Henkel Family Papers, 1783-1916
Summary Information
- Repository:
- Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
- Creator:
- Henkel Family
- Title:
- Henkel Family Papers
- Collection No.:
- SC 0099
- Date:
- 1783-1916
- Extent:
- 3 boxes, 2.44 Cubic Feet
- Language of the Material:
- English
- Abstract:
- The Henkel Family Papers consists of two Hollinger boxes and one oversize box, and spans a period from 1783 to 1916. The bulk of the collection consists of letters, religious documents, and newspapers and advertisements published by the Henkel Press of New Market, Virginia. Also included are some Henkel family history materials and business documents, and miscellaneous secular materials.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Henkel Family Papers, SC 0099, Special Collections, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Bio/Historical Note
The Henkel Press began as a crude printing press in the living room of Paul Henkel's house in New Market, Virginia, in 1806. Eventually, it published more Lutheran material than any other press in the country, and earned fame for its excellent children's books. Although the press began printing in German for the large Shenandoah Valley German community, it also published in English at an early date.
Scope and Content
The Henkel Collection consists of two Hollinger boxes and one flat box, and spans a period from 1783 to 1916. The bulk of the collection consists of letters, religious documents, and newspapers and advertisements published by the Henkel Press. Also included are some Henkel family history materials and business documents, and miscellaneous secular materials.
Many of the older letters in the Letters Series are in German while later ones are primarily in English. They demonstrate the dedication of the Henkel family to their faith as well as their activities within the Synod.
Also in the collection (Secular Documents Series) are several handwritten school books, some with fraktur.
The Henkel Press Publications Series (including the Oversize Series) contains a large part of the collection, and includes handwritten drafts for advertisements to be printed, pamphlets, issues of Virginische Volksberichterand Westliche Correspondenz, and a formula for the ink used in printing.
Arrangement
Partial organization by a previous researcher was maintained. The collection is arranged in six series:
- 1. Correspondence, 1806-1892
- 2 Religious Documents, 1783-1897
- 3. Secular Documents, 1790-1910
- 4. Family History
- 5. Henkel Press Publications, 1806-1891
- 6 Oversize, 1809-1916
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Acquisition Information
Placed on deposit at Carrier Library through the November 1985 contract with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.
Alternate Formats
EXCERPTS of this collection have been digitized and are made available here:
- Poem about slavery, written by a slave - Unknown Author, undated (English) Full transcript and translation available here.
- Report of the Transactions of the Second Evangelical Lutheran Conference held in Zion's Church, Sulivan County Tennessee, October 22, 1821 (English) [Browse images] Full transcript available here.
- Henkel manuscript: Woodstock Virginia, January 26, 1829 (English) [Browse images] Full transcript available here.
- Henkel Press Song Book, undated (German) [Browse images] Full audio transcript available here.
- Minutes of the Proceedings of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the State of Virginia, 1833 (English) [Browse images] Full transcript available here.
- Short Excerpt of the Transactions of the Synod of the Lutheran Ministry, held in the state of North Carolina in the year of our Lord, 1817 (German) [Browse images] Full German transcript available here. Full English transcript available here.
Processing Information
A schoolbook on mathematics was withdrawn by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society on May 16, 2000. In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 2065.
Location
Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
880 Madison DriveMSC 1704Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807library-special@jmu.eduURL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Bibliography
Edmonds, Albert Sydney. "The Henkels, Early Printers in New Market, Virginia," William and Mary Quarterly, 2nd series, v. 18, 1938.
Scheer, George F. "First Printing Press in the Valley of Virginia," Publishers' Weekly. Vol. 150, November 23, 1946.
