Heritage Headlines INSIDE
Honoring Heritage. Continuing the Journey.
Page 2 Exhibits
6TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
Page 3 Interns CLIR report
Celebrating Bill Bourne’s Contributions
Page 4 and 5 Education Programs Page 6 Mercer Tour Page 7 Two Teas Page 8 Christmas Market New in the Library Page 9 Viehweg 150th Page 10 Lecture Series Page 11 Program and Exhibit Schedules Wishlist Page 12 Annual Fund
105 Seminary Street Pennsburg, PA 18073-1898 Phone: 215.679.3103 Fax: 215.679.8175 info@schwenkfelder.com www.schwenkfelder.com
September 2012 Volume 15, Issue 3
Sunday, October 7, 2012 5:30 pm, Bay Pony Inn, Lederach, PA You are invited to join the friends of Bill Bourne in recognizing the contributions of his time and talent to the success of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. This fundraiser dinner will help support this year’s activities at the Heritage Center. Price: $65.00 per person Menu Selections: Chicken Piccata, Salmon in Pepper Sauce, Roast Pork Loin, Pasta w/Mushroom Sauce Contact Michelle Pritt, 215-679-3103, with questions or for your reservation. Please RSVP by September 24, 2012—seating is limited.
A CURATOR’S BUS TOUR
Mercer Museum “Stitches in Time” Curator Tour and Peddler’s Village—info on page 6. This Pot is Hot! Ceramics Connoisseurship Program and Tea with George Allen—info on page 7. Passion for Fashion Vintage Fashion Show and Tea—info on page 7. 1
2
www.schwenkfelder.com
Heritage Headlines
LOVE, PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH STYLE Through October 1
Volume 15, Issue 2
EVELYN SCHULE PAINTINGS September 20 – January 20, 2013
There’s a universal language of love, and the Pennsylvania Dutch spoke it, albeit with a German accent! Visit our First Floor Gallery and discover a collection of charming artifacts that reflect love and romance among our Schwenkfelders and other Pennsylvania Germans.
DUTCH DECO Pennsylvania German Design in the 20th Century October 15 – January 4, 2013 By the 1920s, traditional forms and motifs plus new materials and colors equaled a modern interpretation of textiles, craft, and art that the Pennsylvania Dutch had been making for over a century. The upcoming exhibit Dutch Deco will feature selections from the Heritage Center's permanent collection that illustrate how traditional activities, such as quilting, embroidery, and the making of fraktur, evolved in the 20th century with the use of synthetic materials and a vibrant color palette that was unknown in the previous century, bringing a touch of Art Deco and later mid-century modern aesthetics. It's a new twist on the old folks!
We welcome the return of a show and sale of paintings by the late Evelyn Schule to the Meeting Room for the autumn and winter months. Mrs. Schule's lovely work is a crowd pleaser and very fitting for the season. We will have a variety of appealing works so collectors take note: you will want to add one or more to your collection!
MINIATURE MILLINERY FROM THE COLLECTION OF JOAN NICHOLS October 12 – December 30 Local doll collector Joan Nichols is lending us her exquisite collection of miniature hats for the holidays. The hats were originally displayed at Saks 5th Avenue to illustrate the history of millinery from the 19th century into the 20th century, and they beautifully capture a bygone profession -that of the milliner. Be sure to see these adorable petite chapeaux in the wall cases in the First Floor Gallery!
FLORA HEEBNER AND HER CHINESE MISSION September 21 – December 30 The early 20th century Schwenkfelder missionary to China, Flora Heebner, was beloved and respected by her family, friends, and colleagues. She sent many wonderful souvenirs and curiosities during her 40-year stay in China to everybody back home in Pennsylvania, and these objects are certainly well known to anyone who visited the museum on the second floor of the Perkiomen School's Carnegie Library. Flora's lovely gifts of ceramics, textiles, and all manner of Chinese art and material culture are a very small part, however, of her story. The Heritage Center's upcoming exhibit is a journey into Flora's tenure in China as a missionary and teacher through her extensive correspondence and photographs, and will be enhanced by the gorgeous Asian silk textiles, brilliant ceramics, and other objects Flora generously presented to her loved ones. We hope this will be another step in furthering our understanding our Flora's amazing experiences far away from her Schwenkfelder roots in Worcester Township.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
2012 CHRISTMAS PUTZ A Touch of Modern October 20 – December 30 This year we will be focusing on 20th century design for our Christmas Putz in keeping with our Dutch Deco theme. Our annual putz will glitter with the charming pre-war "Made in Japan" paper houses in their fanciful candy colors and sparkling mica. As always we are grateful to the late Ron Treichler for his generous donation of the putz collection -his legacy will continue to charm our visitors for years to come!
