Printed fraktur taufschein (B&BC in German) for Michael Ruthisill, born Aug. 17, 1808 and baptized Aug. 30, 1808 by Pastor (Gotthilf Henry Ernestus) Muhlenberg at the Lutheran Church in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Parents were Philip and Susanna (Schreiner) Ruthisill and the sponsors were Michael and Catharina Ruthisill (grandparents?).
Certificate printed by Lancaster printer Benjamin Grimler in 1803. Penwork & decoration attributed to the "Ruffled Tulip Artist" by the Earnests (9-14-98). See object file for info.
Printed on laid paper, fraktur has a large central heart and two smaller hearts at bottom with verses in German in each. Large heart has main text, with blanks filled in by scrivener/artist in red ink. 1/4-inch-wide yellow border around perimeter. Hand-drawn floral motifs surround the large heart: large tulip-like flowers at top and bottom center, flowering vine at sides and smaller flowers above small hearts and within large heart. Colored in red, green and yellow.
The "Ruffled Tulip Artist" was working circa 1799-1813. He drew distinctive ruffles around large and folky tulips and infilled in German on printed three-heart forms, of which seven are known - all birth & baptismal certificates.
Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans, Vol. III, p. 128.
Ellis and Evans, History of Lancaster County, p. 498.
Earnests, Papers for Birth Dayes, Vol.II, pp. 659-60.
Provenance
Donor reports his wife has Rudisill ancestors. He and his wife received this fraktur with instructions to sell the piece upon their demise in order to pay for funeral expenses. The fraktur was never sold, even now that his own wife has died. See genealogy of Rudisill family in file, given by Lisa Garrett, cousin of donor's wife. Lisa says donor died in 1998.
Condition when received: Entire piece buckled, pasted onto brown Kraft paper. Multiple tears and losses, especially at center of right and left sides; tears and small hole at center. Some foxing, general soiling, and water damage to colors in vining at sides. Color smears and fingerprints, esp. at top and bottom floral device. Small tears and curling at most edges.
At present: Conserved, matted and placed in sealed package by Marilyn Kemp Weidner in 1999 for $1,553. Framed by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
G.98.27.1
Notes
Four other copies of Grimler's printed certificate known, according to Klaus Stopp (The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans Vol. III, p. 128). Three of these were filled out for Warwick Twp. residents;the other for a Manheim Twp. resident. This 1803 print preceded Grimler's partnership with brother Henry which opened in 1804. From 1799-1812, when Lancaster was the seat of State government, the two brothers were employed by the Legislature to do the State printing. Benjamin was elected to the Lower House of the Assembly in 1824 and died in 1832.
See Rudisill genealogy in file, given by Lisa Garrett. It states John Michael Rudisill was born 17 Aug 1808 and died 8 Nov 1843. He married Maria Magdalena Kurtz on 17 May 1829, daughter of Conrad Kurtz and his wife Susanna Barbara Erb.
Large 8" x 10" color transparency in object file.
Place of Origin
Manheim Twp.
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Daniel S. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
Eichholtz oil on canvas portrait of Catherine Trissler Eichholtz (Mrs. Jacob Eichholtz 1791-1867). Middle-aged woman faces left, wearing a dark brown dress with wide white "collar" draped over shoulders. Has a wide lace edging. Draped over right shoulder, coveriing entire dress sleeve, is a white scarf with ornately floral-embroidered edge. Wearing a large, fancy cap of gold ribbons and lace. Tie strings are ribbon. Right hand covers left hand. Dark background shows no details. Lighter 4-inch wide section runs vertically from mid-point to top of left side. Small parts of a chair peek out at left side.
Inscriptions: Various numbers on frame sides and top. Taped to lower back of foam board back cover is an encapsulated old, faded printed card with #36 followed by "MR. BLOCH(?) / MRS. CHAS. ----- / BRYN MAWR PA / MRS. JACOB (EICHHOLTZ) / CATHERINE T(RISSLER)." Stamped at top center of frame back & stretcher is "The Warwick Galleries / NW Corner 17tth & Locust Sts. / Philadelphia Pa". Handwritten in pencil along top left of stretcher is "Property of Mrs. Chas. Walker, Mermont Plaza, Bryn Mawr".
