Use Restrictions

Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Letter from Reverend Ambrose Henkel to Reverend Socrates Henkel and David Row, C0408, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Purchased by SCRC Director Lynn Eaton from Jerry Showalter in August 2019.

Processing Information

Processing completed by Amanda Menjivar in August 2022. Finding aid completed by Amanda Menjivar in August 2022.

Biographical and Historical Information

Ambrose Henkel was a American reverend and printer who lived from 1786 - 1870. The Henkel family resided in New Market, Virginia and had a large impact on the area. In 1806 with his brother Solomon, Henkel created one of the first German language presses in the American South as a whole. Eventually Henkel ceded the running of the press to his brother, and presumably became a Reverend in the Lutheran Church.

Scope and Content

Letter from Ambrose Henkel to his children, addressed to "Rev[erend] Socrates Henkel or David Row," written on January 2, 1866. The letter was sent from the home of Franklin Bargers in Augusta, VA to New Market, VA. Henkel describes his activities preaching in Augusta at Coiners Church, the snowy weather, and individuals he intends to meet with. Henkel frequently mentions the Coiner family, including the death of "Old Mr George Coiner" and a family wedding.

Arrangement

This is a single item collection.

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Henkel Press pamphlet and leaves.

James Madison University Special Collections holds the Henkel Family Papers.

Shenandoah County Library Truban Archives holds materials on the Henkel and Coiner families.

The Handley Regional Library Stewart Bell Jr. Archives holds the Paul Henkel Family Papers and the Alfred D. Henkel Family Collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Lutheran Church
• Shenandoah County (Va.)