The Pennsylvania German Broadside: A History And Guide (Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society (2001), V. 39.) (Pennsylvania German History and Culture) [Hardcover]

Don Yoder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2005 | Series: Pennsylvania German History and Culture

Fifteenth-century Germany was the birthplace of movable type and of one of its powerful consequences, the broadside. These mass-produced printed sheets allowed both the Renaissance and the Reformation to spread with previously unimaginable speed, and when German immigrants made their way to North America, the cultural significance of the broadside followed. Don Yoder's The Pennsylvania German Broadside examines the history and legacy of these printed sheets within the Pennsylvania German community. The author defines a broadside as any piece of paper printed on one side that is intended to be given away or sold. Where some experts have narrowed the definition of the broadside to focus primarily on song and ballad broadsides, Professor Yoder's definition encompasses a much wider range of material. In this more comprehensive approach to the medium, not only 'street literature' but also such documents as elegies, spiritual testaments, and certificates of birth, baptism, confirmation, and marriage are all considered legitimate broadsides that tie the individual to the culture of the community. After tracing the migration of the broadside from Germany to America, the author dedicates each of ten chapters to a specific broadside subject, including medical broadsides, political and military broadsides, sale bills, posters, house blessings, and 'letters from heaven.' All German texts have been translated or paraphrased for the reader's convenience. Professor Yoder recently donated a vast collection of Pennsylvania German broadsides to the Library Company of Philadelphia. A selection of these artifacts, part of the Roughwood Collection, will go on display in September 2005 as the centerpiece of a broadside exhibition at the Library Company. More than a catalogue of the exhibition, this book explores the history and cultural significance of the broadside, illuminating the ways in which it both reflected and influenced Pennsylvania German life. Intended for historians, folklorists, collectors, and general readers, The Pennsylvania German Broadside features more than 200 illustrations and an engaging, accessible text. Don Yoder is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies and Folklore and Folklife at the University of Pennsylvania. He is past president of the American Folklore Society, a founding trustee of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, co-founder of the Pennsylvania Folklife Society, and longtime editor of its periodical, Pennsylvania Folklife. His numerous books and articles have dealt with the Pennsylvania German themes of emigration and acculturation, bibliography, fraktur and folk art, architecture and material culture, and folk spirituality and organized religion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Don Yoder delves deep into the history of this elaborate form of printing, providing German terminology along with more than 200 elaborate illustrations and photographs. This beautifully designed hardcover book would be an attractive addition to any history buff's coffee table. --Lisa Kellar, Pittsburgh Magazine

The Pennsylvania German Broadside exudes the passion that Yoder has as collector, historian,and folklorist for this material and this culture. In addition, it is the story of a scholar's lifelong dedication to his work. . . . If the paper ephemera of all American communities had such a devoted collector and analyst who was willing to labor such challenging material throughout and entire career, the study of American culture, past and present, would be much richer for it. --Leonard Norman Primiano, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

Historian Don Yoder explores the Pennsylvania German culture through printed broadsheets and paper documentation of milestone events. --Mary O. Bradley, Harrisburg Patriot News

About the Author

Don Yoder is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies and Folklore and Folklife at the University of Pennsylvania. He is past president of the American Folklore Society and co-founder of the Pennsylvania Folklife Society.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 366 pages
• Publisher: Pennsylvania State Univ Pr; 1St Edition edition (September 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0271026790
• ISBN-13: 978-0271026794
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,436,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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