NEEDED TO BORROW: A silver tinsel/aluminum Christmas tree, preferably five to six feet tall but would be happy to have any size, for this year's Christmas Putz. Contact Candace Perry at the Heritage Center.
ANOTHER TERRIFIC INTERN CONTRIBUTES TO THE HERITAGE CENTER We are very fortunate to have Stephanie Bowen, an anthropology major at Lycoming College in Williamsport, serving as an intern in the museum collection this summer.
Heritage Headlines
3
“CLIR” PROGRESS Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives Although we only started the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) project in April, we are making excellent headway, having just completed cataloging and photographing both the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center and Goschenhoppen Historians’ collections of quilts and coverlets. It has been a large task. This portion of the cataloging process has encompassed over four hundred objects, but with the help of intern Lauren Romer (we met her in our last newsletter) and several volunteers we have successfully documented some of the most important objects of the Pennsylvania German textile tradition. Our next step is to continue cataloging and photographing the collection of quilts and coverlets at the Mennonite Heritage Center (MHEP). Local intern and Ursinus student Eric Pfeiffer has been assisting with the daily cataloging process of these objects. Whether helping with measuring, entering data into our museum database or taking notes, his help has been gratefully appreciated. We are currently cataloging anywhere from 5-8 objects a day, depending on the complexity or detailed nature of the artifact. However, we are moving swiftly along and will probably finish cataloging MHEP’s collection of quilts and coverlets by mid-July. Our next artifact group will be hand-spun linens, ranging from bed sheets to towels, which we will continue to catalog into the fall. – Caitlin Harvey
MEET INTERN ERIC PFEIFFER Eric Pfeiffer is an upcoming senior history major at Ursinus College. Raised in Pennsburg and East Greenville, he attended Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, PA. While growing up locally, his PA Dutch ancestors hail from Northampton County.
Stephanie hails from the Boyertown area and brings her experience in archaeology as she catalogs the Native American collections of projective points, tools and other artifacts that have long been a big question mark for us. Stephanie has efficiently developed her own work plan and is assiduously categorizing, cataloging, and photographing the objects for our PastPerfect database, with the goal of having them accessible online for interested researchers.
“I have always had an interest in History even from childhood,” says Eric. Outside of school he is a Civil War Reenactor (150th Pennsylvania “Bucktails” Volunteer Infantry, Company F, originally from Phoenixville, PA) which allows him to express his passion for history and teach people at the same time.
Most of the collection was found locally. Over 900 artifacts alone were discovered in the vicinity of the former Markley farm in Upper Hanover Township, which was flooded for the Green Lane Reservoir in the 1950s, and we believe a good many of these found a home at the Heritage Center. We thank Stephanie for her excellent contribution to our program!
“This internship has really given me a look into the inner workings of museums,” he explains, “and has allowed me to gain a better understanding of local history. As a result, my knowledge of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage has grown exponentially through this project and I am sure this will aid me in the future.”
4
Heritage Headlines FAMILY WORKSHOPS Painted Glass and Ceramics Tuesday, September 11 1:30 – 3:00 pm Inspired by painted glass made in the early 19th century and hand painted ceramics, we’ll look at various designs and examples from our collection and make our own using food-safe paint pens.
