Fall 2011 Heritage Headlines

Heritage Headlines INSIDE

Honoring Heritage. Continuing the Journey.

HELP US CELEBRATE TEN YEARS!

Page 2 and 3: Exhibits

Saturday, September 24, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Page 4 and 5: Educational Programming

On September 23, 2001, the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage

Page 6: Library Additions Catalog Online Christmas Market Page 7: Gemeinde Haus Viehweg Lenape Lecture Page 8: Historic Churches Tour Page 9: Heritage Tour Volunteers Page 10: Brown Bag Lunches Page 11: Programs/Events Wish List Page 12: 10th Anniversary Celebration Insert: Fundraising Dinner

105 Seminary Street Pennsburg, PA 18073-1898 Phone: 215.679.3103 Fax: 215.679.8175 info@schwenkfelder.com www.schwenkfelder.com

September 2011 Volume 14, Issue 3

Center addition and renovations to the original building were dedicated.

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, we will celebrate ten years of preservation and interpretation of our Schwenkfelder and Perkiomen Valley heritage in our “new” facilities. Please come out and help us celebrate this momentous occasion!

We will have John Deere and International Harvester tractors on display, hit-and- miss engines, an ice cream maker run by one of the old engines, music provided throughout the day, and tours will leave at the half hour in a van to the two Schwenkfelder meetinghouses still standing in the Upper District. Inside the building will be special presentations in our Meeting Room and drop in craft activities for families by Museum Educator Rebecca Lawrence in the Educational Activity Room. Freddy Hill ice cream, hot dogs, funnel cakes, snacks, sodas, and more will be available.

Don’t miss the excitement—ten years and still going strong!

Annual Fund Campaign 2011/2012 Coming this Fall!

Each year, about this time, we announce our Annual Fund appeal for the coming fall. As in all not-for-profit organizations, the Heritage Center counts on each and every person who knows great things happen here. You know the importance of preserving and interpreting our PA German culture. You also know that this work costs money to accomplish—as much as we love and need our volunteers, it cannot be accomplished without a paid professional staff. We are very fortunate to have a staff of devoted associates to get the job done in a friendly and welcoming way. When the solicitation for support comes to you— either through a direct mailing or in the next newsletter, please consider a strong response. Many thanks in advance!

Annual Fundraising Dinner Sunday, November 6 Carriage House Restaurant Route 29, Palm, PA 5:00 pm Socializing and Appetizers 6:30 pm dinner

Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Martha Kriebel Former Pastor of Palm Schwenkfelder Church, current Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church, UCC in Collegeville and a published historian writing about the Schwenkfelders.

Please see the insert in this newsletter for more details and registration information.

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Heritage Headlines

Volume 14, Issue 3

MAZES, LABYRINTHS, AND PUZZLES IN FRAKTUR AND BROADSIDES Through October 16, 2011 Fraktur Gallery One of the most intriguing aspects of Schwenkfelder fraktur is the multitude of various types of puzzles that were incorporated into their fraktur drawings.

Ranging from sophisticated pieces by accomplished makers of fraktur to those drawn by young people, there is a dazzling range of intricacy in these works. These fraktur are not merely light entertainment, however. They carry messages of faith, devotion, and morality for the individuals who are reading them. Some of the forms – specifically the Geistliches Irrgarten or labyrinth – originated in broadside form and were copied and re-copied by generations of Pennsylvania Germans who were seemingly intrigued with the format. This exhibition explores the heritage of the labyrinth and other puzzles and how it impacted makers of fraktur.

UPPER PERKIOMEN VALLEY BASEBALL MEMORABILIA Through October 31, 2011 Once again we feature our annual exhibit of local baseball memorabilia: photos, uniforms, baseballs, and bats for a special spring exhibition in the hallway between the Local History Gallery and the Library.

On view are some recent additions to the Heritage Center's baseball collection. Check out the roster of local leagues in the early and mid 20th century!

THE LEGACY OF CHRISTOPHER SCHULTZ Through February 19, 2012 Schwenkfelder immigrant Christopher Schultz (1718 – 1789) lived during extraordinary times and had an exceptional life, filled with accomplishment, his deep faith, and his devoted family. The staff of the SLHC will explore his life and the lives of his family members with a special exhibition of objects, manuscripts, books, and photographs in the First Floor Gallery. Schultz’s many descendants have provided the Heritage Center with an amazing material and paper record of his and their lives, and we will take this opportunity to show a cross section of the collection that interprets the family. Included will be fraktur, textiles, costume, portraits and other artifacts that depict the nearly 300–year history of this Schultz family in Pennsylvania and beyond.