Finck, Rev. William J. A Chronological Life of Paul Henkel. New Market, 1937. Photocopy of original typescript made by Richard R. Renalds, Timberville, VA., 1986.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Correspondence, 1806-1892 |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Correspondence, 1804-1820
Mostly to Paul, Ambrose, and Socrates Henkel in German. Includes 1816 German diary with reference to Pt. Pleasant. |
box 1 | folder 1 | |
Correspondence, 1821-1892
German & English. Numerous letters from North Carolina |
box 1 | folder 2 | |
Correspondence, undated | box 1 | folder 3 | |
Correspondence - Salyards, 1846-1891, undated
Notes by J. Salyards; 1846 brochure on The New-Market Academy; unsigned poem; 2 copies 1875 Henkel pub. of review of "Idothea;" several items relating to Salyards Memorial Association |
box 1 | folder 4 | |
Series 2: Religious Documents, 1783-1897 |
|||
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Service literature, undated
Prayers, organization of service, responsive readings |
box 1 | folder 5 | |
Sermons, 1841-1897
Most are titled and dated. Several in German. Includes Henkel list of subscribers for preaching, 1841-1852. |
box 1 | folder 6 | |
Music, 1829, undated
Fragments of religious songbooks, some with notations |
box 1 | folder 7 | |
Religious issues, 1783-1889
Writings from Bible; writings on religious ideas; treatise to Solomon from David Henkle, Lincolnton, NC, 1826 |
box 1 | folder 8 | |
Religious issues, undated | box 1 | folder 9 | |
Marriage licenses, 1825-1856
Rockingham County licenses, some with notes that Ambrose or other Henkels performed ceremony |
box 1 | folder 10 | |
Miscellaneous church papers, 1813-1892, undated
Includes book of misc. accounts with members of Whitehaven congregation, 1813; mss. on worship services by 4 Valley Lutheran churches, called by Rev. Nischmucker in Woodstock Jan. 1828; minutes of church meeting, 1855; printed proceedings of extra session, Luth. Tennessee Synod, 1864 |
box 1 | folder 11 | |
Series 3: Secular Documents, 1790-1910 |
|||
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Prose and poetry, 1864, undated | box 1 | folder 12 | |
Speeches, undated
Four texts, one addressed to "Fellow Citizens of Shenandoah." Subjects are political & social concerns, include intemperance |
box 1 | folder 13 | |
Business documents, 1790-1910
Promises to pay, subscription orders, receipts, post office oath, a ledger book |
box 2 | folder 1 | |
Spelling book identified as "Solon P.C. Henkel 1832,", 1832 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
Schoolbook - surveying, undated | box 2 | folder 3 | |
Schoolbook - navigation, undated | box 2 | folder 4 | |
Schoolbook - word problems, with fraktur, Tobias McGaughey, undated | box 2 | folder 5 | |
Series 4: Family History |
|||
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Family hitsory, undated | box 2 | folder 6 | |
Series 5: Henkel Press publications, 1806-1891 |
|||
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Henkel Press - Miscellaneous printing drafts, 1811-1817
Handwritten horse advertisements, announcements of tannery shops; German and English |
box 2 | folder 7 | |
Henkel Press - Publications, Pamphlets, 1806-1891
St. Martin Luther's kleiner Katechismus. . . 1829 (58 cop.). Verhandlungen, Bericht der Verrichtungen, Auszug, or Report. . . evangelical Luthern Conference (North Carolina). . . 1812; 1814; 1816; 1817 (2 cop.). Verrichtung der Special-Conferenze der Evang. Luth. . . in Virginia. . . 1806; 1807; 1808; 1809; 1815; 1831. Kurze Nachricht, Report, Bericht, or Minutes. . . Evang. Luth. Tennessee Synod. . . 1820, 1821, 1828, 1830, 1833, 1891 |
box 2 | folder 8 | |
Series 6: Oversize, 1809-1916 |
|||
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Rolled list of subscribers, undated | box OV 1 | ||
Wool carding advertisements, 1809-1816
Handwritten drafts and printed advertisements |
box OV 1 | folder 1 | |
Miscellaneous announcements, 1809-1858, 1879, undated
Includes sales and school notices, incl. one for S. Henkel's New Market Female Seminary; broadside advertising a "living quanacos;" price-setting resolution of Shenandoah Cty. carpenters, 1816; church raffle tickets |
box OV 1 | folder 2 | |
Music, 1868, undated
Words to songs; includes ballad about St. Clair's defeat by Indians. Some probably not printed by Henkel Press |
box OV 1 | folder 3 | |
Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1807-1808
December 23, 30, 1807; January 6, 20, 27; February 3, 17; March 2, 9, 16, 30, 1808 |
box OV 1 | folder 4 | |
Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1808
April 6, 13, 27 (partial copy); May 4, 11, 18, 25; June 8, 15, 22, 29; July 6, 13, 20, 27; August 10 (partial copy), 17, 31, 1808 |
box OV 1 | folder 5 | |
Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1808
September 7; October 5 (1 1/2 copies), 12 (1 1/2 copies), 19 (partial copy), 26; November 2, 16 (2 copies), 23, 30; December 7, 14, 1808 |
box OV 1 | folder 6 | |
Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1809
January 4, 11, 18 (partial); February 1, 8 (partial), 15, 22 (2 copies); March 1, 15, 22; April 12, 19, 26; May 10, 24, 31; June 14, 1809 |
box OV 1 | folder 7 | |
Westliche Correspondenz, 1806-1822
April 12, 1806 (partial copy); February 6, 1808; September 19, 1812; June 28, August 2, 1822 |
box OV 1 | folder 8 | |
Miscellaneous publications, 1782-1824, undated
Contains Rooster and Lion Henkel sheets, as well the following non-Henkel publications: 16 July 1782 issue of Philadelphische Correspondenz; unidentified sheet from 16 July 1808 German newspaper; 17 Jan. 1815 issue of Der Volksfreund (Lancaster PA); an 1824 election broadside in German; & 1889 pamphlet Die Vekehrung (Allentown, PA) |
box OV 1 | folder 9 | |
Miscellaneous, 1904-1916, undated | box OV 1 | folder 10 | |
Grocery list, 1843 | box OV 1 | folder 11 | |