Summer 2015 INSIDE Heritage Headlines Volume 18, Issue 2 MAY YOU LIVE IN EXCITING TIMES!
This past fiscal year has been an exciting one at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center!
Page 2: The year started with an amazing act of philanthropy, Upcoming Exhibits in which we received one of the largest individual gifts in our
Page 3: history as the result of a generous bequest from Dr. Webster Schultz Stover. Currently engaged in a strategic planning Donation With Father Miroslaw Tyczko, Penn Dry Goods process, our Board elected to place this gift in our endowment priest of the Church of the Holy Sponsors fund so that it would return maximum value to the Heritage Apostles Peter and Paul, Twardocice, Poland Center as we determine its highest and best use. Page 4 and 5: Children’s Education Legacy investments such as this have a transformative effect on an institution. We Programs are grateful for all of our legacy gift donors, and the investment of time and talent made Page 6: by our wonderful volunteers. What a pleasure it was to salute so many of you at our annual Volunteer Spotlights volunteer recognition brunch on April 25!
Page 7: In October, thanks to a generous grant, the SLHC together with the Mennonite New Baseball Book Heritage Center embarked upon the digitization of a portion of their fraktur collections. Volunteers Honored Working collaboratively and being assisted by photographers, volunteers, and interns, a Page 8: total of 650 pieces from both collections are being cataloged and digitized to make them Brown Bag Lunches available to virtual visitors from around the globe. Presenting these extraordinary pieces Library and Archives online will greatly enhance public access to these exceptional collections. This project Page 9: concludes this summer, but further opportunities to digitize the complete Heritage Center Fall Programs and collection are being sought – more than 1,000 pieces of world -class fraktur. Exhibits Another extraordinary experience was leading the Heritage Tour with Allen Page 10: Viehmeyer. One of our most stirring moments was encountering banners and signs Thank You Donors presaging the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. What a great time for the SPECIAL INSERT Heritage Center to have as our mission the celebration of religious Philanthropy freedom and all that entails. And yes – plans for our next Heritage Tour Report 2014/2015 are already underway.
May brings our third annual Penn Dry Goods Market to the Heritage Center. Led by our Board of Directors, we thank our 13 generous event sponsors. Please see the complete sponsor list on page 3. (If you noticed our publicity about this event, please tell us!)
Saving the best for last, I am delighted to announce that, with Receptionist Emily Barker your generous support, we exceeded our 2014 – 2015 annual fund 105 Seminary Street campaign goal! We especially thank our $10,000 challenge grant donor Pennsburg, PA 18073 -1898 Phone: 215.679.3103 who helped inspire new and increased gifts. We welcome our 116 new donors. Please Fax: 215.679.8175 enjoy the enclosed 2014 – 2015 Report on Philanthropy and plan to visit the Heritage Center soon.
[email protected] David W. Luz www.schwenkfelder.com Executive Director 1 2 Heritage Headlines www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2
Text in Context: The Written Word in A Celebration of the Variable Star Quilters Pennsylvania German Meeting Room, June 7 to October 18
Decorative Arts and Material Culture The Variable Star Fraktur Gallery, Through October 20 Quilters, a guild with
From samplers and quilts to members throughout our fraktur and furniture, the written local area, has been meeting word is a vital part of Pennsylvania for over three decades to German material culture, whether share their quilts with each to denote ownership through a other and through shows beautifully handwritten name or to open to the public. Nick convey a significant message. This named “The Quiltie Ladies,” exhibit features the bounty of these extraordinarily talented inscribed objects in the Heritage Center collections, women have consented to including a fraktur quilt, numerous samplers, the share some of their favorite quilts with our visitors. All of extraordinary Irwin Mensch desk, and of course, Adam and Eve quilt by Variable magnificent examples of handwriting – from the Baroque the quilts are contemporary Star Quilter Nancy Roan calligraphy of the 18th century to Spencerian pieces works made by members of – from the late 19th century. Visitors are welcome to the guild and you will be guaranteed a feast for the eye with their dazzling patchwork and applique! photograph the objects and text them to their friends or post them on social media – selfies are encouraged! 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 Pennsylvania German Folk Healing Traditions Jamison’s Publick House in Geryville. with guest curator Patrick Donmoyer Art Gallery, July 19 to 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.
