Bring the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center to your community!
Our staff are available to visit your organization and share engaging presentations on Pennsylvania German history, culture, and the unique heritage of the Schwenkfelder community.
We offer a variety of prepared topics — from quilting traditions and 19th-century entertainment to the founding of Schwenckfeldianism and the history of German printing — but we're happy to discuss custom ideas as well. Most presentations run 45 to 60 minutes and include time for questions.
To request a speaker, call
215-679-3103 or email
info@schwenkfelder.org.
How much does it cost to hire a visiting speaker from the Schwenfelder Library & Heritage Center?
There is no fee for our programs, though donations are gratefully accepted. For locations more than 50 miles away, we ask to be reimbursed for tolls and mileage at the current IRS rate. Virtual presentations may also be available.
Speaker Topics Include:
Topics presented by Curator of Collections Candace Perry
· A Survey of Pennsylvania German Samplers
· How the Pretzel Survived Prohibition and Other Twisted Tales
· A History of the Christmas Putz
· Pennsylvania German Quilting Traditions
· Educated Pigs and Mrs. Wafflebach: Shows and Show People in 19th Century Southeastern Pennsylvania
· Taking the Waters: Mineral Springs, Water Cures, and Hygienic Institutions in 19th Century Pennsylvania
· Acting Dutch: Pennsylvania Dutch-Inspired Theater of the 20th Century
· The Ladies of Pennsylvania Dutch Literature
Topics presented by Executive Director Beth A. Twiss Houting
- Introduction to the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
- Farm Life: Yesterday and Yesteryear in the Heritage Center Exhibits
- “Quietly, Modestly, Efficiently, and Intelligently”: The Life and Work of Selina Gerhard Schultz