Framed fraktur birth & baptismal certificate (taufschein/B&BC) for Elisabetha Elser, drawn, lettered and colored by hand on laid paper. Symmetrical, horizontal design is attributed to the "Ehre Vater" artist. Fraktur is mounted on thick paperboard with beveled edges, and is float-mounted on a buff-colored matboard within a modern black frame.
At center is a large circle painted red and green. Inside the circle, set onto yellow ground, is a heart with blue border and pinkish interior. Interior text states Elisabetha Elser was born in Warwick Twp, Lancaster Co. on 19th Nov 1803. Her parents were Peter Elser and wife Elisabetha, born a Wachter. Baptism was held by Pastor Schulz and the sponsors were Georg Wachter and his wife Margaretha (believed to be a sister of Peter Elser). Below circle are two lines of religious verse, translated by Weiser as "A heart that loves Jesus knows no worries -- much cross, need and pain are his days of joy."
At lower right and lower left are two large compass-drawn spheres colored with green, yellow, red, blue and pink. Out of each sphere is a flowering plant on which large parrot-like birds perch, similarly colored.
Attributed to the "Ehre Vater Artist" (active c. 1782-1828).
Some surface soil. Good color retention. Needs to be removed from backing board and conserved.
Object ID
2017.999.1
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. He attributes fraktur to the Ehre Vater artist, a prolific artist who travelled far and wide producing fraktur for many years. This fraktur likely related to Johannes Schnierer B&BC, 2004.718, due to Johannes Schnierer (b. 1786) later marrying an Elser (Catharine).
Papers for Birth Dayes notes on page 227 that this fraktur was exhibited as #38 in the , Allentown Art Museum show in Allentown, PA, "Pennsylvania Folk Art," October 20-Dec. 1, 1974.
The Elser, Weidman/Weydmann, and Wachter families were intermarried.
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.
Birth & Baptismal Certificate (B&BC) is a printed angel type fraktur on wove paper. Mounted in modern silver frame by The Country Framer of West Chester.
Putto on blue-colored cloud at top; standing angels with paint-decorated clothing stand on blue clouds at sides of center text. Birds on branches at bottom corners. A small block of German verse within border is at each top corner. A large bordered text block at center extends to bottom, entitled "Geburts-und Tauf-schein". Text in upper half has subject's infill done with accomplished hand. At center of text block is a rarely used pair of billing birds. Four stanzas of verse within bottom section have tailpiece of cornucopia & wheat between. Under a line border at bottom is "Reading: / Gedruckt bey Johann Ritter und Comp. / im jahr 1812." Ritter's imprints were never dated except for 1811 & 1812.
Infill gives birth of Elisabeth Lang (Long) born in Rapho Twp. to Johann Lang and wife Margaretha, nee Lindemuth(in). Baptised July 2, 1815 by Pastor Baethis; sponsor was Elisabeth Bartruff.
Reading imprint, Johann Ritter; scrivener and artist unknown, perhaps Lancaster County.
Fraktur is apparently a religious text with multiple flourishes along top and a wide margin at left filled with a large stylized tulip on a thin stem with other flowers and leaves densely filling space. Penwork is black iron gall ink on laid paper. The paper seems to be small pages from a book, pasted together to created a larger sheet. Reverse has strips of paper pasted onto seams (some replaced with later cellophane tape) from a book.
Top line of text is large fraktur lettering "Mein Gott ich Klopff(?) an(?)", with initial "M" enlarged and decorated. Seven lines of script follow, with a line of upper and lower case letters below. Across bottom is "My Child y wil you learned a Was of the bast you must butt (put) your trust of God at last" Final line is tiny script and in the center of this line is written in red ink "Hinerich Sleo(?)". With the alphabet, this piece is like a Vorschrift.
Appears to be 4 small pages pieced together to create a large one. Paper strips pasted on back at seams and some cellophane tape. Multiple problems. Paper overall is age darkened with multiple small brown stains, some large blotches. Holes in iron gall ink, esp. the large tulip. Some paper seams are breaking with with one hole just above center. Edges ragged, torn and folded back. 1' x 2" loss of top left corner; 1" x 3/4" loss of top right corner, and similar loss at bottom left corner. Paper hinged onto matboard with ivory window mat.