A special interactive family tree laden with photographs of past and present family members will be installed on one wall. Join us for this opportunity to learn not only about Christopher Schultz, Schwenkfelder leader and patriarch, but the lives of his descendants and their numerous contributions, both great and small.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLETION OF THE

CORPUS SCHWENCKFELDIANORUM Through October 23 A special exhibit featured this year is in honor of the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Corpus Schwenkfeldianorum, completed for the 400th anniversary of the death of Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig on December 10, 1561.

The exhibit, presented in the Local History Gallery, features artifacts of this monumental project. Some of these include glass plate negatives of the reproduced images throughout the text and recognition of the three editors who worked throughout the 77-year history of the project from beginning to end.

Additional themes explored include the storage and organization of the information, the way the project was marketed and Corpus subscribers were documented. A crate shows how the volumes were shipped to this country after being printed in Germany.

Imprints by Schwenckfeld from the collection and reprinted works from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries undertaken by Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania are also a part of the exhibit.

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Volume 14, Issue 3

PENNSYLVANIA FROM ABOVE Aerial Art Photography by Peter Stern September 6 – October 31 We are delighted to introduce our visitors to an amazing artist and photographer— Peter Stern. Peter’s aerial photography will captivate and intrigue you – it is the kind of work that makes you look twice or more to take in not simply the beauty of his work, but to understand the natural and man-made landscapes that he captures with his camera.

Piloting an ultralight aircraft, photographer Peter Stern seeks out the unique beauty of the Pennsylvania landscape from the air. His artistic compositions range from representational images of the familiar—farmland, towns, industries, and bodies of water, to abstractions of places hidden from view to most people on the ground such as quarries and coal-mining areas. Using the elements of the earth, combining colors, textures, and light, Peter’s photographs often resemble paintings or hand-made prints.

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EIGHTEENTH CENTURY FRAKTUR November 1 – February 28 2012 The fraktur produced by schoolmasters and others in the decades following the early 18th century immigrations of Schwenkfelders and Mennonites represent a high point in calligraphic skill and sophistication both in content and design. This exhibition will focus on Vorschriften (writing models), and other common forms of 18th century fraktur produced by schoolmasters working in the Mennonite and Schwenkfelder schools in the 18th century, and by other Schwenkfelder artists expressing their faith and piety through their fraktur.

Much of the work to be shown is seldom seen in exhibition, as it is outside of the acknowledged folk art genre of fraktur due to greater emphasis on calligraphy and message. We invite you to join us for this special glimpse of some of the earliest fraktur in our collection, and how it paved the way for later, better known work by other artists.

You’ll also have the opportunity to meet Peter and learn about his photography at a special October Brown Bag and Sunday lecture. Peter’s work will also be available for purchase. You will not want to miss this unique vision of our beloved Pennsylvania landscape!

HOME AND AWAY: PENNSYLVANIA, MAINE, and MARYLAND’S EASTERN SHORE Watercolor, Drybrush, and Acrylic Paintings

by Bradley Hendershot Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center November 12, 2011 – February 26, 2012

Grand Opening Reception Saturday evening, November 12 at 7:00 pm

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Heritage Headlines

FALL FAMILY WORKSHOPS 18th Century Immigration Experience September 6, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm Reflect on the difficult lives of immigrants and learn about stories of the Schwenkfelders’ experience. September is the month of Gedaechtnistag, the Schwenkfelders’ Day of Remembrance. Enjoy a small snack of bread and apple butter as we remember their difficult journey.

Our Community, a special family workshop as part of the SLHC’s 10th anniversary celebration September 20, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm *Free Program*: advanced registration required by Sept. 13 Bring copies of family photos, photos of family memorabilia and heirlooms, stories of your life and family’s history. Add them to our memory tree outside the classroom and learn about the rich and diverse stories in ourselves and our community. All ages and families welcome. All photos, comments, stories, will become property of the SLHC. Questions about what is acceptable to bring? Contact Rebecca Lawrence, 215-679-3103, or via the email listed here: rebecca@schwenkfelder.com.

