Birth & baptismal certificate on laid paper. Printed form with central textblock in German within a multiple line border. Infilled and decorated around textblock by Speyer; cross-legged angel at top, pelicans feeding young at sides and flowers at sides and bottom. Watercolors are red, blue, yellow, green and brown.
Infilled for Johannes, son of Valiendein (Valentine) and Eliesabetha (Elisabetha) Bohmer of Brecknock Township in Lancaster Co., born Dec. 13, 1788.
Georg Friederich Speyer (active 1774-1801) used this printed form produced c. 1789 by Barton & Johnson of Reading. See Notes.
General wear with numerous creases and wrinkles; one pronounced vertical centerline crease. Repaired tears, esp at left edge. All edges are ragged and uneven, esp. at right.
Conserved by CCAHA in 1989 (see report in file). Hinged into window mat & back mat. Relaced in its original frame using UF-3 Plexiglas and acid-free cardboard on reverse with a taped mylar dust shield.
Object ID
G.77.50.1
Notes
Printed form by Reading printers Thomas Barton and Benjamin Johnson, circa 1789 (see Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the Pa. Germans, v. 4, p. 84). Speyer used this printed form for Johannes Bohmer who was born the previous year in1788.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Three leaves of family record pages of the Long family Bible have penwork by Francis Blum, David C. Hoke and Thomas J.Stevens.
P.94.15.02 A: Printed on the front side only, this page is dominated by a huge gold wedding ring and other symbols of marriage. Entries made in ink script state that William Long and Ella E. Shimp were married in East Petersburg, on March 4, 1900, by A.S. Hottenstein.
P94.15.02 B: Framed page shows both sides. Front side repeats marriage info of William and Ella (E. Shimp) Long, done in pen work of Francis Blum whose name is written at the bottom of the page. Elaborately decorated "W" initial letter of William Long. This oversize letter dominates the page. Blum uses various styles of lettering for remaining entries. Decoration is done in red and black ink as well as watercolor.
The reverse side lists the births of William and Ella Long and their five children (Norman S., Mary Edna, Raymond S., William S., and C. Earl Long). The first 3 names are by Blum, but the last two children's entries are done in different hands; William is done by David C. Hoke and Earl is done by Thomas J. Stevens. Signed at the bottom "David C. Hoke, Lititz, Pa., June 21, 1910".
P94.15.02 C: Front side has heading "DEATHS", reverse has "MEMORANDUM". No entries on either side.
Pages have ragged edges where torn from Bible; overall acid burn with some dark stains and soiling; reverse side of page C has residue and paper loss at bottom left corner and top right corner.
Page B was mounted and framed by Brian Howard in 1996. It shows both sides of page.
Object ID
P.94.15.02a-c
Notes
P.94.15.01 A-B records have for more work by Blum and Hoke.
The Long and Walborn families were related due to intermarriage by two children (Alverta Walborn and Raymond Long).
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Two leaves from the Isaac and Annie (W. Shearer) Walborn family Bible, with pen work by Francis Blum and David C. Hoke
P94.15.01 A: This leaf is the record of marriage. Front side has printed scene of marriage ceremony with entries made with ink in cursive handwriting. Isaac Walborn of Mount Hope and Annie W. Shearer of Mastersonville were married at Manheim, PA, July 14, 1900, by M.E. Bachman, "Minister of the Gospel".
Reverse side has the heading "MARRIAGES" over a scene depicting a flower-festooned gondola with bride and groom under canopy. The single entry of Isaac & Annie Walborn's marriage is made by Francis Blum, whose signature appears at bottom right. Penwork is done in red, green, and blue.
