Mennonite Heritage Center

06/03/2026

Thanks to Lancaster Farming for featuring our recent program on Mennonites and the American Revolution:

How to respond to the Revolutionary War created the first schism among North American Mennonites.

06/02/2026

Family and family relations have long been an important part of Mennonite and broader Pennsylvania German values. Learning from parents and grandparents (who learned from their parents and grandparents) has played a crucial role in preserving the culture and traditions of families across generations, and that was no exception with Catherine S. Fretz Strawn (1805-1889).

The Bible you see here is an 1813 Somerset Bible complete with a decorated Fraktur bookplate. It's likely that the bookplate was made in the 1820s before Catherine was married in November 1829 to Joel R. Strawn (1803-1887), perhaps as a wedding gift. The inscription reads: ""Diese Bibel Gehöret Mir Catharina Fretzin. Ich bin Gebohren den 16ten Februarius im Jahr unsers Herrn Jesu Christi AD 1805 / Ein Geschenk von Meinne Großmutter Barbara Stauffern, Mir zur lehr und Gott zur Ehr" (This Bible belongs to me, Catherine Fretz. I was born the 16th of February in the year of our Lord A.D. 1805. A present from my grandmother Barbara Stauffer, to teach me and honor God).

While the Fraktur artist who designed this bookplate is unknown, we know that Catharine's maternal grandmother, Barbara Stauffer (1752-1822) gifted it to her, along with two of her sisters who received Bibles with decorated bookplates. Each of the three Bibles' inscriptions are unique to the granddaughter who received them, but all are labeled as a gift from their grandmother and intended to "to teach me [the granddaughters] and honor God." Cultural preservation takes many forms, and this is one great example of it!

05/21/2026

Imported to the Northeast and Midatlantic states until the 1840s, "Gaudy Dutch" pottery was a favorite of many Pennsylvania Germans. Produced primarily from 1810 to 1840 using English soft paste porcelain, this style of pottery is characterized by a white or light cream-colored base glaze beneath various colorful motifs (often floral). Interestingly, only 16 specific patterns were painted onto the pieces, two of which are shown here: the urn pattern and the carnation pattern. Others include the oyster, single rose, carnation, war bonnet, and dove patterns.

Contrary to its name, Gaudy Dutch pottery was produced in England and took influence from the porcelain Japanese Imari ware. The name “Gaudy Dutch” apparently derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch/German communities who took an exceptional liking to the style, though the name slightly ridicules them and other Americans who bought the pieces over the more elegant, preferred porcelain pottery. The pieces could range from cups, saucers and plates to teapots and waste bowls, which could be used both daily and for special dinner occasions.

The first piece shown here is a bowl decorated with the urn pattern, dating to the mid 19th century. It features blue, light-green, yellow, and light-orange colored floral and urn motifs atop a white background. It comes originally from the Clemmer family of Franconia or Hatfield Township, Montgomery County.

The second piece pictured here is a medium-sized Gaudy Dutch bowl in the carnation pattern, decorated with light-green, orange-brown, blue, and yellow colors. The bowl was owned and used by Hannah Hunsberger Souder (1814-1898) and her husband, who were one of the founding families of what became the borough of Souderton. According to the donor (a descendant of the Souders), the bowl was used well into the 20th century by descendants at special family dinners. Though the production of Gaudy Dutch style pieces was halted decades ago, they live on today as valued antique pieces (or as special dinnerware in your home!)

05/16/2026

Today is the Souderton Telford Historical Society's Art in Sacred Spaces tour from 12 to 5 p.m.

Stop by Zwingli UCC in Souderton to see MHC artifacts on display as part of the tour.

05/06/2026

We're excited to be a part of this event! Look for MHC artifacts on display at Zwingli UCC.

05/06/2026

Join Mennonite Heritage Center on May 7 at 7 pm for Joel Horst Nofziger’s lecture “The Funkites and the Question of Legitimate Government.” The Funkites were a group of Mennonites that split from the Mennonite congregation after the excommunication of Christian Funk, a Mennonite preacher, due to his support for the American Revolution which went against Mennonite doctrines like pacifism.

For more information, visit mhep.org
For more PV250 events, visit pv250.org/events

04/21/2026

In Mennonite history, birds have held deep cultural and spiritual meanings, often representing freedom and the connection between heaven and earth.

Doves, for example, are commonly found in Mennonite art, hymns, and poems as symbols of the Holy Spirit and peace. They are mentioned multiple times throughout the Bible, in addition to ravens, chickens, sparrows, and various other birds.

Beyond symbolism, birds have always played an important part in daily life, as for Mennonite and Pennsylvania German farmers, hens and roosters were an essential part of their livestock, providing both eggs and meat. Bird-themed embroidery and drawings also appear across Mennonite history, reflecting which birds were present in the area, and which birds caught the eye of people who were so often surrounded by flora and fauna.

The first photograph pictured here comes from the collection of Anna Guntz, depicting her mother looking at some caged parakeets. Some Mennonite families were known to keep birds as pets, displaying their colors and cheerful songs around the house. The second image provided here is a hand-drawn and colored drawing signed by “J.D.S.” and dated 1939. It depicts a Redstart and a Vireo— two birds that can be found in Pennsylvania during the warmer months— surrounded by various colorful flowers.

In addition to drawings, many Mennonite quilts, towels, and samplers also feature bird motifs. As one of nature's most vibrant natural subjects, birds' songs and colorful appearances have served as sources of artistic and cultural influence for centuries, and continue to be subjects of many paintings, poems, embroidery patterns, and songs today.