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Volume 14, Issue 3

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

Aerial Compositions October 25, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm Inspired by Peter Stern’s aerial photography exhibit create aerial landscape drawings and paintings.

Images of Faith November 8, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm Investigate the rich symbolism behind the images in garden imagery and texts in Schwenkfelder fraktur and broadsides.

Fraktur: Vorschriften (writing models) November 22, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm Discover how these writing models were used for instruction purposes as well as for decorative purposes by the Schwenkfelders. Engage in the art of calligraphy and create your own fraktur.

Miniature Putz Word Puzzles & the Seven Rules of Wisdom October 11, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm Learn more about the 18th to 19th century visual word puzzle called the Seven Rules of Wisdom and write your own prose/poem inspired by the format.

Studio Art Classes for Homeschoolers Registration forms and course information can be found on the website, www.schwenkfelder.com or contact Rebecca Lawrence at 215-679-3103.

Fall Schedule Tuesdays, 9:00–10:30 am, Ages 6–13 Session 1: September 6–October 25 Session 2: November 1–December 20 $80.00 per student

December 6, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm Create your own miniature village on a small platform with moss, plants, miniature animals, and painted paper.

Beginner-Advanced German and Latin for Homeschoolers Taught by Allen Viehmeyer on Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00 am–11:30 am or 1:30 pm–3:00 pm $50.00/month; 12 hours of instruction September 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 October 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 November 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 30; December 2 December 7, 9, 14, 16, (reduced rate) Students are taught on an individual basis or in small groups depending on age and skill level. Classes are offered Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 am– 11:30 am and 1:30 pm–3:00 pm. Please visit our website or contact museum educator, Rebecca Lawrence, for additional information about course content.

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Volume 14, Issue 3

PA German Dialect Conversation Group Upcoming conversations on Thursdays: September 15 October 20 November 17 December 15 Open to the Public, 2:00 pm–4:00 pm, Meeting Room Join members of the PA German community to listen and talk about various subjects in Deitsch. Themes vary month to month. The SLHC provides light refreshments. If you’re interested in leading a discussion in the dialect, contact Rebecca Lawrence, Museum Educator, 215-679-3103. Join the conversation! No R.S.V.P is required.

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Adult Courses: German for Reading Knowledge Allen Viehmeyer, Instructor Course Registration is on a month by month basis from September 2011 through May 2012; $80.00 a month, Thursday evenings, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm Interested participants should contact Museum Educator Rebecca Lawrence for additional information and registration information.

Letterpress Holiday Cards Work with Museum Educator Rebecca Lawrence to set up and print your own family set of letterpress holiday cards on our Damon and Peets Platen Press. One layout permitted. All supplies included for a set of 50 cards and envelopes using our type and equipment.

Bring your own apron or smock. Contact Rebecca Lawrence to make reservations. Registrations are taken on a first come first serve basis. Registration must occur at least one week in advance of the following dates: November 10, 5:30 pm November 17, 5:30 pm November 26, 10:30 am December 1, 5:30 pm December 8, 5:30 pm December 10, 10:30 am December 15, 5:30 pm $80 per Family* (maximum of 6 participants) 2.5 hours *Individuals and groups are also welcome to make reservations for one layout and same set price at $80. All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. No children under the age of 7. Direct any questions to Rebecca Lawrence, Museum Educator, 215-679-3103 or rebecca@schwenkfelder.com.

Father Christmas Puppet Workshop with Francine Schmitt Saturday, December 3, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm $10 per first participant per family, then $2.50 per participant for additional family members Ages 6 and up; Adults welcome!

Advanced registration needed by November 26 For information, contact Rebecca Lawrence, 215-679-3103 or Rebecca@schwenkfelder.com Join us Saturday, December 3, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm and make traditional holiday themed puppet figures with puppet artist Francine Schmitt. Schmitt, from the RumTum Puppet Theater will assist you in creating your own puppet, a keepsake for you to use for years to come. All supplies provided, including papier-mâché heads and cloth bodies. Visit our website for a registration form

Create your own Miniature Putz Saturday, November 19,10:30 am Create your own miniature village on a small, square foot platform with moss, miniature animals, and painted paper that you can set out for years to come. Families of all ages are welcome. $5.00 per participant.

