Library Treasure Tour - Early Pennsylvania from a German Vantage Point

Sat Nov 20 2021 at 02:00 pm

The German Society of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

The German Society of Pennsylvania
Publisher/HostThe German Society of Pennsylvania
Library Treasure Tour - Early Pennsylvania from a German Vantage Point
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Unearth vibrant, poetic descriptions of early Pennsylvania through the works of Germantown’s founding father, Francis Daniel Pastorius, in a tour led by Jehnna Lewis, an experienced teacher of German language and literature and the Horner Memorial Library’s current archival intern.
Perhaps most well-known for his co-authorship of the first anti-slavery protest in the Thirteen Colonies as much as for his behemoth Bee-Hive, a tour-de-force of encyclopedic knowledge accumulated over many years, Pastorius integrated his experiences of the Philadelphia region into much of his work. This Treasure Tour will center on one of the highlights in the German Society’s holdings, the original manuscript of his Deliciae Hortenses, written between 1705 and 1711. Also known as his “Garden Recreations,” this manuscript reveals Pastorius’s playfully encyclopedic writing style, as it dances through quotations and reflections in a variety of languages on a variety of horticultural subjects, which uncover the intertwined nature of his experiences in “Penn’s Woods” and the burgeoning literary culture of a young Philadelphia. Other objects on this tour include an early printing of Pastorius’s geographical description of Pennsylvania written for his fellow countrymen back in Germany, a 19th-century manuscript copy of his inventory of his belongings, and a look at his “New Primmer”, written for second-language learners of English like himself. To round out the tour, we will take a look at late 19th century literary homages to Pastorius’s place in American history, including a first edition copy of John Greenleaf Whittier’s The Pennsylvania Pilgrim (1872) and an original manuscript of Julius Gugler’s play Die Pioniere (1892). Join us as we experience our region through the eyes of one its most fascinating early inhabitants!
Library Treasure Tours are offered in English, and no knowledge of the German language is required to participate. Tickets are limited for this hands-on, interactive event, so please register early. The tour will be offered again at a later date. Please email [email protected] with questions.
About the Presenter: Jehnna Lewis holds two M.A.’s, one from Boston University (The University Professors Program) in Cultural Linguistics and one from the University of Pennsylvania in Germanic Languages and Literatures. Jehnna previously worked as the Project Manager (2019) for the Pastorius Digital Beehive Project in UPenn’s Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts, and currently serves as Archival Intern at the Horner Memorial Library. Jehnna is also an experienced university instructor, having taught numerous courses in German language and literature during her time at the University of Pennsylvania.
Proof of vaccination is required to attend this event. Please bring your vaccination card (or a clear picture of it) and a valid photo ID.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, United States

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