with others.

If you know of anyone who would be like to receive our newsletter or join our mailing list, please contact Joanne Jalowy at 215-679-3103 or joanne@schwenkfelder.com.

“I appreciate what the Library & Heritage Center represents. I will continue to support your efforts. Best wishes!”