Calligraphy Tuesday, September 25, 1:30 – 3:00 pm What is Pennsylvania German Fraktur and why is calligraphy still important today? We will practice creating letterforms and make a bookplate-size example. Postage Stamp Collage Tuesday, October 9, 1:30 – 3:00 pm Inspired by the Chinese art of a postage stamp collage on view in the Flora Heebner exhibit, we will make small collages from postage stamps. Block Printed Aprons Tuesday, October 23, 1:30 – 3:00 pm Our Dutch Deco exhibit features 20th century items reflective of the Art Deco movement. Inspired by the designs and colors in the exhibit we will make block printed aprons. Hand-Made and Hand-Painted Bandboxes Tuesday, November 6, 1:30 – 3:00 pm Boxes made from wallpaper and recycled newspapers were used as hatboxes and household storage. Using recycled materials and paint, we will make our own bandboxes.
BEGINNER-ADVANCED GERMAN AND LATIN FOR HOMESCHOOLERS
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
Family Workshop cost is $5.00 per participant/workshop unless otherwise noted. Registration information is available at www.schwenkfelder.com or call 215-679-3103 or email rebecca@schwenkfelder.com Family Workshops for 2012/2103 are sponsored through a general grant from Univest
Paper Houses Tuesday, December 4, 1:30 – 3:00 pm Our miniature Putz features early 20th century paper houses. We will create small paper houses using various materials that you can set on display this holiday season. Tinware Tuesday, December 11, 1:30 – 3:00 pm Tinware was a popular craft and trade for the Pennsylvania Germans. Using thin sheets of metal we will make small tin punch projects to use as a candleholder or small lantern.
If you are interested in our family programs and cannot come during our set dates and times, we can offer the same program to your group during non-public school hours at an alternate date and time during the month. Our group minimum is 5 participants. Call 215-679-3103 or email
Beginner-Advanced German and Latin courses are offered on a month by month basis throughout the school year for homeschoolers from September through May. To accommodate the busy schedules of our parents and students, we offer the option of attending class 10:00 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Wednesdays and 10:00 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Fridays, completing a total of three hours of instruction per week and eight classes per monthly session.
GERMAN FOR READING KNOWLEDGE FOR ADULTS Allen Viehmeyer, Instructor
$50.00 per student each monthly session September: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 October: 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 November: October 31, November 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 28, 30 (no classes held week of Thanksgiving) December: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21 (reduced rate)
Evening classes are available for adults wanting to improve their reading knowledge of German. Courses will be taught on Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, $80.00 per participant per month. For dates and additional information, please contact Rebecca Lawrence, Museum Educator, at 215-679-3103.
rebecca@schwenkfelder.com
or to register.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
JOIN US FOR GRANDPARENTS DAY Sunday September 9, 2012 RSVP August 26, 2012 Celebrate Grandparents Day with us on Sunday, September 9, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Bring your grandparents and grand-friends, family photos, and share family stories with each other. Grandparents and Grand-friends, bring photos and stories of your childhood to share with your grandchildren! We will exhibit your family photos in the rear of our First Floor Gallery through October 2012. Walk in participants are welcome, but we would love to have your RSVP by August 26. For more info, please call 215-679-3103. Free admission.
SATURDAY CRAFT DAYS FOR TEENS AND ADULTS To register, visit our website or call Rebecca Lawrence, Museum Educator, 215-679-3103 or send her an email at rebecca@schwenkfelder.com.
Join our Museum Educator for Saturday morning crafts! Intro to Decoupage Saturday, September 15 10:00 am – 1:30 pm, $25 Register by September 8 Using water based sealants and cut paper, we will explore different types of decoupage techniques on three surfaces (wood, glass, and plastic) and begin a small decoupage project. All supplies provided. Postage Stamp Collage Saturday, October 20, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm, $25 Register by October 13 Inspired by the intricate Chinese art of postage stamp collage on view in the Flora Heebner exhibit we will make small collages from postage stamps. These illustrated pictures using a collage technique can be used as gifts, wall and room décor, and more. All supplies provided.