Watercolored drawing on wove paper. Symmetrical design has a heart at bottom center with religious text. It reads: "Gottes brune/lein hat wasser / die Fulle Amen." (God's little well has an abundance of water). Growing out of the heart is a tall flowered stem extending to top of page. Top flower is a large tulip of yellow, red and blue. Large, confronting birds perch on small side branches terminating with small tulips. Birds have yellow bodies, blue wings and head, with red beaks and neck ring. Red and yellow carnations on side branching stems below. Heart is flanked at bottom by two birds with blue bodies, yellow wings and red heads. Mounted in an off-white window mat with two paper hinges at top. This is drawn by the same artist as 2017.999.18 and executed at the same time. Colors are the same.
Overall light brown age darkening. Several small brown stains; worst one is under top left bird. Very light creases/buckling across surface. Right edge is wavy. Upper left corner has crease where folded back.
Object ID
2017.999.17
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. Marked fraktur #28 during this event.
Family record written on both sides of a detached page from a Bible. First side has a foliate perimeter border w/ three flowers along top. Additional flowers decorate inside corners. Large oval contains family info, but only the first 1/3 of the page is written in Fraktur style lettering (father, mother, marriage and one daughter). Attrib. to John Eberman who has drawn lines as guides for his scrivening. At top is Johannes Kredi, born 24 Dec 1794, his wife Magdalena, born 16 Jan 1797 and their marriage 20 Feb 1823. Following is daughter Veronica, b. 1824 (later called Fanny).
Additional entries in plain German handwriting. First entry lists both John, born 1826 and death of mother the same year; certainly caused by childbirth. Below a line border entry records John and new wife "Margred" b. 1807, married 11 Oct 1827. Below a line border is birth of Jacob, 1828.
Second side has 4 entries within the bleed-through of the large oval, each separated with a border filled with "X"es and each line hand-ruled. First is Henry, b. 1830; second is "Davit" b. 1834; third is "Benjemin" b. 1836 and fourth is Elizabeth b. 1839.
Yellowed paper has fooxing and fairly dark stains throughout, esp. heavy along bottom border. Vertical and horizontal fold lines are fragile with some breaking at page edges.
Object ID
2017.999.21
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. Marked fraktur #34 during this event.
Johannes died 31 March 1851. One year before his death, family is listed in 1850 Census in Manor Township:
Printed angel form B & BC for unknown daughter born 4 June1823 in Lancaster County. Infill is in German script. Father appears to be Abraham --racht? and mother is Catharina, nee ??. Baptism information not infilled, except for daughter's name.
A variant of the standing angel form has angels flanking center text block titled "Geburts- und Taufschein". Scene at top is Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. At bottom is a domed temple and perching birds are at bottom corners. Five smaller bordered boxes contain religious verse. Bottom-most box has "Reading, / Gedrckt (sic) und zu haben bey / Heinrich B. Sage." Color decorated throughout.
Light soil, small stains and strong foxing. Fold lines breaking, esp. vertical fold, which also has some holes. Three half-circle chunks of paper have been torn out at left edge and two are at right edge. All mended by cellophane tape. All edges ragged and dark brown. Inserted into mylar sleeve.
Object ID
2017.999.26
Notes
Not found in the list of the Fraktur Collection appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, Sept. 1988.
This imprint by Heinrich Sage of Reading is a variant of the angel form numbered 739.1 or 740 in Klaus Stopp's "The Printed BBCs of the German Americans", vol. IV, page 265. Note the word Gedruckt (printed) is misspelled, missing the "u".
Hand-done B&BC on wove paper is torn and pieces attached to a larger, light brown paper with 5 straight pins. Tall columns with molded caps on top, in turn with round balls on top. Table-saw-like motif at top center is a circle divided in quarters of red and yellow, with a fringe of small slanting leaves.At bottom is a flowering plant. This decoration resembles that of Samuel Bentz.
Text block filling center is hand-printed German in black ink, copying the form of a printed B&BC with spaces for someone to infill later. Title at top is in red: "Geburts und Tauf Schein." and next line is in blue: "Diesen beyden Ehegatten als." Curlicues trail off the tops of the "ascenders" of letters in the first several lines. Blanks of this form infilled with very faded red scrawled script. A daughter was born 22 Dec? 1823. Names and places uncertain.