Advanced registration preferred by November 12. Contact Rebecca Lawrence for registration information

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NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES New Books Gregorius Meschter and His Descendants, David L. Clapp.

Donated by David L. Clapp.

Forge and Furnace Collections at the Pennsylvania State Archives, 1681–1965, Dan Graham. Donated by Dan Graham.

Bittenbender and Gery Families of Pennsylvania : Our Ancestors and History, 1500s to Present, Kitty Pherson.

Donated by Kitty Pherson.

New Archives Photograph of Palm Sunday School class, ca. 1930s. Donated

by Lena Johnson.

1835 land draft of Mathias Schultz property, Upper Milford Township, by Charles W. Wieand. Donated by Ed Bieler.

VISIT OUR CATALOG ONLINE! Portions of our library and museum catalog are available online at: http://schwenkfelder.pastperfect-online.com/ The online database is growing and continually updated!

www.schwenkfelder.com

Volume 14, Issue 3

CHRISTMAS MARKET:

A TOUR OF PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN TRADITIONS & FOLK ART December 3—9:30 am – 4:00 pm December 4—12:00 noon – 4:00 pm

Join us for our annual Christmas celebration at SLHC 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: Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center’s I ♥ THE HOLIDAYS Christmas Shopping Fun EXHIBITS: Traditional Christmas Putz; Brad Hendershot, Artist; 18th Century Fraktur; The Legacy of Christopher Schultz SPECIAL PROGRAM: PUPPET WORKSHOP with artist Francine Schmitt, Saturday, December 3, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Participant Fee – see article on page 5 of this newsletter Then on to the Goschenhoppen Historians:

Have you checked our blog lately? Watch videos and read posts by our staff members and our summer intern! Visit our blog to read reflections on collection objects, programs, and more at: http://schwenkfelder.wordpress.com Our curator, Candace Perry, launched a video series on YouTube called “Great Stuff.” These are short collection highlights with personal anecdotes.

Our summer intern, Richard Kriebel, blogged about his experience cataloguing the collection and on Schwenkfelder history topics. Bookmark it.

Subscribe to it. Comment on it.

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 & 63, Green Lane Finish your day at the Mennonite Heritage Center: SHOP: Pennsylvania German Folk Art Sale, featuring the finest traditional crafts EXHIBIT: Life Milestones: Depictions of Mennonite observances of birth, school, baptism, weddings and death; A Place of Peace art exhibition 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.

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Volume 14, Issue 3

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GEMEINDE HAUS UPDATE Our good German friends Margrit Kempgen and Dietrich Meyer have contacted us recently with good news regarding the Germeinde Haus in Berthelsdorf. “We finally were granted with financial support by our county monumental preservation fund,” Margrit wrote in her email.

THE LENAPE AND THEIR CULTURAL CHANGES IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES Sunday, November 6, 2:00 pm

“Last year we had repeated our application and this year we were successful. I am so happy. Your donation came just at the right time, as I had to assure them that we have money of our own to get started with the restoration. We were granted 23,000 Euros!!! So we can do 2 things: stabilize the left side of the building and finish restoring the roof on the right side.

The Friends of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center invite the general public to their fall program about the Lenape Native Americans with Darius Puff. The program will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 2:00 pm in the Meeting Room of the Heritage Center.

“When more funds are raised, we will continue stabilizing the house, as we have to raise the foundation out of the mud so the building will stay dry from below.

“We are working on a simulation of what the house will look like after restoration. We will send you some cards with the computerized animation (see image below). We hope to use this to get more people interested in the project so we can raise more funds and continue with the restoration.

This fall we will have a workshop on "The Schwenckfelders in Görlitz" with Prof. Weigelt as guestspeaker. So far quite a few have signed up for this workshop.”

The Heritage Center forwarded about $3,000 in January which had been donated by people in the US toward the restoration. We continue to collect funds for this project.

If you would like to support the restoration of the Gemeinde Haus in Berthelsdorf, Germany, you may send your gift to the Heritage Center, clearly marked for the Gemeinde Haus, and we will forward this on to our friends in Germany.

