Browse Exhibits (2 total)
Schweigert Family Photo Album
Photo album containing 50 cartes-de-visite from the photographer, C.G. Blatt of Bernville, PA in the 1870s.
The album was passed down through generations and inscriptions were likely written by Annie R. Schieck, daughter of Henry W. Schweigert.
These portraits found in the Schweigert Family Photo Album depict Henry Schweigert, his friends, and family members. Most of the portraits from the photo album are unidentified, but their inclusion in the photo album is evidence of a strong connection to the family.
The portraits are examples of the cartes-de-visite trend in the 1860s and 1870s in the United State. The first photo albums were designed to hold the cartes, as collectors needed a safe storage place for their keepsakes.
Henry's Social Life
Henry Schweigert's social life revolved around his family, his religion, and fraternal societies, such as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Junior Order of United American Machinists. His diary entries document his daily activities, as well as his attendance at meetings, church, and various friends and family members' homes.
His life represents a unique insight into the life of a rural farmer/schoolteacher/laborer/family man during the late 1860s - 1880s in Southeastern Pennsylvania.