Paper onto which fraktur is mounted is H: 13 W: 11
Condition
Poor
Condition Date
2017-10-03
Condition Notes
Paper is pliable but soiled with blotches of brown staining, some very large. Colors faded. Much of fraktur is missing, esp. upper left and lower left. Large section of upper right corner torn off and pinned in place next to main section. Both fraktur and esp. paper onto which it is mounted are irregularly cut with many wrinkles, folds and tears.
Printed B&BC, standing angel type, done for William --- Hammer, born 11 Jan 1827 in Orwiksburg(sic), Schukllyr(sic) Co. Pa., son of Joseph Hammer and wife Phillipina, nee Huntzinger. Baptized by Thomas Bock in 1827; sponsors were Jacob & Susanna Huntzinger.
Multicolor fraktur pasted onto heavy brown paper w/ edges folded around to front and pasted onto fraktur edges.
Printed in Reading; Likely infilled in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County. Printer: Heinrich B. Sage; Infill: unknown
Heavy stains, broken vertical center fold line, pasted onto heavy brown paper with edges brought around to front and pasted onto edges of fraktur. Heavy paste along vertical fold line.
Printed angel-type birth and baptism certificate infilled for Sara Kupper, born Jan. 1822 in Mifflin Twp., Dauphin Co. Parents were Johannes Kupper and wife Maria, born a Miller. Sara was baptized 12 May 1822 by Rev. Schart and parents were sponsors.
Fraktur has outside border of medallions with scrolls. Standing angels flank central text block with infill; eagle at top center; flowers and baskets of flowers bottom center, flanked by two perching birds at each side. Angels are painted a dense red, birds are both red and blue. Flowers are red, blue and yellow. Medallions in outside border alternate between red and yellow.
Imprint at bottom center is "Reading / Gedruckt und zu haben / bey / Carl A. Bruckman." It was printed c. 1820-1822 (see Notes). Unknown scrivener and decorator. Infill done in small German script. Watercolored with red, yellow and blue on angels, putto and birds with red spiky crests on heads.
This laid paper has a watermark of "AH" immediately followed by a slightly smaller "AHN". This is the watermark for John Adam Heilman who erected the 1st paper mill in Lebanon Co, on Cattail Run near Swatara, PA. (see American Watermarks 1690-1835, p. 270)
Printed Reading by Carl A. Bruckman; Infilled likely in Dauphin County by unknown.
Some light soil, age yellowing and light foxing. Edges have attractive "torn" look. A 1" tear at bottom center has cellophane tape mend creating some staining.Tiny hole at top right corner, within the small text block. Also an irregular break under elbow of putto Small inked "C" at top near left corner. Small nicks and losses around edges with some folded over paper.
Object ID
2004.749
Notes
Apopraised by Rev. Fred Weiser 2 Sept 1988. Assigned #49.
See other Kupper family B&BCs in collection -- fraktur # 7 & 9
2003.076 Johannes
2004.752 Allen
2017.999.11 Johann Adam Kupper 1788
Printer Carl Augustus Bruckman printed this BBC form with some small yet distinct printing variations. Klaus Stopp in The B&BC of the German Americans lists this BBC for Sara on page 286, variation #759. Stopp dates the imprint c. 1820-1822.
Watermark identified American Watermarks 1690-1835, p. 270, the Lebanon Co. paper mill of John Adam Heilman.
Printed B&BC form in German is infilled for Johan Andreas Bausmann, born and baptized 18 Dec 1806 in Lancaster. Parents were Johannes Bausmann and wife Elisabeth, nee Peter. Pastor was Rev. Hoffmyer.
On wove paper is a variation of the Angel form. Text block at center has infill done in black cursive. Eagle above at top center, putti in upper corners, forward-facing angels holding nothing in their hands, and a flying bird in each bottom corner. Within a decorative oval medallion at bottom center is "Hannover, / gedruckt by / Dan. Phil. / Lange. / 1818."
