Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Henkel-Miller Family Papers, 1793-1910, #14434, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on November 17, 2008.

Biographical/Historical Information

The Henkel family of New Market, Virginia, operated the Henkel printing press which became the most important bilingual printing establishment for German Lutherans in the states of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina during the nineteenth century. Paul Henkel (1754-1825) was an itinerate Lutheran preacher involved with various synods in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina. Solomon David Henkel (1777-1847), Paul's son, was a physician, teacher and head of the Henkel Press along with his brother, Ambrose (1786-1870). Andrew Henkel (1790-1870), was also the son of Paul Henkel as well as an itinerate preacher and educator. Samuel G. Henkel (1807-1863), was the son of Solomon and continued running the press after his father's death.

For more information concerning the contributions of the Henkel family to the printing of religious works and preaching in the Lutheran Church, consult Klaus Wust's "Guide to the Henkel Family Papers " and Christopher L. Dolmetsch's book, The German Press of the Shenandoah Valley.

Scope and Content

This collection contains 606 items contained in 5 Hollinger boxes (2.5 linear feet) concerning the Henkel Family of Shenandoah and the operation of the Henkel Press in New Market, Virginia. The dates of the materials range from 1793-1910, with the bulk of the material coming from the first half of the nineteenth century.

The journals of Paul Henkel give a history of his travels and family as well as the history of the Shenandoah Valley. The journals also are a depiction of parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Ohio that interacted with the Shenandoah Valley. Many of these journals along with Paul Henkel's correspondence were used by Dr. William J. Finck to write the "Chronological Life of Paul Henkel" (MSS 2827).

Solomon D. Henkel is the chief recipient of the correspondence as he, along with his brother, Ambrose, is the head of the press. He also served as the postmaster of New Market, physician and educator. The correspondence covers a variety of subjects concerning Solomon's multiple expertise. He does not only receive letters concerning his own business, but also in regard to the business of others due to his position as postmaster. The collection is invaluable as a source of information on the Henkel Family, the starting and operation of the press, the decline of German as a prominent language in the Shenandoah Valley, and the activities of Lutheran Preachers during this period. Many of the Henkels' business contacts were also personal friends so the letters include aspects of daily life as well as the logistical matters of the business.

Much of the later material in the collection is the correspondence, both to and from, Samuel G. Henkel, Solomon's son. Samuel's memorandum books are also a tremendous source of logistical information especially as it pertains to the history of commercial imports to the Winchester Millers and the New Market Henkels from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Alexandria. Information includes names of merchants, locals, printing, medicines, books, etc.

Some items of interest are the correspondence of John Barnett (1814-1819) which concerns a variety of subjects, including the treatment of maladies, crop prices and book sales; a series of letters from the War of 1812, including a discussion of the moral implications of military service, conditions at Camp Crossroads and the defense of Baltimore particularly the battle of North Point and the bombardment of Ft. McHenry where the writer, William Warner, noted "naught could be seen but the light of Rockets and the bursting of Bombs thrown from their shipping at our fort...."; a letter from Jacob Woltz of February 9, 1811 concerning retribution against slaves that killed their masters; the correspondence of Warner and Schaeffer from Baltimore, March 26, 1813, who must take into account the positions of British troops when shipping goods to New Market. The two letters of Gideon Jones from November 1818 describe relations with the Cherokees of Georgia, the Secret Green Corn Dance, and the African slaves of the Native Americans.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series topically, alphabetically and chronologically. The manuscripts for publication are organized alphabetically by title. Series I is correspondence of the Henkel Press, Series II is the correspondence of the Henkel Family and other items of historical importance, and Series III is manuscripts intended for publication. Boxes 1 and 2 contain correspondence, primarily letters addressed to Solomon or Ambrose Henkel or to the Henkel Press in general. Boxes 3 and 4 contain other historical resources on the Henkel Press including historical notes by a later hand and the journals and memoranda books of the Henkels. Box 5 contains the remainder of the journals and memorandum books as well as manuscripts for items that might have been meant for publication.