Appendix H: Kummer Correspondence, 1827-1829

The following excerpts are from the letters of Sarah H. Kummer and John G. Kummer when they were at “Linden Hall” in Lititz, Pennsylvania, to Maria Kummer when she was a needlework instructor at the Bethlehem Female Seminary. Originals are in the Moravian Museum, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation of the original have been preserved. Reproduced from Appendix H (pp. 457-458) Winkelman, R. J. (1990). Art education in the non-public schools of Pennsylvania, 1720-1870 (90-32395) [Doctoral dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University].

From Sarah 3/6/1827:

You know that I have Just commenced instruction in Worsted Work, with one Scholar, namely Susannah Lightner; she has chosen the pattern of the Cat, with the border you begun, and is very much pleased so far. I shall certainly have more after some time, tho’ not immediately; the greatest difficulty is, where to meet with suitable baskets, if Sr. H. should return by way of New York, we hope to get some there. You need not hurry with the patterns, but if you have any finished, it might be as well to send them on, to have more variety for choice.

From John 4/1/1827:

I have formerly written you respecting the custom prevalent here of holding public examinations and exhibitions of work (drawing etc.) once a year in the schools. We expect to have ours about the end of May, and shall accordingly all be much engaged for about 2 months preparing for this occasion. It is one that must either be of advantage or detrimental to the interests of the school, as it is generally pretty well attended both by Parents and other strangers from various parts of the country. We hope however the arrangement will be made in the course of a year to render the occasion more private. Their publicity is very unpleasant for the Pupils and renders them very troublesome for teachers and others who have them in charge.

From Sarah 3/9/1828:

I shall be glad of the patterns you mention but do not over hurry yourself. I do not expect any of our scholars will begin anything before Examinations. We shall have a tolerable display of Ribbon and Worsted work for that occasion, but not so much Velvet Painting. I expect the Drawing and Painting on Paper will supply that vacancy, that branch being a principal object of ambition with our Pupils at present.

From John 3/8/1829:

In the course of last week I made known to my Pupils my plans concerning Examination. I shall not have any so-called public Examination this year, as some parents (like ourselves) do not approve of them for Girls about 12 or 13 years of age, & the greatest number of our pupils are at present about 14. Several scholars would have been removed previous to the end of May, only to avoid the public Examination, which will now remain some months longer. I shall in future examine some classes every 14 days in the presence of all the Teachers & scholars, to which I shall invite the Elder’s Conference & the parents of the children occasionally. A public exhibition of Embroidery, Drawings, Paintings etc will take place at the time of Br. Beck’s Examination—say on the 28th of May.