History & Classics
Fraktur of Rites of Passage: The Effects of Religion on Record Keeping In 18th Century Pennsylvania Dutch Society
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
History & Classics
Start Date
11-4-2014 10:30 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 11:45 AM
Sponsor
Alan Winquist (Taylor University)
Description
This presentation looks at Fraktur (highly decorated personal papers which chronicled an individual's major life events and conveyed their religious sentiments) and addresses the lives of the Pennsylvania Dutch through the lens of religion by determining how their religious beliefs (as portrayed in the Fraktur) affected the record keeping of their rites of passage. This is accomplished by looking at the religious views held by the different sects of the Pennsylvania Dutch; the use of Fraktur as the primary form of record keeping; how the difference in religious views among the sects translated to differences in their Fraktur records; and how the faith of the Pennsylvania Dutch, as indicated in the motifs and text of their Fraktur, sustained them through the frequent challenges of life in the New World.
This presentation specifically examines Geburts-und Taufschein (Birth and Baptismal Certificates), Familienregister (Family Records), as well as Trauschein (Marriage Certificates) originating in Bucks, Berks, Lancaster and Montgomery counties in southeastern Pennsylvania during the eighteenth century. While the tradition of Fraktur documents originated in Germany, the Fraktur created in the New World demonstrates that Fraktur usage became even more widespread among German immigrants in Pennsylvania than it had been in the Old World. By examining these Fraktur, one can find differences in production that are consistent with the differences of belief among the religious sects of the Pennsylvanian Dutch. Conversely, when looking at the symbols and the text found on the documents, it is clear that the content is consistent among all the religious sects. Finally, it is evident that religion had a profound effect on the Pennsylvania Dutch, no matter their sect. These documents display a strong faith and a hope for the next life which seemed to support and encourage them through life's joyous and sorrowful rites of passage.
Fraktur of Rites of Passage: The Effects of Religion on Record Keeping In 18th Century Pennsylvania Dutch Society
Indianapolis, IN
This presentation looks at Fraktur (highly decorated personal papers which chronicled an individual's major life events and conveyed their religious sentiments) and addresses the lives of the Pennsylvania Dutch through the lens of religion by determining how their religious beliefs (as portrayed in the Fraktur) affected the record keeping of their rites of passage. This is accomplished by looking at the religious views held by the different sects of the Pennsylvania Dutch; the use of Fraktur as the primary form of record keeping; how the difference in religious views among the sects translated to differences in their Fraktur records; and how the faith of the Pennsylvania Dutch, as indicated in the motifs and text of their Fraktur, sustained them through the frequent challenges of life in the New World.
This presentation specifically examines Geburts-und Taufschein (Birth and Baptismal Certificates), Familienregister (Family Records), as well as Trauschein (Marriage Certificates) originating in Bucks, Berks, Lancaster and Montgomery counties in southeastern Pennsylvania during the eighteenth century. While the tradition of Fraktur documents originated in Germany, the Fraktur created in the New World demonstrates that Fraktur usage became even more widespread among German immigrants in Pennsylvania than it had been in the Old World. By examining these Fraktur, one can find differences in production that are consistent with the differences of belief among the religious sects of the Pennsylvanian Dutch. Conversely, when looking at the symbols and the text found on the documents, it is clear that the content is consistent among all the religious sects. Finally, it is evident that religion had a profound effect on the Pennsylvania Dutch, no matter their sect. These documents display a strong faith and a hope for the next life which seemed to support and encourage them through life's joyous and sorrowful rites of passage.