There is a "J K" watermark visible from reverse side, under eagle. Klaus Stopp notes this on p. 244 of his book, Vol. 2 (See Notes). "J K" is the watermark of Jacob Keller who had a paper mill 4 miles from Reading, Berks Co. Mouldmaker Nathan Sellers sold Keller moulds watermarked "J K" beginning on 2 Aug 1811. The last order for "J K" moulds from Sellers by Jacob Keller, was on 5 May, 1817.
Paper made near Reading by Jacob Keller; Printed in Hanover by Daniel Philip Lange; Infilled in Lancaster County.
Some darkening from age, light stains, esp. near edges with some sprinkled staining elsewhere, including light foxing. Visible ghost image of this imprint, upside down, apparently created during printing process.Some tattered edges with folds, esp. upper right corner. Wrinkling across surface, esp. along entire top where paper hinge? was/is pasted.
Object ID
2004.736
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser 2 Sept 1988. Assigned #46. This relates to the Martin Haug certificate 2004.746.
See American Watermarks 1690-1835 by Gravell, Miller & Walsh, pp. 121, 278.
See The Printed B&BCs of the German Americans by Klaus Stopp, Vol. 2, p. 244.
Printed angel form B&BC in German is infilled for Elisabeth Bosemeyer born 14 Aug 1798 in Elizabethtown, under the sign of Capricorn, and baptized 8 Sept 1798 by Emanual Schultz. Sponsors were Willhelm Schreimer & wife Elizabeth. Parents were David Bosemeyer and wife Magdalena nee Conrad.
Text block at center has infill in strong German script. A tailpiece of an upside down lyre & horn separates infilled text block with 4 lower stanzas. Another tailpiece of wheat and cornucopia is in the middle of the 4 lower stanzas. Design of fraktur has the conventional placement of flanking angels, putto at top center and 2 perching birds in each bottom corner. At very bottom of text block space is imprint: "Reading, / Gedruckt und zu haben bey / Johann Ritter und Comp." Ritter printed this edition c. 1821 (see Notes).
Infill by unknown scrivener, likely in Elizabeth Twp.; Printed in Reading.
Some light stains/soil at top half of right side and some at lower left corner. Dark brown residue from tape at each corner and along both top and bottom edges. Ragged edges w/ small tear & fold at upper left corner, 3/4" tear at right side near angel wing. A small thin/narrow hole near left edge at angel wing. Overall wrinkled with some buckling around edges.
Object ID
2004.738
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. Assigned #38. This B&BC is related to both 2004.739 and 2004.242, having the same surname.
See The Printed B&BCs of the German Americans by Klaus Stopp, Vol. 4, p. 182 (#668.1). This Bosemeyer fraktur is listed here is #668.1.. Stopp notes this is the 1st edition w/ a new frame of the imprint and the vertical sides narrow down at their lower ends. This edition also has a tailpiece picturing an upside down lyre. Also, the adjacent stanzas have curving lines of type.
Search for this family surname in later years indicates only variations of the Bofenmeyer name, not Bosenmeyer.
Printed 3-heart form B&BC in German, on laid paper, is infilled with red ink for Anna Bofenmeyer/Bosenmeyer, born 29 May 1805 in Warwick Twp. and baptized by Emanuel Schultz. Sponsors were Peter and Anna Miller. Parents were David Bofenmeyer/Bosenmeyer and wife Magdalena nee Conrad. This main text within large central heart has title "Tauf = Schein". Below main text is added: "Ich bin confermiert und das erste was zum Abendmahl gegangen." (I was confirmed and went to Holy Communion for the first time 26 May 1821). Below this text is a tailpiece of birds with spreading wings and below this is the imprint "EPHRATA: Gedruckt bey / Samuel Baumann." Two small hearts flank tip of large heart, with religious verse. Borders printed with 3 large sprays of flowers at top. Center of sides is rose blossom at left and 2 billing birds at right. At lower corners are birds perching on branch growing out of the small hearts. Running stagsat very bottom corners and two large leaves at bottom center. Strong, dark-printed border line at bottom supports stags and 2 leaves.
Klaus Stopp writes in B&BCs of the German Americans, on p. 216 of Vol. 2, that this paper carries a watermark of "B & JB" and a flying bird indicating Benjamin and Joseph B, sons of papermaker Christian Baumann (1755-1815). Clarence Spohn has evidence that these 2 sons rented the Ephrara papermill from 1816-1819. Since Samuel Baumann sold his business in 1816, this printed edition had to have been made in this year. Stopp numbers this B&BC edition #276 (p. 216) and lists among the examples, this Bofenmeyer fraktur.
