Birth certificate is hand done by artist using design elements from printed fraktur. Multicolor text is enclosed in a central arched arbor w/ flame finials. Text names Christian, a son of Jacob and Barbara (KIndig) Bachman, born 1827 in Lampeter Twp. Two confronting angels flank arbor and 2 additional text blocks of religious verse support arbor. A pavilion at bottom is flanked by blue trees & large colorful pinwheel flowers.
Border at sides and top have colorful, repeating floral/foliate motifs; top is arched. Hearts and flowers fill top corners. Above arbor is a large 4-point stylized star flanked by reclining trees.
Artist uses red, blue, light blue, black, yellow, white, green, orange and brown.
Inscribed on reverse in black ink is "No 4 made by Eli Haverstick 1834."
Provenance
Descent in Bachman family to donor. Two nearly identical birth certificates are known, for older sister Anne, b. 1823 (private owner-Barbara Ann Mable) and younger brother John, b. 1832 (G.96.9.1). Similarity suggests all were made at the same time in 1834.
Bachman family genealogy in file. See info on Christian Bachman in Mennonite Arts, 2002, pp. 56-57.
Conserved by Susan Duhl in 2001. Generally worn and discolored. Repair to edge tears & corner loss. Abrasions & paper fill in top right corner were in-painted with watercolor. Tape at back of top edge is now removed w/ remaining stain. See report in file.
Object ID
G.00.23.1
Notes
Haverstick is believed to be a teacher due to being absent on tax rolls for Conestoga Twp.
Christian Bachman (1827-1901) became a prominent cabinetmaker in eastern Lancaster County, just like his father Jacob Bachman (1798-1867). He married Barbara Buckwalter in 1855. After marriage, he moved to Strasburg where he set up his own shop.
Place of Origin
Conestoga Twp.
Role
Artist
Credit
In memory of Charles Bachman, grandson of Christian Bachman, by his son Charles Bachman, Jr. and family.
Framed vorschrift on laid paper with German text penned on both sides with dark iron gall ink. Paper is folded with two strong creases, creating four quarters of the sheet. Half of "front" side contains illuminated vorschrift with four letter styles.
Top line in very large, ornate letters reads, "Wohl dem der..." Initial letter "W" is oversize and decorated with scrolling acanthus leaves. Arching over this line is a horizontal vine with flowers and pomegranate. The religious text in script ends with what appears to be Psalm 112. It ends with a final line in fraktur lettering reading, "Heinrich Miller, in Canastogen Townschip, Anno 1782."
One quarter of same side states, "Vorschrift Vor Heinrich Miller, in Canastogen Townschip, den 5ten Martz, Anno 1782."
Reverse side has a text in German script framed with a lined border. It has ten lines including numbers and alphabet, and it ends with the same line as above, "Heinrich Miller, in Canastogen Townschip, 1782."
Fraktur scholar David Johnson identified this artist as Friedrich Hartman, likely a schoolmaster. Hartman is found on no records but the 1790 Census, in Conestoga Twp., suggesting that he owned no property. Other Hartman pieces were found in the 1986 Fraktur Harvest (see this file).
This vorschrift relates closely to work done in northern Lancaster County near Ephrata Cloister although the artist is not known to have had connections in that community.
Provenance
HC purchased at Scott's sale through Christie's for $1265.00, Jun 11, 1994. This piece was likely collected by Scott in his usual manner, purchase at sale in Lancaster Co. or region.
Mounted in frame folded in half: H: 8.25" W: 13.125"
Frame is H: 16.25 W: 19.25"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2016-10-24
Condition Notes
Overall soil with many stains. Edges are ragged, a 2-inch-long sections is cut from one corner. There is breaking at creases and losses where heavily inked. Paper loss where crease coincides with lettering as well as tulip-shaped flower.
Matted and framed by Carlisle conservator Brian Howard in 1996.
Object ID
P.94.13.3
Notes
This fraktur is recorded in the Winterthur Library: Decorative Arts Photographic Collection, NEH 475, 17-19 (per Christie's)
Pictured on p.15, of Fraktur: Folk Art & Family by Corinne & Russell Earnest.
Birth Record in German for Nancy Haberstich is hand executed on laid paper. The folksy design is a central heart with rope-like edging. Within is written Nancy Haberst / ich Ist Gebohren den 22 den / October 1799 Conostogo / Town Ship." Letter colors vary from black to red to yellow. Below text is a running stag and a nearby tree. Resting atop the heart is a large crown with red, yellow and green bands. Painted into the yellow band is "AM US 1812", perhaps indicating an artist w/ date of execution. Flanking crown are two angels with black wings, additional red wings on footheels and a snake-like object encircling their loins. Each angel extends a leafy branch toward the crown as in homage. Large red tulips with black leaves fill sides of fraktur, sheltering a pair of confronting birds standing at bottom.
