LUTHERAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC LUTHERAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC

V OLUME 22, NUMBER 1 NEWSLETTER SPRING 2011 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Mark your Calendars!! President’s Corner 2 Lutheran Historical Societies planning. . . Payne Bicentennial 3

2012 Trip to Germany Call for Church 4 History Profiles

The Lutheran Historical Societies of the Mid-Atlantic and of Eastern Work of a Pennsylvania invite members to consider a trip to Germany: Congregational 5 Archivist Tentatively scheduled for May 17–30, 2012 Update on Schmucker 7 The venture will focus on locations important to both Henry Melchoir Hall Renovations LHSMA Membership Muhlenberg and Martin Luther, including Eisenach and Wartburg Castle, 8 Einbeck (Muhlenberg’s birthplace), Erfurt, Marburg, Groshennersdorf, Application Form Herrenhut, and Worms. Organized by Christian Tours Europe, in partnership with the ELCA Wittenberg Center and the Francke Foundation in Halle, the trip will be led by

(Continued on page 2)

LHSMA to Celebrate Henry Melchior Muhlenberg 2011 Spring and Fall Programs SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: Spring Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2011  Lutherans join with AME Location: Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg Church to honor Alexander Payne The year 2011 is a ministry and overseas care. He accepted the  Spring program significant anniversary mission activity and call, crossed the Atlantic presentation to be given year for Lutherans in support, Muhlenberg and arrived in Philadel- by Muhlenberg expert America. It was on Sep- was ordained and served phia in late 1742. What John E. Peterson tember 6, 1711 that a small parish for two was intended to be a  Article explains details for Henry Melchoir Muh- years before being cho- three-year term call in- gathering and organizing lenberg was born. Pri- sen by the Halle elders stead lasted until congregational archives marily educated at to fulfill a request from Muhlenberg’s death 45  Gettysburg Seminary and Halle, the center for three congregations in years later. In the proc- Adams County (PA) receive grants to renovate German Pietism with its southeastern Pennsyl- ess, Henry Melchoir Schmucker Hall deep interest in social vania needing pastoral (Continued on page 3) P AGE 2 V OLUME 22, NUMBER 1 President’s Corner

Recently I attended a meeting their essays reinforced my convic- and graduate students, and the St. held by our community’s tion that there are many effective Paul Biglerville Prize for works of “Daughters of the American ways to teach his- mature scholarship. Revolution.” At this meeting lo- tory and that such On behalf of the cal Gettysburg students received endeavors which board of directors I awards for essays written about encourage stu- invite you to encour- Paul Revere. The essay contest dents to explore age students to par- corresponded with the 275th anni- history through ticipate in these con- versary of Paul Revere’s birth. I the use of the tests. By doing so, was delighted and encouraged to written word continue to have you will help cultivate new gen- hear the several merit. erations of Lutheran historians, fifth and sixth “Our Society seeks to Our Society seeks archivists, and scholars. Informa- graders read encourage the exploration of to encourage the tion on these contests can be their winning Lutheran history by all ages. exploration of found on our webpage. essays. The con- … will help cultivate new Lutheran history Remember our annual meet- test invited the generations of Lutheran by all ages. The ing on Tuesday, May 3 in Gettys- students to ap- historians, archivists, and society currently burg with the topic on Henry Mel- proach the topic scholars….” offers three writ- chior Muhlenberg. I hope to see of telling the ing contests: the you there! story of Paul Youth History contest for middle Revere from an autobiographical Sincerely in Christ, and high school youth, the Abdel perspective. The students and Ross Wentz prize to seminarians Stephen Herr President

(Continued from page 1)

LHSMA board member Dr. Andrew J. White, Hagan Professor emeritus at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Details are still in the planning stages, but if you would like to obtain a Prospectus or field questions about the trip, please contact: Jack White 717-261-5724 [email protected]. by John Deeben

LHSMA 2010 - 2011 Board of Directors Officers Other Board Members Board Emeriti Stephen Herr Donald Housley Briant Bohleke George Handley Judy Simonson Charles Glatfelter President Secretary Peggy Brookshire Susan Hill James B. Vigen Michael Kurtz John Deeben Lee Knepp Maria Erling Barbara Luebbe Andrew J. White Fred Wentz Vice President Treasurer John Fehringer George Mocko L UTHERAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC P AGE 3

