Library CollectionBecause of the value the European and early American Schwenkfelders placed on their books and manuscripts, and their emphasis on education, the Heritage Center’s library grew quickly in its earliest years to its present size of approximately 30,000 volumes. Many significant libraries of Schwenkfelder bibliophiles and other local citizens were acquired throughout the 20th century. Initially the Library served not only specific Schwenkfelder and local history researchers, but also functioned as a public library of sorts for Upper Perkiomen Valley communities. Today the Library’s scope has become more specialized, and focuses on the following areas: |
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Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig |
Caspar Schwenckfeld's personal bible, with notations by him in the margins, published in 1529 from the Schwenkfelder Library collection. |
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Please note that the Schwenkfelder Library is non-circulating and all materials must be used on site. Inter-library loan is available for persons unable to visit the library. Access to the collection is available through a variety of indexes of specific collections and through a manual card catalog. Plans are in the works for a computerized catalog and some collections may be posted online at a later date. For more information regarding the Library catalog, click here.
Photocopies may be made of most Library materials, though photocopying is based
on condition of the materials. Photocopies are $.25 per page. Call or e-mail for more information. |
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Genealogical Resources Available at the Schwenkfelder Library |
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The single most significant resource for Schwenkfelder genealogical research is the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families, compiled by Samuel K. Brecht and published in 1923. Descendants of the Schwenkfelder immigrants are recorded in this book. If you are seeking an individual with one of the following surnames, there is an excellent chance that he or she is descended from one of the immigrants: HEEBNER (HEAVNER, HEAVENER, HÜBNER) / KRAUSS / KRIEBEL (KRIEBLE) / YEAKEL (JACKEL, YEAKLE) / ANDERS / WIEGNER (WEIGNER, WIGNER) / MESCHTER (MASTER, MASTERS)/ HARTRANFT / REINWALD (RINEWALD) / HEYDRICK / SEIPT (SEIBT) And these more common German names: SCHULTZ (SHULTZ) / HOFFMAN / SCHUBERT / BEYER (BYER, BOYER) / WAGNER Please note that this surname list is only for the original immigrants, and does not represent the total surname list for Schwenkfelder descendants. The Society for the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles maintains the updated records for the Genealogical Record. All descendants of Schwenkfelder immigrants are invited to submit their family information for inclusion in the update. Contact the Heritage Center at info@schwenkfelder.com for more information and update forms. |
 The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families is the definitive record for the descendants of the Schwenkfelder immigrants to 1923. |
Genealogical Resources for Families other than SchwenkfelderThe Schwenkfelder Library is the center for family history research in the greater Upper Perkiomen Valley and to a lesser extent for adjacent areas in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks counties. Resources include: Church and Cemetery RecordsLocal church and cemetery records are among the best resources for researching family history. The Schwenkfelder Library has well over 200 unpublished records from churches in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks County, from the Schwenkfelder, Reformed, Lutheran, Mennonite, Brethren and Roman Catholic congregations.
This collection features significant records from churches established in the
early years of settlement, most notably: NewspapersThe local newspapers are an excellent source of genealogical data, including information on marriages, births and deaths. General news from the area may also give the family historian valuable insight into their ancestor’s life and times. Access may be limited to some newspaper collections because of condition. The Library is microfilming the collection to ensure its preservation and access. The Schwenkfelder Library has holdings in the following local newspapers:
Town & Country, published in Pennsburg since April 1899.
The Library presently has the years 1899 through the late 1990s as original newspapers and
1899 through 1992 on microfilm.
Published and Non-published Family GenealogiesThe Library has a large collection of family genealogies in book and manuscript form. Most families represented are those that emigrated to and settled in the Upper Perkiomen Valley. They are also primarily of German descent. Some of the most popular genealogical references trace these local families:
HILLEGASS Several of the unpublished genealogies are unique to the Schwenkfelder Library. Researchers wanting to use these resources are encouraged to visit. Published and Non-published Local and County HistoriesLocal histories from the greater Upper Perkiomen Valley and county histories from Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks counties often are sources of genealogical information for local families. Bean’s History of Montgomery County has been indexed for surnames and is an excellent resource for many researchers. The Perkiomen Region, a publication affiliated with the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is a compilation of historical and genealogical articles from the local region.Family FilesThe Library has an extensive collection of vertical file material that is indexed by surnames. These files contain largely unpublished genealogical data from local families, and the collection continues to grow as the Library acquires new information from researchers. Family historians are encouraged to share copies of their findings with the Library. Deed and Land Draft CollectionThough deeds are on record at county courthouses, a selection of original manuscripts is available at the Library. Researchers must know the township or borough where their subjects were located. Archival Resources for GenealogistsThe Schwenkfelder Archives has numerous possibilities for genealogical research. Unpublished records, account books, diaries, printed fraktur certificates and photographs are just a few of the possible sources available. Many of these special collections are indexed according to surname. Research in some archival collections may require an appointment; check with the Heritage Center’s archivist before your visit.
For more genealogy resources and links see: Library Technology
Although the Schwenkfelder Library is not able to offer an online catalog
at this time, the Library does offer computers for use by patrons.
Periodicals Subscribed and Available AASLH History News Chamber Exchange, The Chronicle, The Early American Life Goschenhoppen Newsletter, The History Magazine Journal of the Center for Pennsylvania German Studies Longenecker Family Newsletter Magazine Antiques, The MHEP Quarterly Mirror, The Montgomery County Museum News Penn in Hand Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, The Pennsylvania History Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Pennypacker Express, The Preservation Reggeboge, Der Schlesischer Gottesfreund Schlesischer Kulturspiegel Shavings Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles Society for German-American Studies Newsletter Zeitschrift Für Kultur Austausch
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