Amish infant girl's dress of gray cotton blend, made by mother Arie Stoltzfus for baby daughter Becky, born 18 April 1964, died 31 August 1964. Machine-sewn dress has long sleeves, a high waist with pleated skirt. Opens at back from neckline to mid point. Two snap closures.
Small handwritten note from donor reads: "Dress worn by little Becky, given by her mother (to donor) as a remembrance. She was born on April 18, 1964, and died on August 31, 1964. Becky was able to wear this dress until she died at the age of four months and thirteen days. Parents: Phares and Arie Stoltzfus."
Provenance
From maker, Arie Stoltzfus, to donor Fannie Stoltzfus Ellenberg.
Very good condition except for stains. Large dark brown liquid stain on skirt front, 2.5" up from hem near center. Some lighter adjacent stains. A .75" round stain at neckline, at right. Back has smaller brown stains at left along where sleeve attached. A few tiny brown stain spots scattered front and back
Object ID
2017.011.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of Fannie Z. Stoltzfus Ellenberg in memory of her mother Annie B. Stoltzfus
Deep rose Lancaster Amish girl's dress, polyester, machine-sewn by donor's mother, Annie B. Stoltzfus. Long sleeves; pocket in front; four pleats at skirt front and three at back; two darts at neckline. Opening in back has four dark purple buttons. Worn by donor as a girl.
Stoltzfus family record on wove paper mounted in a thin, molded modern frame of tiger maple. Hand done family record of Lancaster Amish family attributed to David C. Hoke (active c. 1909-1935). Bold and colorful title is "Family Record" done with wide lettering of red and black with metallic gold highlights accompanied by green-leafed scrolling vines. Title continues on 2nd line with "...of Henry U. and Annie M. Stoltzfus." followed by the father's birth date & death date, then birth date of mother. Her death date is added later on same line with pencil. All lettering is black except for large, ornately illuminated upper case letters.
"Children" is the colorful bold heading for the remaining 3//4 of page listing 10 children with birth dates. The death date for 2-yr-old Levi is also recorded. Title has black and white letters, some red as well as metallic gold highlights. Surrounded by the same leafy scrolling vines and three upside down stalks of wheat at each side.
Remaining side borders have a vertical undulating vine with green leaves and blue clusters of grapes. Bottom is filled with a large cluster of three stalks of wheat.
Very minor stain spots, esp. at corners. Strongly creased horizontal fold line across center.
Object ID
P.96.01.1
Notes
Compare with large Esbenshade family record P.99.16.1. Hoke made Bible entries, bookplates and many large family registers in northern Lancaster County and southern Lebanon County. Large, ornate family registers made for the Amish seem to be a specialty of Hoke. He signed and dated much of his work, oftern including his home location of Quentin and later Lititz.
See file for:
1) Stoltzfus genealogy from "Fisher Family History."
2) Information sheet on David C. Hoke by Russ and Corinne Earnest "Papers for Birth Dayes."
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Coll
Flat tin 6-pointed star pattern or template with1/2" diameter hole at center. Used for creating raised, sculpted plushwork (see Amish Arts by Patricia Herr, pp. 44-55).
Mennonite Meeting House. Two separate Conservative Mennonite "Plain" Sects use and maintain this House of worship. Religious services are held by the groups on alternating Sunday monrings.
Mennonite Courting Buggy. Generally used by unmarried Old Order Mennonite boys, the bachelor buggy has no top or a convertible-type tilt top. Family buggies are completely enclosed by curtained sides.