P94.15.02 B: This has the record of "BIRTHS" on the front side and "DEATHS" on the reverse. Under the headings are appropriate images: an infant emerging from a large clam shell under "BIRTHS", and an angel kneeling by a grave under "DEATHS". Birth names of the parents and four children (Viola S., Joseph S., Leona May, and Alverta S. Walborn) as well as the heading "Children" are done in calligraphy by David C. Hoke, in colors of red and blue. Entry at the bottom of the page states "David C. Hoke Lititz Pa. Dec. 10 1912"
The reverse side, on "DEATHS" page, exhibits two more names done by the same hand as the front. Hoke has written the names Viola S. Walborn and Joseph S. Walborn in the same calligraphic style as the front. However, the death entries of Annie and Isaac are entered in cursive at a much later date (after 1945).
Note: In Francis Blum exhibit at Muddy Creek Farm Library 2003-2004. "Guest curator" John Parmer's genealogy research is included in this file.
Both leaves have torn edges where removed from the Bible; acid burn & soiling, especially along edges. Page A has food (or other) stains smeared in several places & tape-repaired 1 1/2" tear at bottom. Page B has four small tears along the edges.
Both leaves were mounted and framed side by side by Brian Howard in 1996.
Object ID
P.94.15.01
Notes
P.94.15.02 A-C records have for more work by Blum and Hoke.
The Long and Walborn families were related due to intermarriage by two children (Alverta Walborn and Raymond Long).
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Hand-made greeting card made of ruled paper folded in half, book-like. The front has a Thanksgiving day greeting from Joseph H. McGlaughlin to Clara (Weinhold, whom he later married on March 30, 1893). Decorative outside border is "ribbon-work", a style of penwork likely developed by McGlaughlin himself.
Greeting is "To Clara. / This is Thanksgiving / Day. / May you live to see / many more. / Your Friend, / Jos. H. McGlaughlin / Conestoga, / Pa. Nov. 28, 1889".
Inscribed in a florid hand in ink is "Leacock, Pa., Nov. 28, 1889. Dear Clara, this motto which is a part of my work on this holiday, I dedicate to thee, that thou mayst remember me. Your Friend. Jos. H. McGLaughlin" and lower is "To Miss Clara Weinhold, Leacock, Pa."
Amish family record for John and Elizabeth Lapp family done in inks on heavy tan paper, mounted in an oak frame. Attributed to Benjamin L. Stoltzfus.
Center text is written in red, gold and black. The heading, "Family Record," is written in green and completely covered in glitter. Sprouting out of the heading are two sheaves of wheat painted in gold with a butterfly painted in brown, green and red between them in the center. Around the perimeter of the text is a border done in a "ribbon candy" design. The sides are painted in black and gold, and the top and bottom are painted in red and gold. Within each of the four corners of the border is a diecut, roses at the top and fruit at the bottom. (Written by Nicole Bangert)
(Find complete family record/list of names in the file.)
Provenance
Sold to Heritage Center Museum by Greg K.Kramer & Co., American Antiques and Decorative Objects, Robesonia, PA on Dec. 12, 2000, for $475.00.
Paper is darkened from acid burn; reverse is 'imprinted' with grain pattern of wood veneer backing. There are dark stains at the top and on the left side below center. Paper is 'surface'torn' at the center between Jacob and Mary 's entries (appears like a tear). There is a puncture tear at the 'was' in Jacob's entry. There is a 1 1/4"-long tear at the top, 4 1/4' from the left corner. There are numerous losses of ink, especially at the border. Speckled dirt/ink is scattered at top and bottom edges. Some foxing and soiling evident and paper is slightly buckled.
Rectangular piece of brown wove paper has the manuscript name "Susie B Fisher" in upper half of page. The inked letters are water-colored with red, orange, and blue stripes, and the three upper case letters are decorated with a vining filigree of roses. A small bird hovers in flight above the first "S". Still visible are two horizontal lines penciled in by the artist to guide the size of his lower case lettering. Centered below the name, at mid-page, are two drooping red tulips.
Attributed to Elizabeth K. Beiler or John Doell who also penned the 1901 family register of Noah and Catharine (Katie) Fisher (P89.07.4). Their style is extremely similar and they were working in approx. the same period.