E-NEWSLETTER UPDATES To receive email updates about our collections and education programs, send your email address to: rebecca@schwenkfelder.com
Heritage Headlines
5
WILD ABOUT WHITETAILS Sunday, November 4, 2:00 pm Kevin F. Crilley The Friends of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center invites the public to the program Wild About Whitetails, which chronicles the biology, natural history, and management of the Whitetail Deer in the Delaware Valley and beyond with Kevin Crilley from Green Lane Park. Crilley will present a PowerPoint program followed by time for question and answers. In addition, he will bring an antler board, pelts, skulls, a browse box and more for the audience to handle. Handouts about Whitetails and deer management will be available. If time allows, Crilley will answer questions regarding beaver management in the park. Kevin Crilley is the Region 2 Environmental Education Specialist for the Montgomery County Department of Parks & Heritage Services, a position he has held since 1988. Previously, he was an Environmental Educator at Evansburg State Park from 1985-1988. He has worked in various capacities at Lancaster County Central Park, Tobyhanna State Park, and Hickory Run State Park. He received the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s “Friend of the Watershed” award in 2001, and his contributions to environmental education were also recognized by Marlborough Township and the Upper Perkiomen School District. Crilley holds an Associates Degree in Forestry and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Sciences, both from Penn State University. In addition to his full-time job, Kevin served as Montgomery County Compiler for Pennsylvania Birds magazine from 1997 through 2011. He is co-author of the book Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity, published in 2002.
PA GERMAN DIALECT CONVERSATION GROUP Our group meets on a month-to-month basis to discuss topics in PA Dutch! There is no charge to join our conversation group and no RSVP is required. Fall 2012 meetings occur on September 20, November 15, and December 20 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm in the Heritage Center's Meeting Room. We provide coffee and tea during the meeting. On October 18, there will be a special offsite location: a tour of Sam Kriebel’s homestead and farm in Souderton. Please call for directions and additional information. Transportation will not be provided. Topics change each month and participants are encouraged to bring their own dialect materials or questions to discuss. Questions can be directed to Museum Educator, Rebecca Lawrence, at rebecca@schwenkfelder.com or call 215-679-3103.
“Mer wolle widder Deitsch Schwetze”
6
Heritage Headlines
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center Presents
A CURATOR’S TOUR Tuesday, November 6, 2012 Depart Heritage Center at 9:00 am and return 5:00 pm Join us for a Curator’s Tour of the Mercer Museum’s new sampler exhibit, titled Stitches in Time. Guest Curator Kathy Lesieur will be on hand to lead the tour and provide additional insight into a special selection of 18th and 19th century Bucks County samplers, assembled for the first time in the Mercer’s galleries. SLHC is lending its 1798 Fronica Gross sampler to the exhibit, and this will be an excellent opportunity to see this sampler in the context of others from Bucks County. After the tour and some time at Mercer to take in their wonderful collections, we’ll take a short bus ride to Peddler’s Village for an afternoon of lunch on your own at one of the numerous terrific restaurants and some early holiday shopping!
Stitches in Time: Needlework from the Mercer Collection Mercer Museum Special Exhibit
Peddler's Village in historic Bucks County
Discover a historic Bucks County village with charming colonial-style Guest Curator: Kathy Lesieur buildings, award-winning Stitches in Time examines over 50 samplers gardens, distinctive Bucks from the Mercer Museum’s permanent collection, County shopping and much many of which have never been exhibited, as well as more. For 50 years, visitors have followed the winding borrowed pieces from premiere private collections brick pathways to experience exceptional Bucks and prestigious local museums. The exhibit will County dining, explore the best of Bucks County feature 18th and 19th century Quaker samplers, shopping, escape from the everyday to a getaway at exploring how they were influenced by the English, the Golden Plough Inn and celebrate favorite traditions and comparing these pieces with Pennsylvania at historic Bucks County seasonal festivals and annual German communities and their methodology of events. Shopping "Peddler's Village-style" is a relaxing teaching and transference of style and stress-free experience with the and design. The exhibit is included $45.00 per person includes: personal service you deserve. From with museum admission. comfort foods, trendy fashions, and ♦ Transportation —Mercer Museum Website home goods to unique toys, local ♦ Guided tour of special exhibit at artisans, and a full service day spa, the Mercer Museum you'll find it all in our Village ♦ Entrance fees and gratuities Tour will go rain or shine— "neighborhoods." ♦ Travel to Peddler’s Village please bring umbrellas and rain gear – Peddler’s Village Website for walking around Peddler’s Village if the weather looks threatening. The bus leaves from and returns to the parking lot of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, PA 18073
Call Michelle 215-679-3103 for reservations. Seating is limited.
