Oil on canvas portrait of Rev. Hans Herr (1639-1725), attributed to Baron Leon von Ossko, unframed.
Painting depicts elderly gentleman with nearly shoulder-length hair and long beard, wearing a plain brown coat with two buttons showing at front; plain dark background. Up-cast eyes and unsmiling face denote a properly pietistic expression for this patriarch and pastor of the first group of Mennonites to settle in Lancaster County in 1710. At upper right hand corner in block letters is painted "HANS HERR."
Canvas is attached with tack to sides of a mitered stretcher. The miters are fitted at back with a cast iron device embossed with two patent dates of 1883 and 1885.
The book Genealogical Record of Rev. Hans Herr & His Lineal Descendants depicts a copy of this painting, noting that it was painted by John Funk. Von Ossko reportedly produced a number of these paintings for the Herr descendants, apparently copying the original Funk portrait. The artist married a descendant of Hans Herr, Ella Louisa Breneman, in 1884. They lived in Lancaster City. Marrying into the Herr clan likely sparked the idea for generating copies of the patriarch on canvas.
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
The Farmers (Mr. and Mrs. C. Richard Farmer) say they obtained painting from an unknown source. They gave it to their son years ago, but he never used it.
This painting was after the original by John Funk of Strasburg.
Puncture of 1/2" x 1/2" to right of sitter's left eye; near complete puncture at bottom, 7" in from right corner, with pigment loss. A ft-long scratch begins at right of sitter's curl and extends obliquely to lower right corner. Some pigment loss at edges; deterioration of canvas and tacks failing along left edge. Soiled overall. A small piece of paper is affixed at back to repair the major puncture. Recent tacks added to secure canvas at sides.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners. In the case of "poor children," teachers were reimbursed by the county for tuition and/or the supplies purchased for students whose parents were unable to pay.
Renunciations are papers filed in the Orphans' Court by executors of an estate who do not wish to administer that estate. They show the name of the decedent, the decedent's place of residence, the name of the person renouncing administration, the name of the replacement administrator to be appointed, and date. The relationship between the decedent, the executor, and the administrator is usually shown. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
The George Steinman Papers, Series 1 contains an album, compiled by George Steinman, with many photographs of buildings, tombstones, monuments and scenes of Lancaster city and county. Ephemera and newspaper articles are among the photographs. Represented in the album are Postlethwaite's Tavern, hotels and taverns, fire houses, the Conestoga massacre, churches, cemeteries, Ephrata Cloister, prominent citizens and their homes, Stehli Silk Mill, and schools. The four boxes contain orginal correspondence, documents, photographs and ephemera or and pertaining to the same subject matter as the album.
George Steinman Papers, Series 2 (MG0184_S02) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/6c7e11c6-f3ca-469c-891a-145832196710
Photograph Collection
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Series #, Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
"Mr. Geo. Steinman who started this collection of pictures. This book was presented to the Lanc. Co. Historical Society after his death by Mr. Geo. S. Franklin."
John M. Gibson is recorded as the donor, 1968, in LancasterHistory's accession records.
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this document reflects the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available.
The use of the original album is restricted. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org with questions.
Copyright
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Number
MG-184, Series 1
Classification
MG0184
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared PK and MSH, 2008. Added to database 20 July 2021.
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # C980002119, 2021-2024.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners. In the case of "poor children," teachers were reimbursed by the county for tuition and/or the supplies purchased for students whose parents were unable to pay. Orders include: Poor Children, Almshouse, Bridges, Coroners' Inquests, Prisons, Roads, Court House, and Tax Exonerations.
System of Arrangement
The record group is organized chronologically, then arranged by order number within each year.