Gettysburg Seminary Marks Payne Bicentennial Press Release by John Spangler On February 16, 2011, The AME Church’s First District, and Driven out of South Carolina, Lutheran Theological Seminary at the Rev. Dr. Leah Gaskin Fitchue, Payne was welcomed in Gettys- Gettysburg marked the 200th an- President of Payne burg by the Seminary’s niversary of the birth of one of its Seminary. Daniel founder, Samuel Simon most distinguished alumni, Daniel Alexander Payne Schmucker, and became Alexander Payne, with a festival served as a Bishop the first African Ameri- service of Holy Communion. The of the AME Church can to receive formal evening service was sponsored in and later president of theological education in partnership with Payne Theologi- Wilberforce Univer- a Lutheran school. cal Seminary, the African Meth- sity in Wilberforce, Payne studied at Gettys- odist Episcopal (AME) Church, Ohio. In October burg from 1835 to 1837 and area congregations served by 2010, Payne was the and engaged in ecumeni- current AME seminarians and topic of the Lutheran cal outreach ministries alumni. Leaders of the AME Historical Society of the Mid- sponsored by Lutheran organiza- Church who joined Gettysburg Atlantic’s Fall Program held at the tions for several years before be- Seminary in celebrating the life of Lutheran Church of the Holy coming a leader in the AME Payne included the Right Rev. Comforter in Baltimore, Mary- Church. Some called Payne “the Richard F. Norris, Bishop of the land. (Continued on page 4)

Spring Program on Muhlenberg Scheduled for May 3rd

(Continued from page 1) “The Lutheran Philadelphia). The Lutheran Ar- Muhlenberg emerged as the lead- Patriarch - And More” chives Center houses the exten- ing patriarch for American Lu- sive collection of the Ministerium therans. by noted Muhlenberg expert of Pennsylvania, including John E. Peterson In 2011 the Lutheran Histori- Muhlenberg’s journals which are cal Society of the Mid-Atlantic currently being restored. As a A graduate of St. Olaf College highlight of Peterson’s program, a will highlight the life, ministry, with a degree in Church History accomplishments and progeny of “Show and Tell” of the first re- as well as a member of the Lu- stored volumes will take place. Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg at theran Historical Society of the both our Spring and Fall meetings Mid-Atlantic, Peterson has served The Spring Program will as we celebrate the 300th Anni- for over 30 years as Curator of the take place at Valentine Hall on versary of his birth. The LHSMA Lutheran Archives Center at the campus of the Lutheran Spring Program will take place on Philadelphia (affiliated with and Theological Seminary at Gettys- Tuesday, May 3, 2011 with a located on the campus of the Lu- burg, Pennsylvania. The pro- presentation on: theran Theological Seminary at (Continued on page 4) P AGE 4 V OLUME 22, NUMBER 1

SPRING PROGRAM ON HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG

(Continued from page 3) The 2011 Fall Program will take place at gram will be held once again in conjunction with the Trappe, Pennsylvania, and will feature docent- Seminary’s annual Spring Convocation. Registra- guided tours of several major Muhlenberg sites. tion with coffee begins at 9:00 AM, followed by the Further details will be included in the next newslet- main presentation. As part of the program, the Soci- ter. ety will also recognize Philip Forness, the 2010 Wentz Prize winner, as well as the winner of this year’s Youth History Contest. The Society’s brief Annual Meeting, to include the election of board members, will be held immediately after the morning program, and will be followed by a catered lunch.

Registration for the Spring Program lunch costs $12.00. To register, Please send you name and address, along with a check made payable to LHS-MA, to: Lee Knepp, Treasurer P.O. Box 76, McClure, PA, 17841. Please include a phone / email contact. George Handley and John Deeben

Choirs from LaMott (Philadelphia) and Bethel Payne Bicentennial (Carlisle) AME churches also lifted their voices to

(Continued from page 3) lead the service in giving praise to God. “February of 2011 is a very special moment for Rosa Parks of the 19th century,” in recognition of his our school and the entire Church in that it marks the courageous path-breaking lifelong work for civil 200th anniversary or bicentennial of the birth of rights. Daniel Alexander Payne,” said Michael Cooper- The Right Reverend Richard F. Norris, Bishop White, President of Gettysburg Seminary. “This gi- and Presiding Prelate of the AME’s First Episcopal ant of the Church in the 19th century established a District, presided over the service of Holy Commun- legacy unsurpassed by any other Gettysburg Semi- ion in the Church of the Abiding Presence on the nary alumnus as he served as pastor and AME Gettysburg Seminary campus. Rev. Dr. Leah Gaskin bishop, as well as founding president of Wilberforce Fitchue preached for the gala worship celebration. University in Ohio.”

