Long's Park Amphitheater Foundation, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Researchers may access the digital files and the history of Long's Park Amphitheater and the Summer Music Series for educational and research purposes according to United States copyright law. (see below)
The reproduction, in any form, of copyrighted material is governed by the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Under certain "Fair Use" conditions specified in the law, institutions are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction, including for educational and research purposes. If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a reproduction for purposes beyond "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Transcription of the diary of Frank E. Witmer, 1879.
Admin/Biographical History
In 1879, Franklin E. Witmer (1855-1931), at age 23, was the eldest son of Aaron L. Witmer, farmer of West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann (Herr) Witmer. The household also included his younger brothers Abraham (Abram), 21, and Jacob Elam (Elem), 19; two school-age girls Sarah Dunlap, 13, an apprentice servant, and Hettie Fritz, 8, a ward of Mr. and Mrs. Witmer; and for part of the year a teen-age boarder-farm hand , Thaddeus (Thad) Brackbill. In Frank's diary, each person's activity was recorded daily, almost as if he had set himself a deliberate project to do so.
Mr. Witmer's truck farm embraced fields of grain (wheat, oats and rye), several acres of tobacco, a varied fruit orchard, a large truck garden, and a greenhouse for vegetables and flowering plants, a small herd of dairy cattle, some hogs and chickens; enough variety to make year-round weekly visits to market in Lancaster. During the year the family moved into a new house, raised a new barn, stables, hog-pen and chicken-house, and rented the old house and barn to a tenant farmer, Jacob Dieter.
The Witmers were Mennonites, regularly attending church in Lampeter Twp. and Strasburg, and occasionally in New Providence and Lancaster. Sarah and Hettie and briefly Elam, attended the Lampeter School. Their chief source of entertainment seems to have been visiting among their extended Witmer and Herr families and neighbors, although Abram and Elam sometimes attended "singing school" and the Lampeter Lyceum and did some "driving about" of an evening. Only Abram seems to have had a special girlfriend.
Although all the men of the family did everything in the way of farm chores, each of the boys also had a specialty. Frank, the oldest, had his own corn and tobacco patches to tend and market, Abram tended to concentrate on the greenhouse and truck-garden, and Elam helped his father provide veterinary services to other farmers in the area.
Frank Witmer married Mary Ann Herr on November 30, 1881; he continued general farming in West Lampeter Township, died there on December 10, 1931, and was buried in the Mennonite cemetery in nearby Willow Street, Pennsylvania.
This history was prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace.
This collection contains Frank E. Witmer's original 1879 diary, as well as a transcription and index prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace. The diary provides a detailed record of the daily activities of all members of the family. He primarily records the work involved in running a truck farm--planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops, and preparing for market. Other entries of interest include helping a neighbor move a carriage house; building a hog pen; canning; attendance at several Mennonite churches in the area; the process of moving from one house and barn to a new house and barn on the property; frequent visits between relatives and neighbors; and a few mentions of school and the leisure activities of the young men.
Admin/Biographical History
In 1879, Franklin E. Witmer (1855-1931), at age 23, was the eldest son of Aaron L. Witmer, farmer of West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann (Herr) Witmer. The household also included his younger brothers Abraham (Abram), 21, and Jacob Elam (Elem), 19; two school-age girls Sarah Dunlap, 13, an apprentice servant, and Hettie Fritz, 8, a ward of Mr. and Mrs. Witmer; and for part of the year a teen-age boarder-farm hand , Thaddeus (Thad) Brackbill. In Frank's diary, each person's activity was recorded daily, almost as if he had set himself a deliberate project to do so.
Mr. Witmer's truck farm embraced fields of grain (wheat, oats and rye), several acres of tobacco, a varied fruit orchard, a large truck garden, and a greenhouse for vegetables and flowering plants, a small herd of dairy cattle, some hogs and chickens; enough variety to make year-round weekly visits to market in Lancaster. During the year the family moved into a new house, raised a new barn, stables, hog-pen and chicken-house, and rented the old house and barn to a tenant farmer, Jacob Dieter.
The Witmers were Mennonites, regularly attending church in Lampeter Twp. and Strasburg, and occasionally in New Providence and Lancaster. Sarah and Hettie and briefly Elam, attended the Lampeter School. Their chief source of entertainment seems to have been visiting among their extended Witmer and Herr families and neighbors, although Abram and Elam sometimes attended "singing school" and the Lampeter Lyceum and did some "driving about" of an evening. Only Abram seems to have had a special girlfriend.
Although all the men of the family did everything in the way of farm chores, each of the boys also had a specialty. Frank, the oldest, had his own corn and tobacco patches to tend and market, Abram tended to concentrate on the greenhouse and truck-garden, and Elam helped his father provide veterinary services to other farmers in the area.
Frank Witmer married Mary Ann Herr on November 30, 1881; he continued general farming in West Lampeter Township, died there on December 10, 1931, and was buried in the Mennonite cemetery in nearby Willow Street, Pennsylvania.
This history was prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace.
Please use transcription and index, MG0847_F002 and MG0847_F003.
Original diary may be used by appointment--contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
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Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2021.011
Other Numbers
MG-847
Other Number
MG-847, Folder 1
Classification
MG0847
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
PDFs of the transcription and index are attached to the correlating records.
In 1879, Franklin E. Witmer (1855-1931), at age 23, was the eldest son of Aaron L. Witmer, farmer of West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann (Herr) Witmer. The household also included his younger brothers Abraham (Abram), 21, and Jacob Elam (Elem), 19; two school-age girls Sarah Dunlap, 13, an apprentice servant, and Hettie Fritz, 8, a ward of Mr. and Mrs. Witmer; and for part of the year a teen-age boarder-farm hand , Thaddeus (Thad) Brackbill. In Frank's diary, each person's activity was recorded daily, almost as if he had set himself a deliberate project to do so.
