Call Number:

06

Repository:

Delaware County Historical Society

Extent:

2.5 linear feet

Language:

German

Date:

1950-1975 (bulk) and 1924-1979 (inclusive)

Creator:

Shmith, Henry, 1899-1982

Abstract:

Henry Shmith (also spelled Heinrich Schmitz and Henry Schmidt) was born on August 21, 1899 in Germany. Shmith traveled extensively, working as a professional chef at many locations in the Delaware Valley region of the United States and frequently returning to Germany for visits. He settled in Glen Mills, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where he passed away in 1982. The Henry Shmith scrapbooks, 1924-1979 (bulk 1950-1975), consist of about 20 volumes compiled by Henry Shmith, with photographs as well as clippings, ephemera, stamps, greeting cards, and letters. The scrapbooks, heavily annotated by Shmith, mostly in German with some English, focus on areas in the Delaware Valley or in and around Germany (including Spiegelau).

Henry Shmith was born on August 21, 1899 in Germany. He used various spellings for his name, including Heinrich Schmitz and Henry Schmidt. Shmith traveled extensively, working as a professional chef at many locations including the Princeton Hotel in Avalon, NJ (late 1950s); Glen Mills Country Club in Delaware County, PA (early 1960s); the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware; and Conyngham, PA. In the late 1950s he was personal chef for Albert M. Greenfield (a prominent leader in Philadelphia in the fields of real estate, banking, retailing, hotels, and transportation) at his home in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Shmith's personal interests included stamp collecting, sailing, and skiing. He married Edna G. Butterworth, a native of Chester, Delaware County, PA. The couple settled in nearby Glen Mills, where Shmith died in 1982.

This collection consists of about 20 scrapbooks compiled by Henry Shmith, with many photographs as well as clippings, ephemera, stamps, greeting cards, and letters. The scrapbooks are heavily annotated by Shmith, mostly in German with some English. There are some notes/signatures from people he met. Most of the scrapbooks focus on areas in the Delaware Valley or in and around Germany. Most of the photographs of Germany (including Spiegelau) date from after World War II, though there are a few from before and during the war (captions are minimal).

Some of the scrapbook subjects include: Germany; Marfield Farm and Luzerne County, PA; Conyngham, PA (summer residence of Governor of Pennsylvania David L. Lawrence); Wilmington, DE; Haverford, PA; postage stamps; and family photographs. A rough list of the volumes is available on site.

There is also a book of sketches by Shmith of "The Lovely Home of Ravenscliffe" (Large MSS 587).