Call for Church History Profiles

In the spirit of promoting and dis- has already published a church history, please con- seminating more information sider submitting a brief historical sketch of 1000- about our Lutheran heritage, the 1500 words to the LHSMA President, Stephen Herr Lutheran Historical Society of the ([email protected]), or Vice President, Mid-Atlantic would like to start a John Deeben ([email protected]). regular feature in the society’s All submissions will eventually be posted to the newsletter on historical profiles of ELCA Region 8 Society’s web site at www.lhsmidatlantic.com. congregations. If your congregation is preparing or L UTHERAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC P AGE 5

The Work of a Congregational Archivist or Archives Committee - Part I Submitted by John Deeben The ELCA offers great advice to congregations congregation will be included in the next edition on how to get started preserving and organizing their of the LHSMA newsletter). historical records. The following article is reprinted A. Consult with those responsible for records with permission from the ELCA Archives Office. It creation as to how and when records move may also be located on the ELCA web site at http:// into archival custody. www.elca.org/who-we-are/history/elca-archives/a- B. If none exists, encourage a records manage- brief-guide-for-archives-of-congregations.aspx. ment program be adopted for all records, in The archivist or archives committee of a congre- order to manage them through the life cycle gation is primarily concerned with collecting and – active, inactive, to archives. appraising, preserving and protecting, arranging and C. For records created electronically, verify that describing and making accessible original historical policies on back-up of computer data are in documents and records of the congregation. An ar- place to prevent losses. chivist is not necessarily the historian or interpreter of the congregation's history. The archivist or ar- D. Verify that all vital records are identified and chives committee should work in close cooperation a plan is in place for copies to be made for with the pastor and congregation council as well as disaster recovery. Encourage development others creating records. Policies for the archives of a full business continuity plan. should be established by vote of the council, in coop- 3. Identify and maintain space that can be used to eration with and at the advice of the archivist or ar- store records of long-term historical value. As chives committee. The following information in- part of that work, consideration should be given cludes steps to take in establishing a committee, as to: well as some of the tasks that would be included in a A. Creating a policy to limit access to the ar- job description for an archivist or archives commit- chives to authorized and/or designated per- tee. sons only. 1. Identify an individual to serve as archivist and/or B. Ensuring the space is free from extreme tem- create an archives committee. perature and humidity changes, as well as A. Establish a committee according to constitu- protected from disasters such as fire and tional provisions for a congregational com- floods. mittee, including approval by the congrega- C. Ensuring the space stays clean and includes tion council. shelving and filing cabinets for records stor- B. Seek persons who have an interest in the his- age and a work table for those organizing the tory of the congregation and good organiza- archives and for those who will use the ma- tional skills. terials. C. Include pastor, parish secretary, or other 4. Organize materials according to archival meth- relevant persons as ex-officio committee ods, by who created the records, not by subject. members. A. Bring records discovered through survey into 2. Survey and identify locations of all historical archival custody. records for possible retention in the congregation B. Create a method for ongoing receipt of mate- archives (Information on what types of materials constitute the essential historical records of a (Continued on page 6) P AGE 6 V OLUME 22, NUMBER 1

Archivist Work and prepare container lists – lists of folders or volumes with a brief physical description (Continued from page 5) of contents and inclusive rials into the archives, including a record of dates. personal donations. This can include work- ing with aspects of the congregational re- G. Write further cords retention schedule, so that records are descriptive moved from “current” to “archival” status in information a consistent way. such as his- torical notes, C. Locate current and former organizational description of charts, directories of leadership, or other the scope and contents of the records, or items that may provide information on what missing materials. individuals and groups were active at any given time. 5. While organizing the records, make preservation assessments: D. Group similar things together from govern- ance and program groups, and check for A. Determine what archival supplies are missing items, such as minutes, reports and needed. correspondence. Locate missing items or B. Re-folder and re-box materials using archi- seek to recreate records or information if val supplies. needed. C. If records are greatly deteriorated, seek help E. Involve various persons to locate materials, from a professional archivist. including possibly donating personal copies D. For non-paper records special considerations of items or personal records to substitute or will be needed. complement the records already available. E. After determining what preservation activity F. Label boxes and file drawers as to contents may be needed, plan and prioritize what items should and can be done first. 6. Create policies for the archives: A. General policy on use and access. B. Specific guidelines may be needed for spe- cific records that are confidential and relate to individual privacy needs. C. Approval of archives policies should be done according to the governance for the congre- gation. 7. Convene meetings of the archives committee as necessary and report regularly to the congrega- tion council on progress, concerns and approval of policies and procedures related to archives and record keeping.