Infill in Warwick Twp., unknown; Printed in Ephrata by Samuel Baumann.
Large, heavy liquid stains over most of surface. Fold lines are breaking or broken with holes and tears in numerous places, esp. the left half. Very ragged and folded over edges. Paper has high rag content and is very pliable.
Object ID
2004.742
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. This fraktur designated #42.
This B&BC is related to 2004.738 and 2004.739 due to common surname.
Hand-done Birth and Baptisimal Certificate, on tan paper with cursive English, for William Coleman by Henry Keim. Design inspired by the printed angel-type fraktur, although this one is horizontally oriented. Main text at center within a rectangular line border. There is also very faded text above and below box, apparently religious. Text is flanked by two confronting angels with lyres standing on polka dot clouds. Strong-jawed angels with black cap-like hair have yellow skirts and wings and black vest. Also taken directly from the angel B&BCs, are the two birds perched on flowering stems in each lower corner. Entire fraktur is edged with a striped border. Colors used are yellow, green, blue teal, black, brown and cream.
The main central text reads: "Certificate of birth and babtism(sic)/ William a son of George Coleman/ Catherine Lowry was born on the 20th/ day of March in the year of/ our Lord 1820 in the/ Township of Elizabeth in the/ the County of Lancaster in the/ state of Pennsylvania in north/ America; and was babtised(sic)/ in the year of our Lord 1820/ by the Revd Mr Shaffner/ of Marietta". Signed "Henry, Keim" at lower corner within squiggled box.
See NOTES.
Lancaster County, perhaps Marietta or Elizabeth Twp.
Fading in text. Pronounced breakage & small holes through vertical fold line at center has been mended (see reverse). Darkened in this area from top to bottom. Short breaks also mended, eg. between bottom edge and breast of left bird. Wrinkles throughout. Paper darkened overall due to soiling and acid or light damage. Liquid staining. Blotchy stains particulary in left half.
Frame: Moderate wear with scratches and chips. Removed from frame due to acidic mount. Remains mounted on tan matboard with hinges at top corners.
Object ID
P.00.19.1
Notes
See copy in file of Pastoral Records 1808-1835 of Henry B. Shaffner, Reformed Pastor, p. 100. Listed under Baptisms of Manheim is son William Coleman, whose birth is recorded as 29 March 1820 & baptism on 4 June. The witness/sponsor was "Gorg Long w Fr (Frau?)." Most significantly, in the column listing parents, Shaffner writes "Gorg Coleman with / his housekeeper". In other words, Wm. Coleman was an illigitimate child, born to unwed parents, likely creating a scandal in this important, wealthy Coleman family. The grandparents were ironmaster Robert Coleman and his wife Anne Coleman.
George Coleman (1790-1821) only lived to age 31 and is buried in Brickerville United Lutheran Cemetery. Note that the Find A Grave record for George Coleman also lists a son William (1820-1890), buried in Mt. Lebanon cemetery. 1860 census for Lebanon, PA lists William married to Maria McCloud, working as a shoemaker and having 6 children, the oldest of whom was named George Coleman, apparently after his father.
The scrivener/artist, Henry Keim, may possibly lived at one time in Chester County. See letter in file.
Bound German New Testament with fraktur bookplate pasted inside front cover. The NT has a reddish-brown leather cover with two small leather and metal clasps attached to back cover.
Bookplate fills entire page of inside front cover, albeit sideways. Infill attributed to Cocalico Twp schoolmaster & fraktur artist/scrivener Samuel Bentz, it reads "Margaret Weidman/ her/ Testament." These words are intertwined with red and green vining tulips growing from a red base across the bottom.
The name "Andrew Weidman" is written on the last page of the NT.
Attributed to Samuel Bentz (2-26-1792 to 3-21-1850, active c. 1810-1848).
Provenance
The donors acquired this NT with bookplate at a farm sale in Cocalico Township, along with G.77.50.8 (Weydman fraktur). Given to LCHS with the understanding that it would become part of the Heritage Center Collection.
