Henkel Family Papers, 1783-1916
Descriptive Summary
Repository: Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
Title: Henkel Family Papers, 1783-1916
Collection No.: SC 0099
Creator: Henkel Family
Extent: 3 boxes; 2.44 cubic feet
Language: 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.
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).
Preferred Citation: [identification of item], [box #, folder #], Henkel Family Papers, SC 0099, Special Collections, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
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:
Processing Information: A schoolbook on mathematics was withdrawn by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical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.
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:
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.
Contents:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1806-1892
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Correspondence, 1804-1820 |
1:1
|
| Correspondence, 1821-1892 |
1:2
|
| Correspondence, undated |
1:3
|
| Correspondence - Salyards, 1846-1891, undated |
1:4
|
Series 2: Religious Documents, 1783-1897
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Service literature, undated |
1:5
|
| Sermons, 1841-1897 |
1:6
|
| Music, 1829, undated |
1:7
|
| Religious issues, 1783-1889 |
1:8
|
| Religious issues, undated |
1:9
|
| Marriage licenses, 1825-1856 |
1:10
|
| Miscellaneous church papers, 1813-1892, undated |
1:11
|
Series 3: Secular Documents, 1790-1910
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Prose and poetry, 1864, undated |
1:12
|
| Speeches, undated |
1:13
|
| Business documents, 1790-1910 |
2:1
|
| Spelling book identified as "Solon P.C. Henkel 1832,", 1832 |
2:2
|
| Schoolbook - surveying, undated |
2:3
|
| Schoolbook - navigation, undated |
2:4
|
| Schoolbook - word problems, with fraktur, Tobias McGaughey, undated |
2:5
|
Series 4: Family History, undated
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Family hitsory, undated |
2:6
|
Series 5: Henkel Press publications, 1806-1891
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Henkel Press - Miscellaneous printing drafts, 1811-1817 |
2:7
|
| Henkel Press - Publications, Pamphlets, 1806-1891 |
2:8
|
Series 6: Oversize, 1809-1916
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Rolled list of subscribers, undated |
OV 1
|
| Wool carding advertisements, 1809-1816 |
OV 1:1
|
| Miscellaneous announcements, 1809-1858, 1879, undated |
OV 1:2
|
| Music, 1868, undated |
OV 1:3
|
| Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1807-1808 |
OV 1:4
|
| Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1808 |
OV 1:5
|
| Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1808 |
OV 1:6
|
| Virginische Volksberichter und Neumarketer Wochenshrift, 1809 |
OV 1:7
|
| Westliche Correspondenz, 1806-1822 |
OV 1:8
|
| Miscellaneous publications, 1782-1824, undated |
OV 1:9
|
| Miscellaneous, 1904-1916, undated |
OV 1:10
|
| Grocery list, 1843 |
OV 1:11
|
Compiled by: Orville W. Bame, December, 1988; Chris Bolgiano, January 1989; March 1990; Trevor Alvord, March 2011