Marriage certificate for Jacob K. Umble and Amanda Esbenshade
Description
Large paper marriage certificate, pockets in rear hold photographs visible through cutouts in front. Lithograph in block ink with gold accents. Jacob K. Umble / Amanda Esbenshade / Lancaster, PA.
Photographs are marked on back, "b. Frank Saylor / 45 West King Street, Lancaster, Pa"
Copyright H. M. Crider, York, PA / Thomas Hunter, Philadelphia, PA, litho.
Color-printed Marriage Certificate on heavy tan paper. Inside border on brown field is an overarching banner with "Jesus Christus along with 3 bible verses. Surround a white field with text are 5 color scenes in circles and ovals along with flowers. Text block has a small angel with putti flanked by "Traus" and "Schein" (Marriage Certificate). Infilled in cursive with black ink. Bridal couple are Joseph W. Houk and Marie A. Schleeger, both of Columbia, married 30 June 1902 in St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbia. Witnesses were Martin Schwarz, Louis Schleeger, Frederick Schleeger and August Witte. It is signed at the bottom "Harrisburg den 5ten Februar 1902 / Eduard H. Paar, / Ev. Luth. Pastor." Below the outside border is "No. 104" at left and "Verlag von Ernst Kaufmann, 330 Pearl Street, New York." at right. Reverse side has "White & gilt / 85" written in pencil.
Printed in New York City by Ernst Kaufmann. Infilled in Columbia or Harrisburg, likely by pastor Eduard H. Paar.
Dark smudges at top center. Brown liquid stains along bottom and upper right corner. Along left edge are two minor creases and one small tear. Reverse shows acid burn from backing board while framed as well as brown soil around all edges. Liquid stains evident particularly in bottom corners. Dark smudges along top.
Object ID
2004.743
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. This certificate designated #43.
Color lithographed Memento Mori on heavy tan paper depicts a scene in a church graveyard. A grieving couple, likely the parents, dressed in early 19th c. black mourning clothes, stand by a church with a large urn-topped tombstone underneath a green weeping willow tree. Gentleman gestures toward the stone with the side printed at top "IN / MEMORY / OF", followed by 2 sets of 4 lines in ink. First is "Henry Augustus was / born Sept, 10th 1829, / Departed this life / August 27th 1833,". Next is "Nathaniel was born / January the 24th 1835 / Died January 25th / Anno Domini 1835". These 2 sons both died an early death. No surname is given.
Printed underneath the border of this scene is "LITH. & PUB. BY N. CURRIER" at left and "2 SPRUCE ST. N. Y." at right. The number "280" is at center. Printed in New York City.
Printer: Nathaniel Currier, Infill by unknown
Provenance
Memento Mori - Remember that you have to die. Printed by Nathaniel Currier, circa 1830s
Artwork designed to remind the viewer of their mortality and of the unpredictable nature and fragility of life. This scene depicts a church graveyard and a grieving couple all in black mourning clothes. The urn on top of the tombstone symbolizes death since urns were often used in Greece and Rome to store cremated remains. The weeping willow, so named because of the way raindrops run down its long leaves causing some to think it looks like the tree is crying, serves to reinforce the emotions of grief and mourning.
The remembrance is particularly somber since it mentions the name of two children - Henry Augustus (1829-1833) and Nathaniel (1833).
Considerable foxing with gray soil darkening the paper at upper corner area but smaller areas extending along both right edge and top edge. Some soil at upper left side. All edges have been hand-cut. Reverse has heavy foxing with streaks of dark brown soil and acid burn from backing. Some ink spots. Stamped "PROPERTY OF / LANCASTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY".
Object ID
2004.744
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. This certificate designated #44.
Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning 'remember you must die'. It is the medieval Latin Christian theory and practice of reflection on mortality, especially as a means of considering the vanity of earthly life and the transient nature of all earthly goods and pursuits.
Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) in 1840 began to move away from job printing and into independent print publishing. He printed this and other versions of this scene in the 1840s.
Letter from the Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. to postmaster at Salisbury dated October 12, 1843. Includes marriage certificate of Samuel Slaymaker and Jane Redsecker.
Photograph of document certifying the marriage of Jacob Ferree and Alice Powel, July 1, 1783. He was from Lancaster County, she was from Chester County. Also oath of allegience sworn by Jacob Ferree of Mifflin Township, Allegheny County on November 14, 1794.