Bookplate has several tears around the edges and brown marks around the black and red areas of the design. The lettering has bled through the first two pages of the book.
A condition assessment and proposal for storage was made by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia in 1986.
Numerous scratches and marks on the NT cover; significant crackling on the spine. The metal latches are rusted where they connect to the leather.
Object ID
G.77.50.5
Notes
See G.77.50.8 for Birth Certificate of brother Jacob Weydmann, born 1762.
See also Paul Flack Sale of Oct 2012 by Pook & Pook for Birth Certificate of sister Catharina, born 1768.
See Bentz entry in Papers for Birth Dayes, p. 90.
Place of Origin
Cocalico Twp.
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Fraktur birth certificate for Lydia Glasz / Glass, daughter of Leonard Glass and wife Christina, nee German. Hand drawn and colored on paper. Unusual confronting women with yellow dresses and red parasols flank central textblock within border. Tree of life above textblock; undulating plant w/ flowers sit on shelf at sides. Triple-line outside border.
German text translates to "Lydia Glasz daughter of Leonard Glasz and his wife Christina a born German. Was born 25th day of Jan. in the year of our Lord 1811.
Some buckling of paper overall. Some bleeding of ink, causing brown marks around letters; also in entire upper left corner. Small 1.4" brown streak below the word "Christina" in center panel.
Condition report of 1986 by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Phila. in file. No documented treatment. Matted and framed in 1996 by conservator Brian Howard.
Object ID
P.77.12
Notes
Similar to designs of Plate #61 in Weiser & Heaney, Penna. German Fraktur of The Free Library of Phila., v.1.
Research: Ancestry.com gives the marriage of fraktur recipient Lydia Glass to John Kempfer on 20 Nov. 1828 in Ephrata at the Bethany United Church of Christ. Husband John was born 19 Feb. 1809, died 4 April 1865. Lydia died 24 June 1853. Their daughter Elizabeth Kempfer (1836-1909) married David Rudy Buch (1834-1925) and lived in Lititz.
Ancestry also gives the 1810 Census in Earl, Lancaster Co. that lists Leonard Glase with 4 household members under 16 yrs., 1 at 16-25 yrs., and 2 over 25 yrs. Total of seven in home. Lydia was born the following year in 1811.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Fraktur presentation piece on wove paper, horizontal orientation. Green and brown designs and lettering. Has a foliate border w/ flowers at top center and corners. Large heart dominates design with 5 lines of religious text, and signed at the bottom stating fraktur was made for Anna Funck on 15 Dec 1824 by J. Eberman, schoolmaster. Acanthus like leaves surround heart with several flowers. Five baskets with flowers complete design.
Text: "Jesus ist der schonste nam / Aller, die von himmel kommen, / Huldereich, prachtig, tugendsam, den Gott / Selber angenommen, seiner grossen / lieblichkeit, gleicht kein name weit und breit. / Gemacht von Anna Funck, den 15ten December 1824. J. Eberman / Schul Meister".
Translation: "Jesus is the most beautiful name of all who which came from heaven full of protection, glittering, virtuous, whom God himself, except; His great loveliness is equalled by no name far and wide. Made for Anna Funck 15 December, 1824 (J. Eberman, Schoolmaster)"
Very light age coloring. Two large brown stains / burns at lower left corner. Smaller stains elsewhere. Dog-eared corners. Mounted in a white window mat hinged at top.
Birth & baptismal certificate on laid paper. Printed form with central textblock in German within a multiple line border. Infilled and decorated around textblock by Speyer; cross-legged angel at top, pelicans feeding young at sides and flowers at sides and bottom. Watercolors are red, blue, yellow, green and brown.
Infilled for Johannes, son of Valiendein (Valentine) and Eliesabetha (Elisabetha) Bohmer of Brecknock Township in Lancaster Co., born Dec. 13, 1788.
Georg Friederich Speyer (active 1774-1801) used this printed form produced c. 1789 by Barton & Johnson of Reading. See Notes.
General wear with numerous creases and wrinkles; one pronounced vertical centerline crease. Repaired tears, esp at left edge. All edges are ragged and uneven, esp. at right.
Conserved by CCAHA in 1989 (see report in file). Hinged into window mat & back mat. Relaced in its original frame using UF-3 Plexiglas and acid-free cardboard on reverse with a taped mylar dust shield.