The tour includes standing, walking, and possibly stairs. Lunch is on your own at Peddler’s Village and not included in the tour price.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Heritage Headlines
Volume 15, Issue 2
THIS POT IS HOT!
PASSION FOR FASHION: A Vintage Fashion Show and Tea
Ceramics Connoisseurship Program and Tea with George Allen of Raccoon Creek Antiques, Oley, PA
Sunday, November 11, 2:00 pm
Saturday, October 13, 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Join us for the twists and turns of ceramic connoisseurship with George Allen in a special discovery afternoon. George will use examples from the Schwenkfelder collection, supplemented by selections from his personal collection, to show use and development of ceramics, particularly among the Pennsylvania Germans in the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll learn what’s good and what to look for if you want to start collecting or simply want to further your appreciation for Pennsylvania German culture in general. We guarantee a delightful time well spent with George!
7
Do you remember that local vintage TV commercial that asked “Do you have a passion for fashion?” Well, if you do or you simply want to enjoy a fun and convivial afternoon, join us for our first ever vintage fashion show and tea. We’re asking friends to comb their closets to come up with some great representative looks from the 1920s through the 1980s. You won’t just be viewing this sartorial blast from the past, but learning more about how fashion evolved in the twentieth century, and how the fashions you will be viewing reflected significant trends and iconic design.
You’ll have a chance to chat with George and fellow guests while tucking into a delicious substantial tea of sweets and savories, including individual pork pies, homemade soup, and an enticing array of treats. Guests are invited to bring their ceramics for discussion and identification with George, and we’ll have an informative show and tell after tea.
After the show guests will enjoy a delicious tea fit for a fashionista. The cost is $25.00 per person for an afternoon of fun and surprises! Please contact Candace Perry for more information and for reservations. Seating is somewhat limited, so make your reservations soon.
The cost is $40 per person; seating is limited. Please contact the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center at 215-679-3103 or candace@schwenkfelder.com
LET’S PUT ON A SHOW! (our vintage fashion show, that is) Sunday, November 11, 2:00 pm We are looking for talented individuals to provide the musical backdrop for our models in our vintage fashion show to be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 11, in the Heritage Center Meeting Room. If you are a singer – teen to senior – and you would like to perform while our models “walk the runway,” please contact Candace Perry at the Heritage Center. We will provide music from the different time periods reflected in the fashions featured, so singers should be prepared to sing anything from possibly as early as the 1920s or 30s to as late as the 1980s. The fashion show committee will select the songs and assign them to suit specific voices. Singers should be prepared to come to at least one rehearsal with our pianist close to the date of the show but will need to learn their music on their own. Singers should feel comfortable in front of an audience and should have some performing experience. We would like a mixture of ages and voices, and we’ll even consider duets, trios or small groups (an a cappella du wop group would be amazing!) if you are willing to work on it on your own. Contact Candace at 215-679-3103 or email her at candace@schwenkfelder.com for more information.
8
Heritage Headlines
CHRISTMAS MARKET:
Treasures and Traditions through Time Saturday, December 1 – 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Sunday, December 2 – Noon to 4:00 pm Join us for our annual Christmas celebration at the Heritage Center and also at our dear friends' sites, Goschenhoppen Historians and the Mennonite Heritage Center. Our visitors are promised distinctly different festive holiday treats at each location, but we all share the wish to bring our patrons a bit of the warmth of Christmases past to their present - and presents!
