Color-printed Marriage Certificate on heavy tan paper. Inside border on brown field is an overarching banner with "Jesus Christus along with 3 bible verses. Surround a white field with text are 5 color scenes in circles and ovals along with flowers. Text block has a small angel with putti flanked by "Traus" and "Schein" (Marriage Certificate). Infilled in cursive with black ink. Bridal couple are Joseph W. Houk and Marie A. Schleeger, both of Columbia, married 30 June 1902 in St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbia. Witnesses were Martin Schwarz, Louis Schleeger, Frederick Schleeger and August Witte. It is signed at the bottom "Harrisburg den 5ten Februar 1902 / Eduard H. Paar, / Ev. Luth. Pastor." Below the outside border is "No. 104" at left and "Verlag von Ernst Kaufmann, 330 Pearl Street, New York." at right. Reverse side has "White & gilt / 85" written in pencil.
Printed in New York City by Ernst Kaufmann. Infilled in Columbia or Harrisburg, likely by pastor Eduard H. Paar.
Dark smudges at top center. Brown liquid stains along bottom and upper right corner. Along left edge are two minor creases and one small tear. Reverse shows acid burn from backing board while framed as well as brown soil around all edges. Liquid stains evident particularly in bottom corners. Dark smudges along top.
Object ID
2004.743
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. This certificate designated #43.
Color-printed textile with Christmas / New Year's theme. It is a square shaped fabric of unwashed cotton with its original sizing and four cut, unfinished. Overall green ground color. Pictured at center is a romantic portrayal of a couple in formal Edwardian period formal wear appearing to be on the verge of embracing. Surrounding the couple like a wreath are 22 white name card shapes with 18 names handwritten in various hands with blue ink. At top center is "Frank S. Graybill", flanked on the right by "Christmas / 1906" and on the left by "New Year / 1907".
The borders have a music theme: above the "name wreath" is "Should auld" and below is "acquaintance be forgot." Along both top and bottom edge is the musical score of "Auld Lang Syne". At sides are musical instruments; at left is a guitar and harp and at right is a lute and a violin. At lower right corner is "COPYRIGHTED 1905".
Provenance
Donor found item in a vacated house on top of a piano.
Very good overall with strong color. Staining is the major problem; considerable number of brown blotches seen on the back and coming through on the front. Most visible from the back.
Object ID
2017.007
Notes
The 18 names are being researched, but most seem to come from the Maytown area.