Object ID
G.77.50.1
Notes
Printed form by Reading printers Thomas Barton and Benjamin Johnson, circa 1789 (see Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the Pa. Germans, v. 4, p. 84). Speyer used this printed form for Johannes Bohmer who was born the previous year in1788.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Birth & Baptismal Certificate for Maria "Temi" (Demmy) printed in German language by "Johann Ritter und Comp." of Reading. Darkened golden oak frame.
Central text within boilerplate border; a putto above, angels standing on clouds at top sides and birds on branches at lower sides. Text infilled by unknown hand states Maria was born Oct. 26, 1806 in Manheim Twp. to Christoph Temi and his wife Catarina, nee Etienne. Maria was baptized May 10, 1807 by Rev. August Miehlenberg and the witnesses were Mathis Wolff and his wife Maria. Infill in printed fraktur hand includes interesting line extensions drawn to fill in gaps
Heavily watercolored with dense reds, blue and green on all images and borders. This version of Ritter's print is one of many variations printed in the early 1820s (see Klaus Stopp, pp. 182-186).
Inscribed "Mary" twice at top of reverse side; once in pencil and once in brown ink with decorative scrolling line surrounding name.
Note: See hand towel (P.04.26.1) done by "Maria Macdallna Damy" in 1836 (Younger sister of Maria). Another nearly identical towel (Plate 14 in This is the Way I Pass My Time) was done by sister Elizabeth Damy in the same year. Both sisters married the following year in 1837, Maria to Henry Fenstermacher, whose initials are on her towel in a central heart. Also included on towel are parents' names "Christopher and Catharine Damy."
Printed by Johann Ritter in Reading, PA; Lancaster County infill by unknown scrivener.
Age darkening & soil overall w/ darkest staining/soiling in upper area. Several small breaks; holes caused by green paint (branch at lower right, upper cornucopia and stalks opposite cornucopia).
Printed taufschein (B&BC) on wove paper by Herman William Villee of North Queen St. in Lancaster, infilled by unknown hand for the Hirsch family and carefully hand-colored. It is one of two German-language editions printed by Villee.
Taufschein has outer border of a stylized floral motif except at bottom which is an entwined, spiraling leaf and flower design. Large text block at center within a border with heading, "Geburts und-Tauf-Schein." Two smaller text blocks at upper corners have religious verse. Two very small blocks with verse are at bottom center. The three Virtues are personified by classically robed females arranged at sides and top of central block. At top is Love holding a heart; at left side is Faith adorned with a cross; at right is Hope leaning on a large anchor. (These 3 images were used by other printers in Reading, Orwigsburg and Pottsville -- see p. 133 in Vol. III of Klaus Stopp). Immediately below central text block is an image of 2 babies reading a book.
At bottom is: "Gedruckt und zu haben bey/ H. W. VILLEE,/ In der Nordlichen Quien Strasse in Lancaster, (Pa.) Allwo alle Arten/ von Dructer Arbeit verfertigt werden." Mounted in a molded softwood frame with an outside bead and slanting face. Painted black with green-painted face.
Certificate made for birth of Anna Hirsch, daughter of Joseph and Magdalena Metz Hirsch, born Dec. 14, 1821 in Rapho Twp. Reverse has two lines of 19th c. script in black ink: "Amey Hersh Died March the 10/ In the year of our Lord 1844."
Printed by Herman William Villee (b. 1789 in France, d. 1842 in Northumberland Co.), North Queen St. Likely the infill by unknown scrivener in Rapho Twp.
Provenance
See this file and P04.48.1(Adam & Eve broadside) for info about Villee. Additional broadside is P01.60.1.
See Klaus Stopp, "The Printed B & BC of the German Americans", Vol. III, pp. 133-134.
Strong horizontal fold line at center with additional creases. Two 1/2 inch tears at top extending downwards. Top edge very ragged and folded back.
Some overall yellowing, small area of foxing at top right, small liquid stains along top. Corrugated cardboard backing replaced with acid-free matboard back within an old molded wood frame, painted green on face and dark brown at sides. Paint has moderate wear.
Object ID
P.04.48.02
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Irene N. Walsh, Heritage Center Collection