Mounted in a modern brown natural wood frame with white window mat. Kraft paper dust paper on back has "#3" written in lower right corner. Inscribed at top left in pencil is "Anna ? " Inscribed in pencil on back is "#3".
Paper has light acid burn overall with several darker brown stains such as one above right tulip.overall yellowed from age and acid burn. Strong fold lines, especially the three vertical ones at center. Cellophane tape mends tears in fold lines at center and left. Fold lines are breaking and one is separated and curling. Several scattered brown stains. Paper losses, particularly at right top corner, some at top left corner and top center. Small holes at various points and tears extend into paper from edges. Bottom edge particularly damaged. Strong losses and breaks especially at bottom center and at left.
Object ID
2017.999.7
Notes
Appraisal conducted by Pastor Fred Weiser, Sept. 2, 1988.
Birth and baptismal certificate imprinted 1788 at Ephrata Cloister printshop; infill and fanciful hand-decorated borders by Arnold Hoevelmann. Watercolor decoration includes various fantastical flowers on arching vines emanating from huge pumpkin-like flower at the top, with vines arching down to each side ending in large tulips. Additional flowers below. Hunter is in colonial dress with large black hat, firing his rifle at a stag on the far left side. Strongly colored with mostly red, blue, purple, and yellow. Hoevelmann consistently used a flower motif decorated with what some believe to be a capital letter "H" (his monogram). This fraktur is a rare example of human figures being depicted.
Ephrata Cloister 1788 imprint; artwork by Arnold Hoevelmann (1749-1804)
Certificate done for Jacob Stuart, born December 29, 1784. son of Jacob Stuart and wife Maria Catharina (no maiden name). It appears he was born in "Mauntschey" (Mt. Joy) Twp. Pastor Wilhelm Hendel baptized the child but no date is included. Hoevelmann wrote "Witnesses" at the end, but no names. Later ink inscription added at lower right appears to be subject's age (69) at time of death, 2nd Jan. 1854." Pencil calculation of age at top, to left of large orange flower.
Provenance
Ex-Unger collection, Pottsville.
In 1974, Richard F. and Joane Smith entrusted this BBC to the Lancaster County Historical Society with the understanding that it would become part of the Heritage Center collection when established.
Fragile, with overall buckling and pronounced wringling across surface. Areas of foxing.
Conserved by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts 1988-89: cleaned, removed paper backing, mended and matted for original frame (report in file). Remounted and framed by Carlisle conservator Brian Howard in 1996.
Object ID
G.77.50.9
Notes
Family tradition says Hoevelmann was born in Prussia in 1749, came to America along with LaFayette and served as a surgeon during the American Revolution. It is likely he and his wife Eva Susanna lived in Lancaster Co. since two sons were baptized at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (1780 and 1793). He worked in many PA counties, including Washington Co. in MD, and is believed to be buried at Frieden's Church near Shiremanstown, Cumberland Co. Based on the many known B&BC's by Hoevelmann, it appears he used printed forms early in his career and completely hand-done certificates later in life.
Allthough born in Lancaster Co., Jacob Stuart appears to have lived in Lebanon County during much of his adult life. He and his family attended Trinity Tulpehocken Reformed Church, Jackson Twp., Lebanon Co. was where he was married, 31 Dec 1805 and appears to have had at least 7 children according to church records of 1800-1856. Jacob "Stewart", his wife Elizabeth and two daughters (Henrietta & Clementine) are buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Myerstown, Lebanon Co. The 1850 Census shows Jacob "Stewert", Elizabeth and Clementine living in Marion Twp, Berks Co. (Marion Twp. borders Jackson Twp., Lebanon Co.)
See:
1. Shelley, Donald A., The Fraktur-Writings or Illuminated Manuscripts of the Pa Germans, Pa. German Folklore Society, 1961, plate #84.
2. Earnest Associates, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp. 399-401.
3. Kline and Weiser, "A Fraktur Fest" in Der Regebogge, Sept-Dec., 1970, Vol. 4, pp. 3-5.
4. Stopp, Klaus, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans, Vol. II, pp. 150-151. (This example is numbered 246.3 by Stopp)
5. Photo on p. 120 of Corinne & Russell Earnests' Fraktur: Folk Art & Family, 1999.
Heritage Center slide collection #27-2-5 (now in Photo Collection)
Place of Origin
Ephrata
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Fraktur is a simple hand done birth record in German for Adam Kindig and Anna Kindig. Page is likely removed from a Bible. Adam was born 17 Sept 1794 in Conestoga Twp. and Anna was born 22 Oct 1799 in Conestoga Twp. Layout of Fraktur lettering with serifs is simple and straightforward but not with an accomplished hand. Letter colors vary from red to ochre to green. No additional decoration except for curlicue lines surrounding the upper case "A" of both Adam and Anna.