Also in this collection is a needlework family register (P89.07.3) done by Susie Fisher (assumed to be the subject of this fraktur).
John Doell was "English" and appears to have worked exclusively among eastern Lancaster Co. Amish families, penning book plates, family records, etc. He likely traveled throughout the communities offering his services. Mennonite historian/collector, Amos Hoover, owner of Muddy Creek Farm Libray, notes that Doell came to America in 1857 and died in Zion's Home in 1908.
Doell's work is similar to Amish artist Elizabeth K. Beiler (see McCauleys' Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125.)
2009-2011 Amish exhibit, City Hall, 2nd floor.
Provenance
Provenance: Vendor Trish Herr purchased at the Mary H. Fisher sale held at the Paradise Fire Hall, April 19, 1989.
John G. Doell or Elizabeth K. Beiler (see notes in file)
Darkened overall from acid burn and/or light. Smaller brown stains of varying size sprinkled over much of surface as well as lighter spots and blotches esp. at left side. Several tiny edge tears including one at right edge, about 7/8" up from bottom corner. 1/4" tear in right edge above center. 1/4" tear in bottom edge, 7/8" from left corner. Faint horizontal fold lines.
Object ID
P.89.07.5
Notes
See P 89.07.3 and .4 for family registers of Susie's family.
Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp.54 and 195-196. The fraktur hand of Elizabeth K. Beiler and John G. Doell are so similar that it can be difficult to attribute.
McCauley, Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Heritage Center Collection through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
Memorial record made by Thomas J. Stevens on heavy tan paper. The unique open-letter style is done in black ink with gold highlights on upper case letters and black inked lower case letters. His lettering is "shaded" by red hash marks above them. Text surrounded by a thin black border line with flowers with long black stems coming out of corners and the center of the sides towards the script. Flowers have red petals and green leaves and the script is accented with gold and green. Border has gold accents at the corners.
The top half of the record begins with, "IN MEMORY/ of/ Our Beloved Parents" and continues with their names and dates as follows: "Benjamin Beiler. Born 26th April, 1830/ Died 6th Jan. 1910. Aged 79 yrs. 8 mos. 9 days./ Mary E. [Esh] Beiler. Born 12th July. 1835./ Died 25th Nov. 1908. Aged 73 yrs. 4 mos. 12 days."
The bottom half of the record is a poem which reads: "God His message sent to call them/ From their Labor here below;/ And we hope to those fair Mansions,/ Where the weary Pilgrims go./ Oh Children dear why do you weep,/ Since we a resting Place have found/ So calm and peaceful we shall sleep/ Beneath our green and mossy mound./ Oh let them sleep on so free from all pain/ Oh make not their sweet Spirits to suffer again;/ They slumber so soundly, Oh let them sleep on;/ Their sickness is ended their troubles are gone./ Gone But not Forgotten."
The signature at the bottom reads: "Thomas J. Stevens./ Lancaster./ Pa./ 22. June 1915."
This is one of two signed pieces done by Stevens. Another large family record is of the Amos and Mattie Lapp family, is undated and is owned by Goshen College's Mennonite Historical Library. Other pieces were done by Stevens for the Amish (several owned by Parmer). See also in HCLC collections, family records in Bibles P94.15.2 and P95.22.1.
Provenance
Seller purchased at sale of Lydia S. Stoltzfus (Mrs. Isaac F. Stiltzfus), New Holland, the granddaughter of Ben & Mary Beiler. Her father was David E. Beiler (Fisher #7783). Thus, the fraktur appears to have been owned by the son, David E. Beiler, and perhaps commissioned by him.