Darius Puff is a retired Berks County police officer, having served with the Boyertown Police Department for approximately 32 years with the last 20 as Chief of Police. He is a Penn State grad with an Associate Degree in Community Service and a BS in Criminal Justice. A few years prior to retirement he became involved in giving talks about his Native American heritage to various civic groups in his area. He decided to add to his life-long love of history and his own native background to by learning as much as possible about the Lenape people and their culture. His programs teach others about the early lives of these people and the changes that their society went through in the 18th century through the use of artifacts (real and reproductions), furs, and traditional storytelling. He has given programs to various scouting groups, state and county parks and historical sites including Ricketts Glen State Park, Francis Slocum State Park, Peter Wentz Farmstead, Conrad Weiser Homestead, Morgan Log Home, Daniel Boone Homestead, Pottsgrove Manor, and others. Programs have also been given at Millersville University, Penn State (Altoona and Lehigh), Kutztown University, Reading Area Community College, and Rutgers University as well as several elementary and middle schools both public and private and many different local civic groups, historical societies, and public libraries.

VIEHWEG UPDATE The Viehweg Committee has been in recent email contact with Robert Skrocki. Allen Viehmeyer and David Luz met Robert in the summer of 2010 on the Schwenkfelder Heritage Tour when we visited Twardocice. Robert lives and works in Dresden with his wife and two children.

He has two connections with Twardocice; he has a summer home in the small town and his mother-in-law, Bozena Szumilas, lives there and is the Librarian in the local elementary school.

Robert has spoken with the local elected official, Mr. Dudek, who has brought our concerns to the regional elected official, Mr. Sybis. Robert and Mr. Dudek visited the Viehweg Monument on Saturday, June 18, and noticed the grounds were in good shape and also spotted trees which should be trimmed to help bring sunlight into the grove. They are also examining the dirt around the base of the monument that could be moved away to keep moisture from the soft stone of the monument. They will send us a picture soon.

Robert also spoke with the school Direktor Jan Kotylak. He reported that Mr. Bernacki, manager of the Grodziec Castle, had the children of the Twarcocice School for an outing and picnic at the Castle. This trip was in appreciation from us, the American Schwenkfelders, for their efforts to watch over the Viehweg Monument and keep the surrounding area clean.

Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center Presents

HISTORIC CHURCHES OF PHILADELPHIA TOUR Saturday, October 29, 2011 Depart Heritage Center at 8:00 am and return 6:00 pm Join us Saturday, October 29, for a glimpse into the eighteenth century religious heritage of our “City of Brotherly Love”. We will visit five congregations with two hundred year old roots in Old City, Philadelphia. We will begin our exploration with Historic Old St. George’s Methodist Church— “The Cradle of American Methodism” - the oldest Methodist Church in the world in continuous use for over 200 years. Our second stop will be a plain religious building, Arch Street Friends Meeting, the oldest meeting house still in use in the city and the largest in the world. Contrasting with the restraint of the Friends is our next church, Christ Church Episcopal with its soaring steeple. This church is steeped in American History as George Washington, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, and Betsy Ross all had assigned pews here. Thomas Jefferson also attended services here on occasion.

Following a delicious lunch of Tavern Country Salad and Martha Washington’s Turkey Pot Pie at the Philadelphia landmark restaurant City Tavern (with, of course a delicious dessert) we will walk to the waterfront to view the plaque marking the arrival in 1734 of the Schwenkfelders to Pennsylvania. The bus will then take us to our fourth church, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes' Church), at over 300 years old is Pennsylvania's most venerable church, built by Swedish settlers before the arrival of the English. Our final stop will explore our Pennsylvania German heritage at the Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse, the birthplace of the Mennonites in America.

Call Michelle 215-679-3103 for reservations.

Seating is limited.

NOTE: Tour will go rain or shine—please bring umbrellas and rain gear if the weather looks threatening. The bus leaves from the parking lot of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, PA 18073

$75.00 per person includes: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Transportation 45 minute tours of five historic churches Lunch at City Tavern Guides and gratuities

The tour includes a good deal of walking—about two to three city blocks between some churches.

There will also be numerous stairs at some churches and at City Tavern. Restroom facilities are available on the bus, at the churches, and at the restaurant.

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Volume 14, Issue 3

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Schwenkfelder Heritage Tour June 28—July 14, 2012 Allen Viehmeyer and David Luz are planning a Schwenkfelder Heritage Tour to Germany and Poland June 28—July 14, 2012. A number of people have already shown interest and reservations are being accepted.