On Saturday, October 17, the Heritage Center will host a mini conference on Pennsylvania German folk healing. More information will be forthcoming – watch your newsletter and the Heritage Center’s – Cover from Hohman's best known work a collection of Facebook page for updates! prayers and recipes for folk-healing. 3 www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2 Heritage Headlines Exploring Fedor Sommer ANTIQUES IN THE VALLEY Author of The Iron Collar Friday, June 19, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm Local History Gallery, Saturday, June 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm June 7 – October 20 Oley Valley Middle School
The Heritage Center is pleased 3247 Friedensburg Road Oley, PA 19547 and proud to have the opportunity to host a special exhibit about the life and work The 2015 Antiques in the Valley show features of Fedor Sommer (1864 – 1930), whose novel The Iron 60 of the most respected antique dealers showcasing Collar has been a staple in the Schwenkfelder bibliog their finest 18th, 19th, and early 20th century furniture, raphy since the 1950s, when it was translated by former folk art, primitives, textiles, china and related decorative Schwenkfelder Library Director Andrew Berky. This arts. A portion of the show proceeds will fund scholar
work of historical fiction, published first in serial form ships to deserving students at Oley Valley High School.
in 1911 in a German newspaper, tells the story of The Heritage Center will provide a fraktur exhibit. Schwenkfelders during the Counter -Reformation.
A special panel exhibit from The City Museum “Gerhart Hauptmann’s House” in Jelenia Góra, Poland THANK YOU, 2015 PENN DRY has been obtained on loan by the Heritage Center to introduce GOODS MARKET SPONSORS! our visitors to this important piece of Schwenkfelder heritage. The text panels will be supplemented by manuscripts, books We are pleased to recognize the and other materials from the Heritage Center collection to following sponsors for this year’s help bring the story to life. English translations of The Iron Penn Dry Goods Market:
Collar are available in the gift shop – stop in and purchase Friday Education Sponsor: one before viewing the exhibit! Sanford Alderfer Companies
Saturday Education Sponsor: Swan Sampler Guild Supports Sampler Preservation Women's Christian Fellowship of
Central Schwenkfelder Church We would like to extend our deepest thanks to the Swan Sampler Guild of Salt Lake City, Utah, for its Program Book and Textile History generous donation of $2,000 toward the conservation of a Lecture (2) Sponsor: Univest Corporation sampler, two embroidered wallets, and two of our famous Townscape wool embroideries. The Guild supports Friday Reception Sponsor: museums across the country – large and small – in Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center Board of Directors needlework conservation efforts.
Café Sponsor: We have chosen the Susanna Yeakle sampler, Meadowood Senior Living dated 1829, which is a recent acquisition of the Heritage Center; one of the Yeakle queen’s stitch pocketbooks; the Textile History Lecture Sponsors: M. Finkel & Daughter Caspar Yeakel Irish stitch pocketbook; the Phoebe Friends of the Schwenkfelder Kriebel Townscape, and the Anna Heebner Townscape as Library & Heritage Center candidates for these funds. Some need minimal work – Corinne H. Machmer the townscapes for example, which will probably just Ruckman Mill Farm need to be cleaned and re -fitted in their frames, while the Sampler Consortium pocketbooks need more attention to ensure their long - Stauffer Glove and Safety Town & Country Newspaper term preservation.
The Swan Sampler Guild is a needlework guild Raffle Sponsor: Harleysville Savings Bank specializing in samplers. They welcome members from all over the world. Their mission is to aid in the preservation We thank our generous sponsors of samplers and the art of sampler -making. for the Penn Dry Goods Market, May 15 and 16, 2015! Thank you Swan Sampler Guild! 4 Heritage Headlines www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2
HOMESCHOOL WORKSHOPS MUSEUM EDUCATOR TRANSITIONS
Themes and activities are based on temporary We bid a fond farewell to Museum Educator and permanent exhibition topics, gallery discussions, Laura Price, who left the position on April 2. Laura had and related Pennsylvania history. Each workshop is an opportunity to teach in a public school near her home and, having been here for almost two years, realized her $5 per participant. Parents are welcome to participate passion lay in classroom education. We wish Laura the in the activities. Most lessons and activities are very best and thank her deeply for the new directions and designed for the elementary and middle level but fresh ideas she brought to the Heritage Center education some exceptions apply. Please pre -register for work program. shops! You can find the registration form at In the meantime, we have been busy interviewing www.schwenkfelder.com. Please call Museum candidates and have hired a new Museum Educator, Educator Maggie Buckwalter at 215 -679 -3103 or via Maggie Buckwalter, starting Tuesday, April 21. Maggie email at [email protected], for information. has lived in the Upper Perkiomen Valley with her family for over 10 years. She has been involved with the Upper Pennsylvania Dutch Culture Perkiomen School District Tuesday, May 19, 1:30 – 3:00 pm as an Education Advocate Learn about Pennsylvania Dutch traditions and since 2004. culture. Engage in fun crafts and activities inspired by We welcome Maggie our very own Pennsylvania Dutch traditions. to the Heritage Center as she continues to promote Rug Hooking and teach current classes Tuesday, June 2, 1:30 – 3:00 pm while drawing us into a Learn the techniques of rug hooking and engage closer educational relation in a rug -hooking craft that you will be able to take home ship with the Upper with you! Perkiomen School District.
