Call Number:

09

Repository:

Goschenhoppen Historians, Inc.

Extent:

15.3 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1898-1997 (inclusive)

Creator:

Goschenhoppen Historians, Inc..

Abstract:

Goschenhoppen, one of the oldest continuously existing Pennsylvania German communities in America, is a geographic region in Montgomery County. The Goschenhoppen Historians vertical files collection, 1898-1997, is mostly made up of newspaper clippings, secondary articles, and photocopies of primary documents. There are also some original deeds, ephemera, and photographs. The collection focuses on local history and Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture.

"Goschenhoppen is one of the oldest continuously existing Pennsylvania German communities in America. This geographic region occupies a small corner of southeastern Pennsylvania in Montgomery County. The Goschenhoppen Historians Inc., was founded in 1964 in order to preserve the folk culture of this area's earliest immigrant settlers, known as the Pennsylvania Dutch."

Bibliography:

Goschenhoppen Historians. "Home Page." Accessed December 16, 2011. http://www.goschenhoppen.org/

This collection is organized into seven groupings: property surveys and deeds, local history, assorted vertical files, general files, Antes house, crafts and trades, and Pennsylvania German files.

The first grouping, property surveys and deeds, contains original deeds and surveys of local properties. There is also a small amount of handwritten research notes on different townships in Montgomery County. Deeds are grouped by township, but not in alphabetical order.

The second grouping, local history, is arranged alphabetically by subject. The subjects include local churches, historic sites, bridges, individuals, and businesses. Newspaper clippings, photocopies of primary source documents, some handwritten research notes, and pamphlets make up this grouping.

The third grouping, assorted vertical files, is mostly comprised of columns on local history written by W. Edmunds Claussen (died 1974). There are additional newspaper clippings, photos, and articles clipped from magazines, organized alphabetically by topic.

The fourth grouping, general files, is also organized by subject, but embraces non-local folk-life subjects.

The fifth grouping, Antes House, consists of files on the history and renovation of a historic house museum operated by the Goschenhoppen Historians. Built in 1736 by Henry Antes, the stone building was later the site of the Moravian school, one of the first interracial non-sectarian schools in Pennsylvania.

The sixth grouping, crafts and trades, comprises files on topics specific to Pennsylvania Dutch traditional crafts and trades.

The seventh grouping, Pennsylvania German files, includes materials on topics such as furniture, dialect, folksongs, and food traditional to Pennsylvania German communities.