Start out with us: SHOP: Remembering the Good Old Days Christmas Shopping Fun EXHIBITS: 20th Century Nostalgic Christmas Putz, Evelyn Schule Paintings, Flora Heebner and the Chinese Mission, Dutch Deco, Joan Nichols' Miniature Millinery Then on to the Goschenhoppen Historians: SHOP: Vintage Christmas Collectibles, Home Baked Goodies, Folk Festival Craftsmen's Wares EXHIBIT: Trees and Trains, 18th and 19th century holiday exhibits in the Museum LOCATION: Red Men’s Hall, Routes 29 and 63, Green Lane Finish your day at the Mennonite Heritage Center: SHOP: Pennsylvania German Folk Art Sale, featuring the finest traditional crafts EXHIBIT: Painting the Barn: Landscape Art Exhibit and Sale Historic Barn and Farm Photographs Exhibit NEW THIS YEAR: OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS PHOTO OPP – be a time traveler and take your picture in an antique sleigh with a Currier & Ives backdrop! LOCATION: 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville For more information, directions or decisions about inclement weather, call the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center at 215-679-3103 or the Mennonite Heritage Center at 215-256-3020.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY Fall 2012 New Books George Miller: the Life and Times of a Pietist Martyr, c. 1655-1700. Researched, compiled, written, and donated by George Henry Mayer Schuler. The Lineage of Mary Ewald (1725-1808): Wife of Andrew Miller (1717-1792). Researched, compiled, written, and donated by George Henry Mayer Schuler. Bittenbender & Gery Families of Pennsylvania (Book 1 of 2): Our Ancestors and History, 1500 to Present. Compiled and donated by Kitty Pherson. Bittenbender & Gery Families (Book 2 of 2): List of Births & Deaths, Including Cemetery Listings. Compiled and donated by Kitty Pherson. A Harmony of the Spirits: Translation and the Language of Community in Early Pennsylvania. Written and donated by Patrick M. Erben. New to the Archives: B/W photograph of a postcard of Echo Farm (now Kohler Farm), Zionsville. Donated by Bill Lagler Two color postcards of Spring Mount, PA. Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Irwin 1701 de Hooghe engraved portrait print of Caspar Schwenckfeld. Heritage Center Purchase
HERITAGE CENTER— STILL ON THE ROAD! In a normal year, the Heritage Center takes to the road for several special festivals or events. This year, volunteers and staff have had tables at a few more places than the norm—a great way to help spread the word and encourage visitation. Here’s where you may see us over the next two months: September 8—East Greenville – Pennsburg Community Day along Main Street in both boroughs. Hours: Saturday 9:00 am—5:00 pm. September 22—Montgomery County History Fair at Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe. Hours: Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. October 6—Apple Butter Frolic at the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville. Hours: Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
Heritage Headlines
9
VIEHWEG MONUMENT 15OTH ANNIVERSARY 1863 - 2013 “Our Pennsylvania Schwenkfelders might honor their forefathers somewhat by giving a little of that prosperity which they would never have enjoyed had it not been for the faithfulness of these true and iron old people.” Dr. Solomon Schultz, January 1861 The year 2013, marking the 150th anniversary of the placing of the Viehweg Monument, is rapidly approaching. Inspired by the vision of our forefathers, especially Rev. Christopher Schultz in the eighteenth century, Dr. Solomon Schultz, on a visit to Silesia, challenged the Schwenkfelders in America to rise to the call and support the placement of this tribute, which was done in 1863. The Viehweg Monument has seen many changes and great neglect during the second half of the twentieth century. Fierce fighting between Russian and German troops directly surrounding the monument heavily damaged and nearly destroyed this memorial to our forefathers buried in this unsanctified ground. But the remnant of their testimonial stayed firm. Inspired by a visit in 1998, the Viehweg Committee of The Schwenkfelder Church undertook the fundraising required to restore the monument to its pre-World War II appearance. This effort succeeded in 2002 and a service of re-dedication was held in August 2003 with participation of a group of American Schwenkfelders, former residents of Harpersdorf, and current residents of Twardocice (the town formerly called Harpersdorf). Additionally, a translation stone was added near the monument, reproducing the German text in both Polish and English. The monument placed as a memorial of those troubled eighteenth century times was becoming a symbol of reconciliation in the twenty-first century. While the monument is now restored, periodic care is required to maintain the restored monument. Occasional repairs and a special sealing must be applied to the porous stone surface. With your support, the Viehweg Committee is embarking upon an effort to raise $15,000 to fund the current need and to be available in the future for additional treatments that will be required. We are challenging the broader Schwenkfelder community to respond with at least one hundred $150 contributions. These can come from individuals, families, or organizations. Donations may, and we hope will, exceed the suggested $150/donation sought. All donations should be made payable to Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, PA and clearly marked “Viehweg Monument Fund.” The Viehweg Committee thanks you in advance and looks forward to proceeding with the proper care required for this monument to our heritage in Poland.