SUMMER PROGRAM: “ONCE UPON A TIME” – JULY AND AUGUST
Take part in the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center’s summer program, “Once Upon a Time.” This program will take place Tuesday afternoons: July 7, 21, August 4, 18. Each program will have a different classic fairy tale theme such as Cinderella or Alice in Summer, 2014 Music Camp with Allen Viehmeyer Wonderland!
Students will engage in SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAM crafts, games, and other The Summer Music Program is for children 9 and older magical activities all themed who read music and play an instrument. Players must bring and based upon the day’s their own instrument; music stand, if possible. The music will chosen fairy tale. This program be traditional American, German, and Pennsylvania Dutch is geared for elementary -age tunes for children, e.g., On Top of Spaghetti, Fuchs, du hast die Gans gestohlen, Heili, Heilo. Music will be provided. children. If you have any questions about the program,
Players will meet Wednesdays (June 17; July 1, 15, 29; please contact Museum Educa August 12, 26 ) in the Meeting Room from 10:00 – 11:00 am. tor Maggie Buckwalter by The cost is $5/meeting/child, payable at each session. Parents - - calling 215 -679 -3103 or via are welcome. Call Allen at 215 679 3103 with questions or e-mail: [email protected]. email at [email protected]. 5 www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2 Heritage Headlines
CHILDREN’S BOOK CLUB 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Thursdays June 11, July 9, August 13
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center’s Education Department hosts a book club for children. Children ages 9 – 14 are our focus, but all ages will be considered. Speak to the Museum Educator if you would like to involve a child outside the age range. The Book Club will meet monthly at the Heritage Center on the second Thursday of the month from 4:30 – 5:30 pm. For information, please contact Museum Educator Mag Spring Latin students Aoibhinn, Ailish, Adderyn Conway (left to gie Buckwalter by calling 215 -679 -3103 or via email at right). German and Latin classes will resume in September [email protected].
AMERICAN GIRL ® TEATIME 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Thursdays May 28, June 25, July 30, August 27
Enjoy afternoon teatime with your friends and favorite doll each month from 4:30 – 5:30 pm. At each get -together we learn about a female historical figure, talk with friends, play with our dolls and en gage in activities while enjoying snacks and refresh Clayton Helfrich ments. Everyone receives a diary to keep and to bring wore the perfect tie to each gathering. Take time to celebrate and encourage for the Children’s Groundhog Lodge, girls to be their best! Girls of all ages are welcome, as are friends and family members. Call Museum Educator January 31, 2015! Maggie Buckwalter at 215 -679 -3103 or via email at [email protected] for information.
PA GERMAN DIALECT CONVERSATION GROUP
Meetings occur on the third Thursday of the month: June 18, July 16, August 20, and September 17, 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 Apple cider pressing with Quiver Farms October 2, 2104. The children interacted Heritage Center to be on the with small animals and helped press apples into apple cider! telephone list: 215 -679 -3103. 6 Heritage Headlines www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2
Why do we love volunteering at the museum? We love working with the staff, working with other volunteers, and being part of preserving local history and art. Although we closed our home -based business in 2009, Charlie continues to use the beautiful Schwenkfelder fraktur designs in work he sells in the museum gift shop, always finding pleasure in reworking the intricate designs.
We thank everyone for allowing us to participate in this wonderful, on -going opportunity to learn, express ourselves creatively, and help preserve the legacy of vibrant local history and culture.