The tour will include visits to Goerlitz and Schwenkfelder sites in Poland including Twardocice, Osiek, Grodziec Castle and Legnica. Travelers will follow the Elbe River from Pirna, where the Schwenkfelders boarded barges to journey on the river, passing Dresden, Meissen, Torgau, Wittenberg, Magdeburg, and Tangermuende— all cities to be visited!

We will have the services of a professional tour guide, Blanka Myszkowska, as we travel through Poland.

Blanka as been our guide numerous times and always provides us with an excellent tour. Also in Poland we will meet and be welcomed by Polish nationals both new and well known to us: Mr. Zenon Bernacki, Robert Skrocki, Antonina Buchta, and many others.

Additionally, we will have local German tour guides who we have known for many years and are good friends of the American Schwenkfelders, including Margrit Kempgen and Dr. Dietrich Meyer. Other interesting people we will meet include people who have been in contact with the American Schwenkfelders for many years: Dr. Wolfgang Knoerrlich and his wife Elizabeth and their daughter, Carda Prein.

If you are interested in an authentic Poland and German experience, discovering Schwenkfelder roots, traveling in a small group on an active tour and like to get “off the beaten path” - please contact David Luz by phone (215-679-3103) or email (info@schwenkfelder.com). Space is limited, so call or email today!

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION BARBEQUE—JUNE 4, 2011 WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Over 50 Heritage Center volunteers came out for a recognition picnic—held in the Meeting Room, of course! Scrumptious barbequed chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs as well as salads and fruit and all the trimmings made the meal a delight—finished up, of course, with delicious Freddy Hill ice cream sundaes (THANK YOU FREDDY HILL!). Special entertainment was provided by Wayne Zimmerman on the piano who quizzed the group on their knowledge of songs and show tunes as he celebrated composers born in June. A GRAND time was had by all!

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Volume 14, Issue 3

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.

Wednesday, September 14, noon and Sunday, September 18, 2:00 pm Mission to Haiti

by Paul Ulicny

Wednesday, December 14, noon and Sunday, December 18, 2:00 pm Schwenkfelder Meeting Houses

by Allen Viehmeyer

Paul Ulicny, owner of The Globe Inn, East Greenville, traveled to Haiti with his son Daniel and nurse daughter Lisa December 3–10, 2010, on a mission trip with Partners In Development, a not-for-profit committed to the education and economic advancement of the developing world. Paul will present a report of their work in a free medical clinic and in-home construction in Port au Prince. Their illustrated presentation will share images of the rebuilding efforts and human needs of this earthquake devastated third world country.

In Silesia the Schwenkfelders held religious services in their homes and continued that tradition in Pennsylvania. In 1790, however, a meeting house was constructed in Hosensack.

Eventually five more meeting houses were built, serving Schwenkfelders for several generations. This lecture presents the story of Schwenkfelder places for worship before 1900.

Wednesday, October 12, noon and Sunday, October 16, 2:00 pm Aerial Photography

by Peter Stern Peter Stern, ultra light aircraft pilot and photographer, will present a lecture on his photographs of the Pennsylvania landscape from the air. His artistic photos depict farmland, towns, industries, and bodies of water.

Wednesday, November 9, noon Christoph Hoffmann: Schwenkfelder Bookbinder

By Hunt Schenkel The November Wednesday noon Brown Bag lecture will look at the life and work of Schwenkfelder bookbinder Christoph Hoffmann (1727-1804). Hoffmann has been described as probably “the most artful German binder of the eighteenth century.”

This talk will show how Hoffmann may have attained such significant skill through bindings and documents in the Heritage Center collection.

Sunday, November 13, 2:00 pm Vietnam

by Clyde Hoch Clyde Hoch, a native and current resident of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, was a Tank Commander and a Section Leader in Vietnam. Within days of graduating from high school he joined the United States Marine Corps, spending his last tour of duty in Vietnam. Returning home at the end of the war he was extremely disappointed in the public reaction to Vietnam War veterans. Sergeant Hoch has written about his experiences in Vietnam and will tell his story in this lecture.

Day of Remembrance - Gedaechtnestag September 25, 2:30 pm Palm Schwenkfelder Church Join members and friends of Palm Church as they culminate a year of celebrating their 100th anniversary of the building of the church. The Sunday School and morning worship service will highlight the celebration of the decision by the three meetinghouse congregations in the Upper District to erect a centralized building.