Here rest in God the faithful Schwenkfelders who were buried in this Viehweg between 1720 and 1740. The descendants in North America erected this monument in memory of their ancestors in Probsthayn, Harpersdorf, Langneuendorf, and Lauterseifen.
10
Heritage Headlines
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
FALL LECTURE SERIES As is our custom, we are offering a variety of lectures in various formats. The popular Brown Bag lunches are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at noon. Bring your lunch—beverages provided—and enjoy a free lecture while you eat. These lectures are normally repeated the following Sunday at 2:00 pm. Both Wednesday and Sunday programs are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, September 12, noon Old Barns along Historic Route 100 in Hereford and Other Local Areas by Greg Huber Land along Route 100, a major thoroughfare to Philadelphia in the eighteenth and much of the nineteenth centuries, was a local home to many dozens of homesteads. Discover what barns may still be found there and other neighborhood areas. They date from many different decades as parts of long tradition bound eras
Sunday, September 16, 2:00 pm Learn to Tell the Construction Age of Your Historic House and Barn by Greg Huber Across the area of northern Montgomery County buildings were constructed during several eras from the early eighteenth century to late in the following century. Different times dictated different appearances in both houses and barns. Know how to tell the differences and learn about your own house and barn. You may be surprised.
Wednesday, October 10, noon, and Sunday, October 14, 2:00 pm Basic Schwenkfelder Faith and Religious Practices by Allen Viehmeyer This slide presentation is an introduction to Schwenkfelder faith in the eighteenth century. It examines the source of Schwenkfelder beliefs and how these beliefs have changed over time. Communion and baptism will be the main focus. Learn, too, how Schwenkfelders practiced their faith in dayto-day living. Some topics covered are worship, pacifism, music, dress, education, alms, marriage, and church membership.
Wednesday, November 14, noon, and Sunday, November 18, 2:00 pm Nuggets from the Minutes of the Schwenkfelder General Conference 1762-1880 by Allen Viehmeyer The oldest records of the concerns of the Schwenkfelder community can be found in the minutes of the General Conference. Some of the snippets of information found in these documents are highly interesting. Come and learn about distributions from the charity fund, interactions with early Schwenkfelder historian Oswald Kadelbach, questions about whether an “outsider” can become a member of the Society, rules and regulations about marriage as well as appropriate dress.
Wednesday, December 12, noon, and Sunday, December 16, 2:00 pm The Pennsylvania Germans South of the Mason-Dixon Line by Hunt Schenkel This talk will focus on the migration and settlement of the Pennsylvania Germans along portions of the Great Wagon Road south of the Mason-Dixon Line. It will explore the ways that the culture and beliefs of these Germanspeaking Protestants both transformed and adapted to the political, social and religious milieu of western Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
ANNUAL FALL MEETING AND PROGRAM Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles Sunday, October 28, 2:00 pm, Meeting; 2:30 pm, Program FLORA HEEBNER AND THE CHINA MISSION In 1904, a young adventurous Schwenkfelder woman, Flora Heebner, traveled halfway around the world to reach out to women and children in China in Christian Service. Her mission among these people in a nation so radically different from her own took great courage and strength. This presentation by Curator of Collections Candace Perry, in conjunction with the exhibit in the Fraktur Gallery, will tell the story of Flora’s work in China and the missionaries across China with whom she worked and influenced with her Schwenkfeldian ideals. The program will conclude with a visit by Flora herself, as a first-person interpretation by Carol Spacht, who will tell us, in her own words, about her repatriation as the Second World War was just beginning. The program is open to the public.