CHARLIE AND BETTY SHANK: MIDDLE SCHOOL STAR “WE LOVE VOLUNTEERING
AT THE MUSEUM!” Upper Perkiomen Middle School Student and Palm Schwenkfelder Church attendee Jonas Kinsler likes coming to the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Early after our marriage in 1966, we discovered Center. He has been taking German lessons with Dr. that we both liked antiques and spent weekends in Allen Viehmeyer since October 5, 2013. museums or looking for antiques. This interest continued “I enjoy learning about German history, culture, through our teaching careers and after the birth of our and language. I also like seeing son and, later, his two children. In 1987, we started a the exhibits about the small home -based craft business. In 1988, my parents Schwenkfelders and how they asked if we would make something to donate to the lived in the 1700’s.” Dr. Central Schwenkfelder Church Country Auction, so we Viehmeyer says “Jonas has a did. The discovery of the vast Schwenkfelder fraktur great deal of enthusiasm for collection was life -changing for us because of its learning German and learning enormous impact on our art work. Experimenting and about Germans, Germany, and adapting fraktur designs for the annual auction led to Germans in colonial Pennsylvania.” applying them to almost everything we crafted. Jonas also likes to make folded paper In 2004 we saw a newspaper ad for “Moravian” stars, using his talent to give back to the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center volunteers. Heritage Center. We set up an appointment with Candace Perry and have been volunteering here ever since! Also known as “Froebel” stars, (from the German educator We love volunteering - especially under Candace's Friedrich Fröbel [1782 –1852], expert guidance. She instinctively builds on our founder of the Kindergarten concept) strengths, putting us to tasks that we love. It's inspiring descriptions of how to fold them to work with the amazing and diverse museum collection. date back to at least the 19th century. An archive of Perkiomen Valley treasures, it reveals In Germany the name Fröbelstern has been the common how local historical artifacts reflect decades of nationally name for this star since the 1960s. It is used as an evolving social and economic change. ornament on Christmas trees and wreaths, and to make One highlight was preparing the background for garlands and mobiles. Stacey Clark's 2009 "Fairy Tale" exhibit. Working on Jonas likes the challenges of assembling the that exhibit fulfilled a dream. It was wonderful to meet complex stars. Using 4 strips of paper and plenty of Stacey, such an inspiring and brilliant artist! When the dexterity, he carefully folds the stars and sells them to museum staff gifted volunteers with memorial bricks, classmates. He then returns the contributions to the we had the year 2009 engraved on our brick in memory Heritage Center. of that wonderful experience. Heritage Headlines 7 www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2
A Baseball History of the Upper Perkiomen Valley 1954 —2014
On Sunday, March 22 at the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, George Bonekemper announced the availability of a new book: A Baseball History of the Upper Perkiomen Valley 1954 —2014.
The book is a fulfillment of a promise he made to Dallas Graber, author of A Baseball History of the Upper Perkiomen Valley, 1885 -1953. Graber worked with Bonekemper during the writing of this book.
Now available at the Heritage Center, 100 books have been printed and all proceeds will benefit the Heritage Center, which is preserving a wonderful collection of local baseball team artifacts , photographs, and archival material.
Books are available at the Heritage Center gift shop for $10.00 plus $.60 tax. Shipping is available for $3.95 additional. Send a check or call with credit card information (Visa, MC or Discover) to the Heritage Center.
VOLUNTEERS HONORED AT ANNUAL BRUNCH
Our fabulous corps of volunteers was honored at our annual Volunteer Brunch. All enjoyed Dave’s “World - Famous” pancakes (OK, maybe not WORLD famous, but at least well -known by our volunteers) along with Schwenkfelder -raised PA maple syrup, “Jefferson Street Thunder” horseradish, Hatfield country sausage, ham/ bacon/sausage strata and more while meeting new friends and learning more about prior acquaintances. Following special musical entertainment by Norman and Rhonda Stull of Spinnerstown, door prizes were drawn. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of the Heritage Center —without them, we could not begin to accomplish the work of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. MANY THANKS!
Volunteer today at the Heritage Center: Smiles at no extra charge!
Call Joanne today at 215-679-3103 to start smiling. 8 Heritage Headlines www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ARCHIVES SUMMER LECTURE SERIES
AND LIBRARY, SUMMER 2015 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 New to the Library Wednesday of each month at noon. Donated by Józef Zaprucki: Bring your lunch – beverages provided – and enjoy a free lecture while you eat.
Tolerance and Crossculture Communication: These programs are free and open to Fedor Sommer's Schwenkfelders in Silesia and the public. Pennsylvania edited by Józef Zaprucki.
