Collection Highlights
Alan Keyser Collection: Spotlight on Pennsylvania German Braucherei Items
New Purchases for the Library, as of May 2026
New to the Library
Purchased by the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center:
· The Home Front: Revolutionary Households, Military Occupation, and the Making of American Independence by Lauren Duval. Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture; University of North Carolina Press, 2025.(right)
· Germantown: A Military History of the Battle for Philadelphia, October 4, 1777 by Michael C. Harris. Savas Beatie, El Dorado Hills, CA, 2023.
Donated by John K. Gottschall: E-copies of Commentary on J.S. Bach’s Church Cantatas (2025 and 2026) in memory of his parents, Sue Schultz and Robert Jacob Gottschall.
Donated by Diane Pflieger:
· The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle / by Chuck Dixon (et al). Dixon Muzzleloading Shop, 2002.
· Cabela's Instruction Manual for Muzzleloading Rifles, Pistols and Shotguns.
· Instruction Manual for Muzzleloading Rifles, Pistols and Shotguns.
Donated by Melissa Jamison: Continuing the Vision, Preserving the Values: 1840–1990, Sesquicentennial, Washington Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Washington Township Historical Committee, 1990.
Donated by Linda Hilbert:
· Discovering American Folklife: Essays on Folk Culture and the Pennsylvania Dutch by Don Yoder; with a foreword by Patrick J. Donmoyer. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, 2015.
· "Doh wil ich awer!": The Radio Adventures of Asseba and Sabine: from the Scripts of Rev. Clarence R. Rahn translated by Gregory J. Hanson, illustrated by Rachel Yoder; foreword by Ruth C. (Rahn) Schaefer. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, 2018.
Donated by Alana Greiner: The Leydich Burial Ground by John R. Tallis.
Donated by Charlotte Puff:
· Fragen über das Neue Testament by Samuel K. Brobst. Ketterlinus, Allentown, 1858.
· Berühmte deutsche Vorkämpfer für Fortschritt, Freiheit und Friede in Nord-Amerika, von 1626 bis 1888 by Herman Ruetenik. Forest City, Cleveland, 1891.
Donated by the Lower Macungie Historical Society: Tour around the Township: A Historical Look at Lower Macungie: Book III, Northern Lower Macungie Township, 2025.
Donated by Tim and Carol Herd:
· The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families by Samuel K. Brecht. 1923.
· We've Come a Long Way by Mary M. Schoeller. 1988.
· History of the Freed Family by Isaac G. Freed. Berkemeyer and Keck, Allentown, 1919.
Donated by Donald and Dorothea Cooper: Wendel Renninger and his Descendents [sic] by Jerilyn Jacklin Reniger and Armella Wade Kulp.1974.
Donated by Barbara Garrett: The Quiltie Ladies' Scrapbook by the Variable Star Quilters,1993.
Donated by James Stauffer: Collection of Franconia Consolidated School “Franconia Flash” yearbooks, 1945, 1947, 1952—1955, 1957–1958.
Donated by Nan Danielson:
· Map of Lehigh County showing the State Highway system numbers and U.S. route numbers, published by the Lehigh Valley Motor Club, c. 1930.
· City map of Allentown, including suburbs, published by the Call-Chronicle, 1948.
Selection of books donated by Thelma Craig:
· Eine nützliche Anweisung, oder : Beyhülfe vor die Teutschen um Englisch zu lernen… Printed by Christopher Saur, Germantown, 1751.
· Das Neue Testament unsers Herrn und Heilandes Jesu Christi… Printed by Michael Billmeyer, Germantown, 1803.
· Einige christliche und lehrreiche Send-Briefe… Printed by Heinrich Ebner, Allentown, 1819.
Donated by Lisa Radcliff: The Laying of the Cornerstone of the Central Schwenkfelder Church, Worcester, Pennsylvania, Sunday afternoon, August 14,1949.
Donated by Debbie Pflieger Bartle: The Genealogical Record of Schwenkfelder Families by Samuel K. Brecht. Deluxe edition two-volume set, 1923.
Donated by Becky McBrien: History of Towamencin Township by J. Henry Specht. Kulpsville Lions Club.
Donated by Carol Pollarine: The German Americans by Anne Galicich. Chelsea House Publishers, 1989.
New to the Archives
Donated by Kris Loux: Collection of family photographs and other documents from the estate of Frederick and Doris Bieler.
Donated by Becky McBrien: Minutes and papers of the Schwenkfelder Ladies’ Aid Society concerning the Central Schwenkfelder Country Fair, c. 1980s.
Donated by Dorothy and Stanley Snyder: Pastel portraits of 19th century couple, possibly Milton Haas or Allen Dimmig and his wife.
Donated by Marjorie Reagan: Photograph of Urffer and Krauss cousins, c. 1940.
Donated by Lenoir Lahr: Collection of photographs and family documents of the William Schultz family.
Donated by Laura Heebner: Collection of video tapes made by Carl W. Sust (Laura’s father) of Schwenkfelder Exile Society meetings between 1988 and 1994.
Collections of Note
Almanacs
Bookplates
Broadside Collection
Cased Images
Church Records
Copy and Cyphering Books
Family Bibles
Family Research
Indentures
Krauss Organ Papers
Pamphlets
Samuel W. Pennypacker Book
Sammelband
Scrapbooks
Theses
Tunebooks
Wills
Some Special Archival Collections
Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum Papers
This manuscript and glass plate negative collection, begun in the 1880s, contains the copied writings of Caspar Schwenckfeld, which were edited and published between 1907 and 1961 as the nineteen-volume Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum. The majority of “the Corpus” is yet to be translated from German and Latin.
H. Winslow Fegley
Photograph Collection
The collection of photographs and glass plate negatives by Fegley, a local professional photographer, recorded views of rural Pennsylvania life in the early 1900s. These images are among the best existing depictions of rural work, trades, and society in a vanishing way of life.
Deed and Land Draft Collections
The deed and land draft collections contains over 4000 original documents from the 1700s through 1900s. Property in and nearby the Perkiomen region is documented in this collection. The deeds are indexed by township, and within the township by grantee. All surnames appearing on the deeds are listed on their index sheets. Land drafts are indexed by township, and copies are provided for researchers to allow access while preserving originals.
Taufschein Collection
Known also as birth and baptism certificates, these documents contain helpful genealogical information such as maiden names, dates, and places of birth. Many of the Taufscheine were collected from families who lived outside of the Perkiomen region. They are useful to anyone doing genealogical research in the broader southeastern Pennsylvania region.