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
Heritage Headlines
11
Fall 2012 Programs and Events September 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin
October 23 – 1:30 pm Family Workshop: Block Printed Aprons
September 9, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Grandparents Day
October 28 – 2:30 pm Flora Heebner and the China Mission
September 11 – 1:30 pm Family Workshop: Painted Glass and Ceramics
October 31, November 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 28, 30 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin
September 12 – noon BB Lecture: Old Barns with Greg Huber
November 4 – 2:00 pm Wild About Whitetails
September 15 – 10:00 am Saturday Craft Day: Intro to Decoupage
November 6 – 9:00 am A Curator’s Tour
September 16 – 2:00 pm Lecture: Tell the Age of your House and Barn
November 6 – 1:30 pm Family Workshop: Bandboxes
September 20 – 2:00 pm PA German Dialect Conversation Group
November 11 – 2:00 pm Tea: Passion for Fashion
September 25 – 1:30 pm Family Workshop: Calligraphy
November 14 – noon, 18 – 2:00 pm BB Lecture: Schwenkfelder Conference Minutes
October 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin
November 15 – 2:00 pm PA German Dialect Conversation Group
October 7 – 5:30 pm Fundraising Dinner Celebrating Bill Bourne
December 1 – 9:30 am; 2 – Noon Christmas Market
October 9 – 1:30 pm Family Workshop: Postage Stamp Collage
December 4 – 1:30 pm Family Workshop: Paper Houses
October 10 – noon, 14 – 2:00 pm BB Lecture: Basic Schwenkfelder Faith
December 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin
October 13 – 1:00 pm Tea: This Pot is Hot!
December 11 – 1:30 pm Family Workshop: Tinware
October 18 – 2:00 pm PA German Dialect Conversation Group Offsite
December 12 – noon, 16 – 2:00 pm BB Lecture: PA Germans in South
October 20 – 10:00 am Saturday Craft Day: Postage Stamp Collage
December 20 – 2:00 pm PA German Dialect Conversation Group
Fall 2012 Exhibits Through October 1 Love, Pennsylvania Dutch Style Art/Local History Galleries Through October 1 Baseball Memorabilia Library Hall Display Cases September 20—January 20, 2013 Evelyn Schule Paintings Meeting Room September 21—December 30 Flora Heebner and her Chinese Mission Fraktur Gallery
October 12—December 30 Miniature Millinary Wall Cases, First Floor Gallery October 15—December 30 Dutch Deco Art Gallery October 20—December 30 Christmas Putz Local History Gallery
WISHLIST—Wouldn’t it be nice to have: Gallery Lights: $ 210.00 each (additional cylinders for the exhibit track lighting) Sponsor an Intern: $250 per intern—for additional information, call Candace Perry, 215-679-3103
Phone: 215.679.3103 fax: 215.679.8175 www.schwenkfelder.com email: info@schwenkfelder.com
105 Seminary Street Pennsburg, PA 18073-1898
Hours Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun
CLOSED 9-4 9-4 9-8 9-4 10 - 3 1-4
non profit org. us postage paid permit no. 42 Boyertown, PA
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
If you would prefer not to receive future mailings, call or email us and let us know!
12
www.schwenkfelder.com
Volume 15, Issue 2
GET READY FOR ANNUAL FUND 2012/2013!
Coming this fall, we will be mailing requests for donations for Annual Fund 2012/2013. We are so very grateful to everyone who has made our past campaigns a success—please consider participating this year. Honor someone by designating your gift in their name, or make a gift in memory of someone whom you desire to remember in a special way. If you prefer, anonymous donations are always welcome. If you would like, get a head start on our campaign by completing and returning the form below—or you can find the form and a link to PayPal on our website, if that’s more convenient for you. The Annual Fund Campaign concludes on March 31, 2013! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YES! I want to help the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center with my donation! My check for $ ________ is enclosed, payable to Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center Please charge $ ________ to my credit card (circle one): Visa Mastercard Discover Credit Card number: ______________________________ Exp. Date: _________________
This gift will be matched by my employer: _________________________________________ Please print your name as you wish to be listed: _____________________________________ I prefer to donate anonymously (name is not listed). My gift is in memory of: _______________________________________________________ (Print names as you wish to have them listed)
My gift is in honor of: _________________________________________________________ (Print names as you wish to have them listed)