Pennsylvania German Society

Pennsylvania German Society. Founded in 1891 in Lancaster, the Pennsylvania German Society is a scholarly organization dedicated to the preservation, study, and promotion of the history, language, and material culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Its establishment was part of a broader late-19th century cultural revival movement among Pennsylvania German communities. The society has grown into a principal institution for academic research, publishing significant works and maintaining extensive archival collections related to this distinct American ethnic group.

History

The society was established on October 20, 1891, at a meeting in Lancaster, spearheaded by prominent community leaders and scholars like Helen Reimensnyder Martin and Preston A. Barba. Its formation coincided with a national interest in folk culture and the Centennial Exposition of 1876, which spurred a revival of Pennsylvania German identity. Early efforts focused on legitimizing the Pennsylvania German language as a subject of serious academic study, countering prevailing stereotypes. Key figures in its development included William H. Egle, the state librarian of Pennsylvania, and Abraham Harley Cassel, a noted Mennonite bibliophile whose collections formed a foundational core. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded its mission from primarily linguistic interests to encompass broader folklife, genealogy, and agricultural history.

Activities and publications

The society's flagship activity is its annual meeting and symposium, often held in partnership with institutions like the Pennsylvania State University or the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. It regularly hosts public lectures, workshops on fraktur and folk art, and supports genealogical research. Its publishing program is highly regarded, most notably the ongoing series "Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society", which has released over 50 volumes of scholarly work since 1891. Other key publications include the annual journal "Der Reggeboge" (The Rainbow) and the quarterly newsletter "Pennsylvania German Review". It also collaborates on publications with the German Society of Pennsylvania and the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center.

Significance and impact

The society has played a crucial role in transforming the study of Pennsylvania German culture from a local antiquarian pursuit into a respected interdisciplinary field within American studies and ethnology. Its work was instrumental in the founding of the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society and influenced major cultural institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folklife Center. Scholars affiliated with the society, such as Don Yoder and Alfred L. Shoemaker, were pivotal in establishing the Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture movement and creating the Kutztown Folk Festival. Its efforts have ensured the preservation of the Pennsylvania German dialect and traditions, impacting educational curricula and public heritage initiatives across the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Organization and governance

The society is governed by an elected Board of Directors and led by a President, with operational management handled by an Executive Director. It maintains a close working relationship with its long-term institutional home at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where its archives and library are housed. Membership is open to the public and includes academics, genealogists, collectors, and community members, structured into various membership tiers. Key committees oversee publications, research grants, and the annual meeting, with governance guided by a constitution and bylaws originally modeled on those of the American Philosophical Society.

Collections and archives

The society maintains the Pennsylvania German Society Library and Archives, a major research repository located at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Its holdings include extensive collections of manuscripts, church records, family Bibles, and personal papers from prominent Pennsylvania German families. The archive possesses one of the world's largest collections of Pennsylvania German language imprints, including rare broadsides and almanacs. Significant donated collections include the papers of folklorist Alfred L. Shoemaker and the research files of dialect scholar Earl C. Haag. These materials are frequently used by researchers from institutions like the Library of Congress and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Category:Organizations based in Pennsylvania Category:Cultural organizations based in the United States Category:German-American history in Pennsylvania Category:Historical societies in Pennsylvania