Mr. Witmer's truck farm embraced fields of grain (wheat, oats and rye), several acres of tobacco, a varied fruit orchard, a large truck garden, and a greenhouse for vegetables and flowering plants, a small herd of dairy cattle, some hogs and chickens; enough variety to make year-round weekly visits to market in Lancaster. During the year the family moved into a new house, raised a new barn, stables, hog-pen and chicken-house, and rented the old house and barn to a tenant farmer, Jacob Dieter.
The Witmers were Mennonites, regularly attending church in Lampeter Twp. and Strasburg, and occasionally in New Providence and Lancaster. Sarah and Hettie and briefly Elam, attended the Lampeter School. Their chief source of entertainment seems to have been visiting among their extended Witmer and Herr families and neighbors, although Abram and Elam sometimes attended "singing school" and the Lampeter Lyceum and did some "driving about" of an evening. Only Abram seems to have had a special girlfriend.
Although all the men of the family did everything in the way of farm chores, each of the boys also had a specialty. Frank, the oldest, had his own corn and tobacco patches to tend and market, Abram tended to concentrate on the greenhouse and truck-garden, and Elam helped his father provide veterinary services to other farmers in the area.
Frank Witmer married Mary Ann Herr on November 30, 1881; he continued general farming in West Lampeter Township, died there on December 10, 1931, and was buried in the Mennonite cemetery in nearby Willow Street, Pennsylvania.
This history was prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace.
One of two metal signs from the exterior of the Tally Ho Tavern, 201 West Orange St., Lancaster, PA. Each sign reads "TALLY HO" in large red block letters on white background.
See also 2023.020.002
Date Range
Circa 2020
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
South Wall
Object Name
Sign, Trade
Height (cm)
21.59
Height (ft)
0.7083333333
Height (in)
8.5
Length (cm)
152.4
Length (ft)
5
Length (in)
60
Object ID
2023.020.001
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
One of two metal signs from the exterior of the Tally Ho Tavern, 201 West Orange St., Lancaster, PA. Each sign reads "TALLY HO" in large red block letters on white background.
See also 2023.020.001
Date Range
Circa 2020
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
South Wall
Object Name
Sign, Trade
Height (cm)
21.59
Height (ft)
0.7083333333
Height (in)
8.5
Length (cm)
152.4
Length (ft)
5
Length (in)
60
Object ID
2023.020.002
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Historia der Augspurgischen Confession: wie sie erstlich berahtschlagt/ verfasset/ vnd Keiser Carolo V. vbergeben ist/ sampt andern ReligionsHandlungen/ so sich dabey auff dem Reichstag zu Augspurg/ Anno M.D. XXX. zugetragen: durch D. Dauidem Chytraeum erstlich zusammen geordnet/ vermehret/ vnd ... durchsehen
Gedruckt (bey Georg Raben/ in verlegung Henning Gross vnd Niclas Bocken/ bey der Burger vnd Buchhendlerin Leyptzig),
Date of Publication
1580.
Physical Description
[4], 382, [1]ff : illustrations (woodcut) ; 4to.
Notes
Small woodcut portrait of Charles V on title page. Printer's device on final leaf.
Title page printed in red and black.
Two clasps.
" ... bey G. Raben/ in verlegung H. Gross ..." on final leaf.
Includes letters by Luther, Melanchthon and others.
Partially torn label on inside cover "Privat[e] [Library] of J. Darmsta[taer].
Adams
Bound in pigskin over wooden boards, blind rolls including figures of Spes, Caritas, Fides, Fortit. round edges, and four apostles in centre panel of both boards, two clasps.
Plusieurs tres-bons cases : come ils estoyent adjudgees es trois premiers ans [1624-1627] du raign du feu Roy Charles le Premier en la Court de Bank le Roy, non encore publiees per aucun autre
colligees per le feu scavant & tres-erudite homme Monsieur Jean Latch ... ; avec deux tables parfaits des matieres notables, & nosmes des cases comprises la dedans publiees per Edward Walpoole.
Les reports du treserudite Edmund Anderson, chivalier, nadgairs, seigniour chief justice del Common-Bank : des mults principals cases argues & adjuges en le temps del jadis roign Elizabeth cibien en le Common-Bank come devant touts les juges de cest roialme
second part des reports du treserudite Edmund Anderson
Responsibility
colligees & escries per luy mesme & imprimees per l'original ore remaneant en les maines del imprimeur ; ove deux tables des nosmes des cases & des principal matters conteinus en yceux.
Printed by T.R. for Andrew Crook, Henry Twyford, Gabriel Bedell, Thomas Dring, and John Place, and are to be sold at their shops,
Date of Publication
1664-1665.
Physical Description
2 v. : ports. (engravings) ; 30 cm (fol.)
Notes
The printer's name is Thomas Roycroft. Cf. Wing.
Vol. 1: [12], 354, [36] p.; v. 2: [8], 211, [21] p., [1] leaf of plates.
"Divers cases queux aveign en le Court de gards icy ensua": v. 2, p. 187-211.
Includes index.
Errata: v. 1, p. [35] at end.
LC copy forms part of the Jefferson Exhibit Collection. Bound into 1 v. Imperfect: ports. wanting.
Jasper Yeates's Colonial Law Library.
Yeates's signature at top of title page.
Book number 746 as assigned by Yeates.
Sowerby, E.M. Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson,
English short title catalogue,
Wing, D.G. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English books printed in other countries, 1641-1700 (2nd ed.),