Watch for Part II coming in a future newsletter. L UTHERAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC P AGE 7 Update on Schmucker Hall Renovations

In a press release by Commu- the African American experience, center of important facets of the nications Associate Kati Geiben- Underground Railroad, and relig- American story. Named for the hain, dated October 12, 2010, the ion and the churches in the 19th founder of both the Seminary and Lutheran Theological Seminary at century conflict. the , it was from 1832 onward a center of Gettysburg announced that a joint An analysis of the economic spiritual growth, religious lecture, venture with the Adams County impact of the Schmucker Hall study, and preparation for public Historical Society (ACHS) to re- project found that it will create ministry as the main building of habilitate the iconic Schmucker almost $5 million annually in new Gettysburg Seminary. On July 1, Hall (Old Dorm) received critical spending and $23 million during 1863, the Seminary building stood lead support thanks to Governor the construction period that will at the center of the Union army’s Ed Rendell’s authorization to re- stimulate economic activity in the defense against the advancing lease $4 million in funds from regional economy. “Funding this Confederates west of Gettysburg. Redevelopment Assistance Capi- project has been a challenge in the Union Cavalry General John Bu- tal Program (RACP). The sup- present economic climate,” said ford scouted the Confederate port, announced by State Senator Em Cole, Executive Director of army and planned with General Rich Alloway, represents the con- Voices of History, the joint ven- John Reynolds from the build- certed efforts of the senator, Gov- ture created to raise funds for the ing’s cupola. As the events of the ernor Rendell and local stake- rehabilitation and plan the mu- day unfolded, it quickly became holders. In the release of the seum, “but this set of leading the largest field hospital of the funding, the Governor noted, grants is crucial to seeking addi- battle, hosting more than 600 “[this project] will be a valuable tional fund raising.” The museum wounded soldiers, about 70 of asset to the community of Gettys- project is expected to be funded whom died in the building. burg, the Commonwealth of PA, by public and foundation grants and in no small measure, a gift to and private gifts, with interim fi- The rehabilitation of our Nation.” nancing as needed. Bradley Schmucker Hall is the last remain- The sole focus of the joint Hoch, Chair of the ACHS Board, ing project included in the 1999 venture is the $11.7 million pro- added, “Our continuing fundrais- “Interpretive Plan” outlining the ject to preserve the 1832 building, ing efforts need to be successful. priority projects for the Borough said to be one of the most impor- The ACHS and Seminary must of Gettysburg designed to provide tant surviving Civil War buildings complete the project before July enhanced historical experiences not owned by a public entity. The 1, 2013, which is the 150th anni- for visitors to the National Mili- goal of the $11.7 million rehabili- versary of the battle and the pro- tary Park and the town. Gettys- tation is to create a state of the art jected grand opening of the mu- burg’s Museum museum interpreting the first day seum.” in a rehabilitated Schmucker Hall now becomes the flagship of plan- of the , its The building that in modern ning for the 150th commemora- role as the largest fixed field hos- times has become known as tion of the famous battle taking pital in Gettysburg, and its role in Schmucker Hall has been at the place in 2013. LHSMA NEWSLETTER

Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic 61 Seminary Ridge Gettysburg, PA 17325

Email: [email protected] Web: www.lhsmidatlantic.com

“Preserving, documenting,

and sharing the history of V OLUME 22, NUMBER 1 Lutherans and Lutheranism in the Mid-Atlantic and LHSMA Membership Application surrounding areas.” Name: ______Address: ______Phone: ______We’re on the Web! Email: ______www.lhsmidatlantic.com Congregation (if applicable): ______For Family Memberships only: Please list spouse and all children under 18 to be included in membership: ______I desire membership in LHS as a: ______New Member or, as a: ______Renewal. Lutheran Historical ______$ 350 Life Membership Society of the ______$ 50 Contribution Membership Mid-Atlantic Newsletter ______$ 40 Family Membership (two persons in the same household and any ISSN 1049-6424 children under 18 years of age) The Lutheran Historical Society ______$ 20 Individual Membership of the Mid-Atlantic, in the interest of ______$ 15 Senior (62+) Membership the preservation and cultivation of Lutheran history in Central and ______$ 15 Student Membership Western Pennsylvania, Maryland, ______$ 25 Institutional Membership (i.e., libraries, colleges, seminaries, etc.) Delaware, West Virginia, and the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area (All memberships, except Life, are renewable annually.) issues this newsletter two to three times a year. ______I wish to give a Special Gift. Please send me more information on the Special Gift Program of the society. Notes of announcements, pro- jects, historical celebrations, genea- I am interested in: logical concerns, notes of church or ______Research Synodical activities, and notes from other historical societies are solic- ______Reading ited. ______Publishing Address corrections are helpful. ______Other: ______Send replies via email to: Stephen Herr Please return this form and your check made payable to LHSMA: [email protected] Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic Subject: LHS Newsletter 61 Seminary Ridge Gettysburg, PA 17325 Spring 2011