The afternoon service, in addition to the traditional memorial remembrances of The Schwenkfelder Church, will celebrate the dedication of Palm Church building in 1911. Following the service, the congregation will join in the traditional meal of bread and apple butter.

The public is invited to join the church for a full day of celebration!

Annual Fall Meeting Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles Sunday, October 23 2:00 pm—Annual Business Meeting 2:30 pm—Program: Treasures of the Collection Curator of Collections Candace Perry, Archivist Hunt Schenkel, and Associate Director of Research Allen Viehmeyer will present illustrated talks showing and describing some of the treasures of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center collection. Public is invited and refreshments will follow the program.

www.schwenkfelder.com

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Fall 2011 Programs and Events September 6–1:30 pm Family Workshop: 18th Century Immigration Experience

November 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 30; December 2 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin for Homeschoolers

September 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin for Homeschoolers

November 6–2:00 pm The Lenape with Darius Puff

September 14–noon, September 18–2:00 pm BB Lecture: Mission to Haiti September 15–2:00 pm PA German Dialect Conversation Group

November 6–5:00 pm Annual Fundraising Dinner November 8–1:30 pm Family Workshop: Images of Faith November 9–noon BB Lecture: Christopher Hoffman Bookbinder

September 20–1:30 pm Family Workshop: Our Community, SLHC 10th Anniversary

November 12–7:00 pm Bradley Hendershot Exhibit Opening Reception

September 24–9:00 am–2:00 pm 10th Anniversary Celebration

November 13–2:00 pm Lecture: Vietnam with Clyde Hoch

October 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin for Homeschoolers

November 17–2:00 pm PA German Dialect Conversation Group

October 11–1:30 pm Family Workshop: Word Puzzles & the Seven Rules of Wisdom

Family Workshop: Fraktur: Vorschriften (writing models)

October 12–noon, September 16–2:00 pm BB Lecture: Aerial Photography October 20–2:00 pm PA German Dialect Conversation Group October 23–2:30 pm Treasures of the Heritage Center Collection October 25–1:30 pm Family Workshop:Aerial Compositions October 29–8:00 am Historic Churches of Philadelphia Tour

Fall 2011 Exhibits

Through October 16 Mazes, Labyrinths, and Puzzles in Fraktur and Broadsides–Fraktur Gallery Through October 23 50th Anniversary of the Completion of the Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum Local History Gallery

Through October 31 Upper Perkiomen Valley Baseball Memorabilia Library Hallway Cases August 21, 2011–February 19, 2012 The Legacy of Christopher Schultz Art Gallery September 6–October 31 Pennsylvania from Above: Aerial Art Photography by Peter Stern—Meeting Room

November 22–1:30 pm December 3–1:00 pm Father Christmas Puppet Workshop December 3–9:30, 4–Noon Christmas Market December 6–1:30 pm Family Workshop: Miniature Putz December 7, 9, 14, 16 Beginner-Advanced German and Latin for Homeschoolers December 14–noon, December 18–2:00 pm BB Lecture: Schwenkfelder Meeting Houses November 1, 2011–February 28, 2012 Eighteenth Centry Fraktur Fraktur Gallery November 12, 2011–February 26, 2012 Home and Away—Artist Bradley Hendershot Meeting Room

Wish List Need Proper decorum, please!

Some of our artifacts are naked!

They need dustcovers and we are looking for a donation of $50 to purchase approximately 25 yards of unbleached cotton muslin. We also need a volunteer to stitch up the covers at home. Please contact Curator Candace Perry if you are able to help.

Phone: 215.679.3103 fax: 215.679.8175 www.schwenkfelder.com email: info@schwenkfelder.com

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www.schwenkfelder.com

Volume 14, Issue 3

10th Anniversary Celebration!

Saturday, September 24, 2011 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Come and celebrate ten years since construction and renovations at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center Meetinghouse tours departing from SLHC—music groups—tractors—hit-andmiss engines—handmade Quilt raffle—special exhibits—children and family crafts—hot dogs, funnel cakes, Freddy Hill ice cream, snacks, sodas, popcorn—craft fun for the children...and more!

Don’t miss the excitement— ten years and still going strong!