Donated by Jackie McBrearty: Wednesday, June 10, noon History of Skippack & Vicinity: Montgomery Rev. Abraham Blumer: County, Pennsylvania by James Y. Heckler, 1895 -1896. Colonial Pastor and Patriot Presented by Edward E. Quinter The History of Souderton, Montgomery County by Henry S. Landis. This slide lecture will focus on the fascinating life of Abraham
Blumer, a learned and influential Books Donated by Kay Bachkai: Swiss Reformed minister in the Allentown area. The The Reading Street Railway Company by presentation will be an intimate look at Blumer Benson W. Rohrbeck. through his extensive personal correspondence and other existing records. Master of Airpower: General Carl A. Spaatz by David R. Mets. Die Anna vun Bannwill, volumes 1 -4, Wednesday, July 8, noon by Anna Faust. My Homeland Presented by Claudia Skrocki Thirty Years' War by Herbert Langer. Claudia was our Polish -
Georg Pausch's Journal and Reports of the English translator during the 2014 Campaign in America: As Translated from the German Heritage Tour. She will show lots Manuscript in the Lidgerwood Collection by Bruce E. of photos as she introduces us to
Burgoyne. family and friends in her two hometowns – Twardocice, The "“Reading” Full -Fashioned Knitting Poland, and Dresden, Germany – and tells about her Machine: A Technical Description of its Construction life in these two countries. and Operation prepared by F. K. Fogleman.
Wednesday, August 12, noon My Clear Conscience George Shenkle New to the Archives George Shenkle is a Collection of family photographs. Donated by World War II veteran. He will Ellis Kriebel. talk about his experiences during Collection of local postcards and photographs. WWII as recounted in his book Donated by Carol Leh. My Clear Conscience: The memoirs of Corporal George Shenkle, Easy Company, 508th
Local photographs of business and industry. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Donated by Terry Bieler. 9 www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2 Heritage Headlines Summer 2015 Programs and Events May 15 and 16 July 7, 21, August 4, 18 Penn Dry Goods Market Summer Program: Once Upon A Time
– May 19 – 1:30 pm July 8 noon BB Lecture: My Homeland Homeschool Workshop: PA Dutch Culture – May 28 – 4:30 pm July 9 4:30 pm Children’s Book Club American Girl Doll Tea – June 2 – 1:30 pm July 16 2:30 pm PA Dutch Conversation Group Homeschool Workshop: Rug Hooking – June 10 – noon July 30 4:30 pm American Girl Doll Tea BB Lecture: Rev. Abraham Blumer – June 11 – 4:30 pm August 12 noon BB Lecture: My Clear Conscience Children’s Book Club – June 17; July 1, 15, 29; August 12, 26 – 10:00 am August 13 4:30 pm Children’s Book Club Summer Music Program – June 18 – 2:30 pm August 20 2:30 pm PA Dutch Conversation Group PA Dutch Conversation Group – June 21 – 1:00 – 4:00 pm August 27 4:30 pm
Make Music Upper Perk American Girl Doll Tea
June 25 – 4:30 pm American Girl Doll Tea
June 21 is National Music Day. Various places around the Upper Perkiomen Valley, including the Java Good Day Cafe in East Greenville, Red Hill Park, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Pennsburg UCC, and the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center have agreed to make available some space for musicians to perform on Sunday, June 21, 2015.
All musicians, both amateur and professional, are from the Upper Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas. The Heritage Center will have music provided during our regular Sunday hours, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, in the Meeting Room.
Summer 2015 Exhibits Through October 20 July 19 to January 31, 2016 Text in Context: The Written Word in Pennsylvania German Folk Healing Traditions Pennsylvania German Decorative Arts and with guest curator Patrick Donmoyer Material Culture Art Gallery Fraktur Gallery June 7 – October 20 June 7 to October 18 Exploring Fedor Sommer A Celebration of the Variable Star Quilters Author of The Iron Collar Meeting Room Local History Gallery non profit org. us postage
Phone: 215.679.3103 fax: 215.679.8175 www.schwenkfelder.com email: [email protected] paid permit no. 42 Boyertown, PA 105 Seminary Street Pennsburg, PA 18073 -1898 Hours RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Mon CLOSED Tues 9 - 4 Wed 9 - 4 Thurs 9 - 8 Fri 9 - 4 Sat 10 - 3 Sun 1 - 4
www.schwenkfelder.com Volume 18, Issue 2 10 YOUR GIFT KEEPS OUR WELCOMING DOORS OPEN Using the form below, your gift to the Heritage Center will count towards our 2015/2016 Annual Fund campaign! Remember, you may make a gift in honor or memory of a loved one or special occasion. You can also find the form and a link to PayPal on our website, if that’s more convenient for you. We welcome matching gifts – check with your company or contact us to see if your gift qualifies! The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center relies upon the support of generous friends and donors like you to preserve and present our unique collection, provide ongoing education, and keep our welcoming doors open free for our visitors!
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