About The Center :

The Center houses the collection of more than 10,000 artifacts of the Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Culture Society. The distinctive collection represents Pennsylvania German rural life of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There is special emphasis on the household, the school, women's clothing, as well as farm and agricultural equipment.

The collection reflects the time of transition between hand- manufactured and machine-manufactured goods. It also represents the role of women in the development of the domestic skills and cultural taste of the region. The collection contains many rare and fascinating items related to Pennsylvania German life. Impressive parts of this magnificent collection will be displayed in our newly restored Eichler-Frankenfield farm house.

The Center also houses the Pennsylvania German Genealogical Center, an important resource established through the research of the late Russell Baver and through subsequent contributions of materials. In cooperation with the Palatinate Historical Institute in Kaiserslautern, Germany, the historical records of German emigrants to Pennsylvania in the late 18th and early 19th centuries are now accessible at the Center. All of these genealogical resources are available to the public. Inquiries are invited.