Fraktur are early decorated manuscripts made for German families in Pennsylvania and, to a lesser extent, in Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, etc. Most are birth and baptism certificates dating from about 1760 into this century. They were made prior to the time civil registrations were required.

Christian Strenge was born in Altenhasungen, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, October 24, 1757. In 1776-1783 he served in the Hessian Army stationed in the American colonies. He did not return with his regiment. In the late 1780s he was living in Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His first wife, Christine, and baby died in 1789. In 1791 he married Mary Eve Miller and they had five children. He bought land in Hempfield Township where...

"Fraktur are decorated manuscripts made by and for German Americans. Most are birth and baptism certificates (Taufscheins) made from about 1760 into the first quarter of [the 1900's]"--Intro. v. 3. . These special certificates were original creations or printed forms filled in by the local minister, schoolmaster, or traveling scrivener. Most fraktur appeared among the German population in Pennsylvania with some in the other mid-Atlantic states and...

"Released in conjunction with the fraktur exhibit 'The Prints and the Penmen' at the Heritage Center Museum of Lancaster County, Lancaster, Pennsylvania"; May-Dec 1997. "American fraktur are by far more common among peoples of German descent who lived in 18th or 19th century Pennsylvania, or among German Americans whose families were originally from the mid-Atlantic states. Frequently, fraktur are referred to as Pennsylvania German illuminated manuscripts....