The Survivors' Club collection contains dinner banquet programs for the Survivors' Club annual dinner held in February of each year between 1871 and 1914. While the club met between 1868 and 1921, this collection only includes banquet programs from 1871 and 1914, with years missing. Each program includes the living and deceased members and the dinner menu, unless otherwise noted below. The minute book begins in 1867 and ends with an entry from the last surviving member in 1921.
Admin/Biographical History
The Survivors' Club, which consisted of 20+ prominent Lancaster Civil War veterans from the 79th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was organized on 29 September 1867 at the Leopard Hotel in Lancaster. The first annual dinner banquet was held on 22 February 1868 and the members met annually on George Washington's birthday through 1921. Over the years, the plate of each deceased member would be draped in mourning, until only one member remained. P. L. Sprecher, the last member of the Survivors' Club, wrote the last entry in the minute book on 22 February 1921. After his death, each member's dinner plate and the punch bowl were donated to the Lancaster County Historical Society. The historical society later acquired the Survivors' Club minute book and the dinner banquet programs.
The Survivors' Club included the following members:
Charles D. Rupley; John Johns; John K. Rutter; Edgar C. Reed; Samuel E. Leaman; Jonathan Sprecher; Eli Landis; Dr. William M. Whiteside; Charles H. Sprecher; Edward A. Sener; John James McGrann; George F. Sprenger; A. S. Landis; John Copland; Jacob K. Barr; John D. Skiles; William S. Shirk; W. D. Stauffer; Isaac W. Slokom; J. C. Muhlenberg; P. L. Sprecher; Milton Weidler
Survivors' Club plates, saucers, and cups in the Curatorial Collection (1926.033)
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Survivors' Club Collection (MG0316), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-316
Other Number
MG-316
Classification
MG0316
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
This collection was cataloged and the finding aid was prepared by MEB, Spring 2006. Added to database 1 October 2021.
The items were donated with the Survivors' Club plates, saucers, and cups, 1926.033. The programs and minute book were transferred to the Archives in 2005.
This collection contains the diaries of Gilbert and Edith Bushong.
The first diaries in this collection (Folder #1), written by Gilbert Bushong who is 14 years old, are dated from 3m 17 1850 - 5m 29 1852 and April 20, 1853. The topics covered are the everyday events of family life and farming activities. He also writes about school life, and butchering hogs, and trips to visit family and friends.
The second part of this collection (Folder #2-5) was written by Edith Paxson Bushong and dates from December 31, 1858 - April 5, 1862, after Gilbert presents her with a new diary journal on his return from a trip to Lancaster. Edith writes mostly about the welfare of her family and friends, including news of marriages, births, illnesses, and deaths.
She also writes about life on the farm, her housework routine, and news of the Civil War, including the battle at Gettysburg.
Admin/Biographical History
Gilbert Bushong was the son of Henry Bushong and Esther Valentine. He was born on 2 December 1836 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died on 10 December 1911 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer in Eden Twp., Lancaster County. Gilbert was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and an abolitionist who helped, with family members Henry and Jacob Bushong, to run the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves during the Civil War at Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.
Edith D. Kinsey Paxson was born on 14 January 1836 and died 2 December 1914 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was the second daughter of Elwood H. Paxson and Elizabeth Moore White. She married Gilbert Bushong on 20 December 1855. The Bushongs owned a farm along what is now Valley Road, Route 372, on the eastern side of Eden Twp. and received their mail at May Post Office. They are buried together at Sadsbury Meeting Cemetery in Chester County.
Children of Gilbert and Edith Bushong:
1. Dr. Charles Henry Bushong (1 October 1856-20 December 1903). He was married twice, to sisters who were twins, Anna W. Keene and Nora E. Keene. One died and he married the other.
2. Frances E. Bushong (18 May 1858-16 November 1861).
3. Marion E. Bushong (20 March 1860-March 1937). She married Sanders M. Collins on 20 December 1884. Their children were Edith Bushong Collins (1886-1966) and Wallace Collins (b. 1899). Edith never married. She kept house for her father and was a school teacher. Wallace married Marion Chandler.
4. Marvin E. Bushong (7 June 1878-27 October 1936). He married Lydia Rakestraw on 10 September 1903. Their children were Henry Rakestraw Bushong (b. 28 July 1904) and Gertrude (b. 4 August 1909). At 21, Marvin was appointed a Justice of the Peace of Eden Twp. and in 1908 was elected Clerk of Quarter Sessions at Lancaster County. Later, he was associated with the Pennsylvania Water and Power Company, and in 1933 was vice-president of the Safe Harbor Water Power Corp.
Bonds posted by constables, showing names of constable and surety; date and amount of bond; conditions of obligation; signatures of constable, surety, and witnesses; and date filed. Arr. chron. by date filed. No index. Hdw. and typed on ptd. fm.
Admin/Biographical History
The County of Lancaster has given LancasterHistory.org custodial responsibility of this collection.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by year; alphabetical by surname with in year.
Signers of petition: Philip G. Meisenheimer, Philip Ginder, John Schleich, George [Saafeld], [signature in German], Jerome Baumgartner, Fredrick Dorner, Henry Rogers, Archibald [Waver], [John Hollman], [J. M. Northaeffer], Daniel McCort.
Receipt to keep a tavern.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.