Early 20th c. frame, painted bronze. Has bold profile with wide cove and projecting bead at outside edges.
Object Name
Painting
Material
Paint, Canvas, Wood
Medium
Painting, Oil
Height (in)
30.25
Width (in)
25.125
Dimension Details
Canvas dimensions
Frame size: H: 35.5 inches x W: 30.5 inches
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2016-10-11
Condition Notes
Relined canvas has patched areas and many inpainted areas, including lips and both sides of hair. Large section along left side from center to top has been repainted.
Frame is good with several paint chips on bead section at both sides, right center and top left. Back of painting is covered with foam board.
Portrait of George Graeff, oil on wood panel. Portly, middle-aged man in profile, facing right. Has long dark hair tied with a ribbon and is wearing a black coat with white shirt and lace jabot. Dark background. Frame is wood veneered with single metal hanging ring at top.
Label on frame back states "Col. Geo. Graeff." A hatter, Graeff (1756-1823) is credited with building Graeff's Tavern on S. Queen St. He was captain of a volunteer company of Lancastrians at the Battle of Long Island during the Revolution. Was County Treasurer from 1787-1802 and the second president of Farmers Bank, after 1814. More info in file; see NOTES.
See NOTES
Provenance
Descent within the family, on the Hager side. Donor is gr. gr. gr. grandson of Geo. Graeff.
Colonel Geo. Graeff to son Graeff to daughter Annie M. (m. Charles F. Hager to son Walter C. Hager (single) to brother Charles F. Hager to daughter Susan (m. Richard P. Rohrer) to son Charges Hager Rohrer (donor).
Multiple small areas of paint loss. Small pieces of veneer missing from corners of frame; larger piece missing at lower left, abut 2" from corner. Painting and frame conserved by James Vallano, Ja. 2003, for 2003 exhibit "Worlds of Eichholtz".
Object ID
G.86.13.1
Notes
John J. Snyder, Jr. reports that on Oct 1, 1818, Eichholtz recorded a portrait of Graeff costing $20. He notes that this may be one of the latest profile portraits on panel done by Eichholtz.
Included in the 1912 Portraiture exhibition held in the Woolworth bldg., listed as #99 on page 25. See copy in file. The painting was owned and loaned to the exhibition by Graeff's great-grandson, Walter C. Hager (1859-1930).
Rebecca Beale includes this painting on page 96, but notes it is unlocated.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Print, New Theatre Performance of "Speed the Plough"
Description
The New Theatre is on South Queen Street in Lancaster. The poster cites the 7th performance of Mr. Henkins' Benefit of the comedy, Speed the Plough; and the farce, The Intrigue, of, Married Yesterday. Lists of actors (surnames, some given name initials) and roles they play also appear. Door open a 7:30 and "curtain rises at 8 o'clock precisely."
A finger points to : 'Officers are engaged who will preserve the strictest order;" and "No money received at the door."
Also, "NO LADY ADMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A GENTLEMAN."
"Tickets to be obtained at Mr. Osterloh's Book Store..."
Former mat torn from larger piece of cardboard and lower corner of poster is missing including some print. A piece on the upper right edge is also missing.
Object ID
2003.243
Notes
John Forney was printer for this poster. The best descriptons of John Forney are the 19th century praises penned by his colleagues.
"There were giants in his day, and he was one of them. None was more to be honored than the young Pennsylvanian who came from his Lancaster home to found and direct a policy which was to sway the nation..." (John Russell Young)
"He wielded one of the most fertile pens in the whole country. ...He is a tower of strength in the editorial profession, and his rare mental vigor and complete mastery of the pen, justly entitle him to be regarded and styled the journalistic Achilles of the Western Continent." (Alexander Harris)
"Col. Forney ...is one of the princes of American journalism. No editor in Pennsylvania has made a deeper impression on the public mind." (Philadelphia Record. )
"...he was the foremost editor of Pennsylvania." (Philadelphia Inquirer.)
"He belonged to a class of men who build themselves into the civilization of their times..." (John Thomas Scharf.)
"Personally, to me, he was always noble, gracious, conciliatory;" (Walt Whitman)