Paper is darkened, especially around edges. Some light soiling and fingerprints. Minor foxing, especially near top left corner. Some light creasing, especially around edges. Small light colored areas of wear around the periphery. Small hole 1 1/2" below signature. Top edge is worn. Dark brown stain, bottom edge towards right and at top right corner of border. Back has greater areas of wear and soiling with some water stains. Framed in archival materials, Feb. 2000, by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
P.00.06.1
Notes
See object file for bio sketch of Stevens done by seller John (Jack) Parmer. Includes family genealogy of Benjamin Beiler (Fisher Book #7781). He lived 1830-1910 and in 1857 married Mary Esh (1835-1908). Benjamin Beiler was also a gifted artist and did bookplates, etc. Parmer notes that one elderly Amish woman, Lydia S. Stoltzfus Petersheim, recalls Stevens in 1925 as a "little Englishman", walking from farm to farm carrying his wooden artist's case. At this time she was a 9-year-old child and Stevens inscribed her Bible.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of Irene N. Walsh, Heritage Center Collection
Bookplate on white paper reads: "Dieses Buch/ gehoret Mir/ John B Stolzfus/ geschrieben April 19/ 1910". Lettering is one in blue ink, except for name which is in pink. Above and below text, in the style of Josephy McGlaughlin, is a band of 'ribbon candy' decoration done in light blue, blue and pink and gold stripes. (Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Paper has some darkening especially around edges. Some acid burn overall. Small tears on top and right edges and loss on bottom right corner. Left edge is moderately worn. Small worn area with paint loss in center of lower border.
Watercolor of bird, fraktur-type, done for an Amish female, attributed to Amish artist.
Bird perched in stylized tree, done on plain off-white wove paper. The tree has one main trunk with five small, arching branches terminating in a globular yellow fruit. Uppermost branch ends in a tulip. Three gray-blue leaves attach to trunk. Bird has yellow body decorated with inked texture marks, brown head and wings and gray-blue beak.
Inscriptions: At bottom right in inked German script is "May 1848." At upper left, written sideways in the same hand is "Fannie Hochstetler/ 1848/ Nannie H. Beiler/ 1896.
Mounted in brown paper window mat and frame (likely by sellers for sale). Frame is flat softwood with half-lap, mitered joints and paint-decorated with a dark glaze over a medium-brown ground. Hanging ring at top. (Written by Wendell Zercher)
Provenance
According to sellers' research this may have been a gift to Fannie Hochstetler in 1848, after which she may have married and become "Nannie H. Beiler." Gingerich and Krieder record a Veronica/Fannie/Franey Hostetler (HS5362) (1840-1914) of Mifflin County who married John K. Byler (BY3566) (1831-1904) also of Mifflin Co. Thus, the Earnests are suggesting the sideways description may have been added later than the original 1848 inscription at bottom.
Bought from Russell Earnest & Associates, Nov. 2, 2001, for $1300.00.
Paper has bee trimmed, probably on all four sides. Multiple fold lines with a cluster at upper left corner, a horizontal one at 2 and 2/1 inches from bottom and a vertical one at 1 7/8 inches from right edge. Moderate to heavy soiling, especially above May 1848 date. Upper left cover has minor loss all corners have paste and remnants of paper where previously attached.
Drawing has slid askew since earlier photo. It would be easy to fix. (MAW)
Pencil drawing of stylized flower colored with vivid watercolors; dominant flower of orange and yellow on green stem with various leaves of green and yellow; two side stems of black terminate in very stylized "fruit" at left (ball of orange, yellow and purple) and "flower" at right (4-pointed motif of purple and yellow with black dots).
At page bottom is the name "Magdalena Zimmerman" done in fraktur-style, black lettering. It would be inferred that Magdalena was the owner of the painting, and possibly even executed wither for or by this individual, but most likely for her.
Ruled paper has been hand trimmed on all four sides. Reverse has computation of addition and subtraction; also three illegible names (?) with hash marks registered below each.
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
This painting came from The Book Haven in Lancaster, PA, and was paid for by the Donegal Chapter of the DAR. 5 April 1996. $125.00.
