Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
Encyclopedia
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is a not-for-profit
historical library, archive, and museum located in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
. Its mission is to "protect, preserve and interpret books, manuscripts and artifacts of the Schwenkfelders and the people of southeastern Pennsylvania in general and the Perkiomen Valley in particular."
. In 1890 it was designated the "Schwenkfelder Historical Library." Two years later the collection was moved to the Perkiomen Seminary (now The Perkiomen School
) in Pennsburg, PA. The initial collection was part of an effort to gather the writings of the spiritualist reformer Kaspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig
(1489–1561). The Carnegie library
, on the campus of The Perkiomen School
, was designated to house on the upper floor the growing collection of books, manuscripts, and artifacts related to Schwenkfelder history. In 1947 the Schwenkfelder Library was established as a non-profit educational institution separate from Perkiomen Seminary. In 1951 the book and manuscript collection were moved to a new building adjacent to the Perkiomen School.
In 2001, the Schwenkfelder Historical Library was expanded to house the library, archive, and museum collections. Andrew S. Berky served as the first full time director of the Schwenkfelder Library from 1951 to 1973. Peter C. Erb succeeded Berky in 1973 as Associate Director, officially fulfilling this role until 1983. Dennis K. Moyer became the director in 1983 and served in this capacity until 1997 when David W. Luz, the current director, took over the position.
in the 1920s.
The diverse collection of objects and archival materials today focus on Schwenkfelder heritage as well as the Goshenhoppen and Perkiomen Valley regions of Pennsylvania, and is known for its collection of Schwenkfelder fraktur. The museum collection houses artifacts and objects related to Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig, Schwenkfelder immigration, and the Schwenkfelder way of life in southeastern Pennsylvania. The collection includes furniture, household art, folk art paintings and drawings, agricultural equipment, quilts, show towels, coverlets and other textiles as well as an herbarium
.
The widely known Schwenkfelder Fraktur
collection at the Schwenkfelder Library includes bookplates, Vorshriften, religious texts, Labyrinths, certificates and manuscript books.
In addition to the Corpus project, the library and archive collection includes, but is not limited to, local church and cemetery records, German and English newspapers, deeds and land draughts, family genealogies, the H. Winslow Fegley photograph collection, and Pennsylvania German prints and manuscripts.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
historical library, archive, and museum located in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
Pennsburg is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,843 at the 2010 census.It is part of the Upper Perkiomen School District....
. Its mission is to "protect, preserve and interpret books, manuscripts and artifacts of the Schwenkfelders and the people of southeastern Pennsylvania in general and the Perkiomen Valley in particular."
History
The Heritage Center's collection began as an informal collection in a private home in Hereford Township, PennsylvaniaHereford Township, Pennsylvania
Hereford Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States, of which it is the easternmost municipality. Its population was 3,174 at the 2000 census. It is in Upper Perkiomen School District.-Geography:...
. In 1890 it was designated the "Schwenkfelder Historical Library." Two years later the collection was moved to the Perkiomen Seminary (now The Perkiomen School
The Perkiomen School
The Perkiomen School is an independent, co-educational, boarding and day college preparatory school located in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Perkiomen admits 6th-12th grade students and offers a year for postgraduate students. Founded by a descendant of a Schwenkfelder immigrant in 1875, The Perkiomen...
) in Pennsburg, PA. The initial collection was part of an effort to gather the writings of the spiritualist reformer Kaspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig
Kaspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig
Caspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig was a German theologian, writer, and preacher who became a Protestant Reformer and spiritualist, one of the earliest promoters of the Protestant Reformation in Silesia....
(1489–1561). The Carnegie library
Carnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
, on the campus of The Perkiomen School
The Perkiomen School
The Perkiomen School is an independent, co-educational, boarding and day college preparatory school located in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Perkiomen admits 6th-12th grade students and offers a year for postgraduate students. Founded by a descendant of a Schwenkfelder immigrant in 1875, The Perkiomen...
, was designated to house on the upper floor the growing collection of books, manuscripts, and artifacts related to Schwenkfelder history. In 1947 the Schwenkfelder Library was established as a non-profit educational institution separate from Perkiomen Seminary. In 1951 the book and manuscript collection were moved to a new building adjacent to the Perkiomen School.
In 2001, the Schwenkfelder Historical Library was expanded to house the library, archive, and museum collections. Andrew S. Berky served as the first full time director of the Schwenkfelder Library from 1951 to 1973. Peter C. Erb succeeded Berky in 1973 as Associate Director, officially fulfilling this role until 1983. Dennis K. Moyer became the director in 1983 and served in this capacity until 1997 when David W. Luz, the current director, took over the position.
Collections
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center collection was formally started in 1885. The initial collection was an effort to gather the writings of Protestant reformer Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig (1489–1561). This collection of writings resulted in the Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum (1907–1961), a nineteen-volume body of work containing Schwenckfeld's letters and books. The collection expanded after 1913, after it was housed in the Carnegie Library, part of Perkiomen Seminary. In 1919 twelve tons of research material was shipped from Germany, largely due to the collecting efforts and research of Dr. Elmer ES Johnson. Although most of the collection was acquired through personal donations, the Schwenkfelder Library purchased a portion of the extensive collection of Pennsylvania Governor Samuel W. PennypackerSamuel W. Pennypacker
Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker was the 23rd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1903 to 1907.-Biography:Gov. Pennypacker was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1843; son of Dr. Isaac A. Pennypacker and Anna Maria Whitaker; grandson of Matthias and Sarah Anderson , and of Joseph and Grace Whitaker...
in the 1920s.
The diverse collection of objects and archival materials today focus on Schwenkfelder heritage as well as the Goshenhoppen and Perkiomen Valley regions of Pennsylvania, and is known for its collection of Schwenkfelder fraktur. The museum collection houses artifacts and objects related to Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig, Schwenkfelder immigration, and the Schwenkfelder way of life in southeastern Pennsylvania. The collection includes furniture, household art, folk art paintings and drawings, agricultural equipment, quilts, show towels, coverlets and other textiles as well as an herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
.
The widely known Schwenkfelder Fraktur
Fraktur (Pennsylvania German folk art)
Fraktur is both a style of lettering and a highly artistic and elaborate illuminated folk art created by the Pennsylvania Dutch...
collection at the Schwenkfelder Library includes bookplates, Vorshriften, religious texts, Labyrinths, certificates and manuscript books.
In addition to the Corpus project, the library and archive collection includes, but is not limited to, local church and cemetery records, German and English newspapers, deeds and land draughts, family genealogies, the H. Winslow Fegley photograph collection, and Pennsylvania German prints and manuscripts.