Mounted in a brown modern frame with white window mat. Kraft paper dustcover on back. A "#10" is written small in pencil at lower right corner.
Paper has foxing, brown stains and fly specks (bottom right). Two horizontal fold lines across middle; the one with the greater crease shows breaking and some holes at several points.
Object ID
2017.999.6
Notes
See Mylin Family Genealogy 929.M513 in library.
Adam is the son of Christian Kendig and Barbara Mylin. Anne is the daughter of Michael Haverstick and Eve Bender. Adam Kendig married 1) Anne Haverstick and 2) Mary Helm. Six children by Anne, nine children by Mary Helm. Anne H. Kendig was b. 22 Oct 1799 and d. 17 Jan 1833. Likely buried in Reformed Church, Conestoga Centre or Rush Farm, New Danville.
Adam and Anna's daughter Mary Amanda Kindig was born 1821 and baptised 1837 by Pastor Martin Bruner of the Reformed Church in Lancaster City. Her Taufschein in English is done free hand by Eli Haverstick and is signed on reverse "E Haverstick / No. 11" This document is in the collections of the Evangelical & Reformed Historical Society. Eli Haverstick was likely a relative of the family and was almost certainly a schoolmaster. (See similar examples done for brothers John and Christian Bachman in the Heritage Center Collections).
Appraisal conducted by Pastor Fred Weiser, Sept. 2, 1988. A slide transparency is in file.
Haus segen (House Blessing) printed by John Bauman and mounted in an old walnut veneered frame with flat face and projecting edge. Three heart design has very large heart dominating design, its outline printed with a "snowflake" type motif. Within, at top, in large letters is the title "Haus-Segen." followed by a short line break composed of "S * T"s in alternating pattern. Then 7 lines of text begin "IR GOTTES Namen geh ich aus, Ach HERR! regier du heut das haus: / Die Hausfrau und die kinder mein, Lasz dir, O GOTT! besohlen seyn." Text block followed by a short row of circular motifs. At very bottom of heart is "EPHRATA: / gedruckt, und zu ha- / ben bey JOHN BAUMAN. / 1801" Woodcut designs printed in red ink fill space outside of heart. At top is a tulip & carnation plant, parrots at both upper corners perched on flowering branches, and along very bottom are two hearts flanked with birds; flowering plant rising from top of hearts. Inside hearts is religious text printed in black. Tiny donor inscription in blue ink at edge of bottom center is "Presented to the Lancaster County Historical Society / by Albert K. Hostetter, -- February 2 - 1906." This info repeated at top of frame back in inked hand.
Pasted onto very acidic paperboard. (Fred Weiser notes "Should be removed from board even if it costs what the piece is worth as it will only fox and deteriorate more). Darkened from acid burn and small scattered brown stains & foxing. Ink has faded. Liquid stains along right side as well as paper losses due to insect damage. Tape apparently used along edge of right side. Significant tears especially along top and left edge. Finish on frame is good but dark, with some cracking of veneer at bottom left. Abrasions.
Object ID
1906.01.1
Notes
Klaus Stopp, The Printed B & BCs of the German Americans, Vol. II, p. 98 ff. Pages 194 and 197 depict two imprints of B&BCs similar to this Haus Segen, except of course for the text. This 1801 imprint of a Haus Segen is one of Bauman's earliest products. Stopp states He started printing "relatively late, at the age of 35 years, in his business as a printer, after he worked with his father as a papermaker in the Ephrata paper mill. He printed from 1800 to 1809, the year of his death."
Lee Stoltzfus of "Black Arts" website states: "John and his wife were married Cloister members. John purchased the Ephrata Cloister printing press in 1800, and moved it to his nearby Ephrata home. He previously had worked as a papermaker with his father Benjamin."
On accession record in file, curator Randall Snyder noted in May 1989: "Recorded in the minutes of the Lancaster County Historical Society, February 2nd, 1906, Vol. 10 No. 2, page 56. Also recorded in the "Catalog" kept by Librarian, S.M. Sener from 1896-1908, #1863.
See Fraktur Worksheet #31" for 1988 appraisal by Pastor Fred Weiser.
