Roger Smith--

There are various German (and Swiss-German) connections to the
Fredericksburg, Virginia, area.  Most important was the building of
"Fort Germanna" (1714) 20 miles to the west, where German metalsmiths
(mostly from Siegen) helped former Royal Governor Alexander Spotswood in the
creation of major ironmaking centers, part of Virginia's little-known
contribution in that field. Students in my museum interpretation class
have just completed a modest exhibit on that and other aspects of the
Germanna area, "Become Enchanted With Germanna:  Discover the Layers of a
Historic Virginia Site."

Following the immigration of 1714 were two more of 1716 and 1719, and the
descendants of all those immigrants have a very strong organization, The
Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc.  I will
forward a copy of this message to the Foundation and I am sure you will
hear from them.

In the Valley of Virginia, German immigrants built the same forms of
German-American houses that one often associates with the Pennsylvania
Germans (and similar structures were also built in Maryland).  There are
a number of experts on these cultures and their lives.

At Staunton, Virginia is the Museum of American Frontier Culture with
imported farmsteads from England, Ireland and Germany.  Their
interpretation is one of the most interesting in attempting to relate
philosophical and political aspects of culture as well as those of the
material world.

Many other German-culture organizations exist in many parts of the United
States--for instance, if I recall correctly, there is an organization
still going in Charleston, South Carolina, created by German settlers in
the 1760s.

Fredericksburg had other important German settlers--bakers and harness
makers in the early 19th century, and a group of German Jewish immigrants
in the 1860s-1880s.

Please let me know if your colleague would like to be directly in touch
(alas, I do not read German) or if there are other ways in which we could
help.

John

John Pearce

On Wed, 14 May 1997, Roger Smith wrote:

> Greetings Museum-L'ers,
>
> A friend and colleague in Rhineland is putting together an exhibition and is
> keen to contact scientists in the U.S.A. to help him prepare an exhibition
> about German emigration to the States from the beginning of the seventeenth
> century to the present day(be it for religious, political or economic
> reasons). A great project which will be shown in three exhibition halls in his
> openair museum in 2001.
>
> If you are able to assist or make recommendations about indivudals, interest
> groups or communities that may be able to assist, please contact me directly
> and I forward your responses.
>
> Roger Smith
> Chairman of ICOM New Zealand
> [log in to unmask]
>

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John N. Pearce                              voice/voicemail:  (540) 654-1311
Center for Historic Preservation / James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library
Mary Washington College                     fax:  (540) 654-1068
1301 College Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5358               e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
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