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Cramer Family Bible and Postcards

 Collection
Identifier: SC MS 0207

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a Bible, Marriage Certificate, seven photographs, 57 Postcards, a CD and two receipts from the Royal Arcanum insurance company. Apparently Robert V. Cramer was a member as there are two receipts in his name in the collection. The Royal Arcanum promoted morality without religious distinction, patriotism without partisanship, and brotherhood with creed or class. The Royal Arcanum was founded in 1872. It promoted insurance protection for middle class families.

Dates

  • 1892 to 1908

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

Robert V. Cramer was born March 15, 1849 near High Bridge, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Allie G. Fulper was born April 27, 1856 near Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County. They were united in marriage in her father’s home at Clarksville, Hunterdon County, New Jersey on February 22, 1874 by David Kline, pastor of the Lutheran Church at Spruce Run. Their daughter, Bertha, was born March 20, 1875. Their son, Harmon J. Cramer was born November 28, 1882 and died May 13, 1883. Bertha married Edward Kinsely sometime at the turn of the century and traveled with husband according to postcards sent to her mother during 1904 to 1908. Robert VanAmbergh Cramer died May 17, 1927 and Alice Gertrude Fulper Cramer died December 20, 1936. The Cramer residence was 520 Pawnee Street, South Bethlehem, PA. Their daughter Bertha Knisely also resided at this address as postcards from her husband were sent to her at that address.

Extent

1 box ; 1 linear foot

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A curious collection of ephemera representative of Victorian era interests in collecting postcards and Bible studies. The Cramer Family lived in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at the end of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century.

Arrangement

The “Bible” is a salesman’s sample. This sample measures 31.5 cm x 24 cm x 4 cm (12.5 x 9.5 x 1.75 inches). The binding is brown leather badly abraded on the edges with deep decorative gold embossing. The binding is in poor condition with many loose pages as well as the covers being separated from the spine. The inside covers front and back have samples of gold stamping – Holy Bible A B C (front) and the back has two spine samples featuring one spine with Gothic font Die Heilige Bibel and the second - Holy Bible References D & E Bible Dictionary and Cities of the Bible both spine samples glued to back inside cover. The text of the book includes samples of the topics of the Bible text, explanation of the Old Testament books, biblical cities, beautiful etchings illustrating various biblical stories and a panorama of Jerusalem and Mount Zion, biblical scenery, customs and manners, antiquities, natural history, maps, descriptions of the world’s religious denominations, pronouncing dictionary and pages for family records: Marriages, Births, Deaths and Memoranda. The title page of the book indicates it is published by Henry S. Goodspeed & Co. No. 37 Park Row, New York. The title reads: The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, translated out of The Original Tongues, and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, with the Apocrytha, Concordance and Psalms, the text conformable to the Oxford and the American Bible Society’s standard editions. Pages are edged in gold. The text pages are thin paper, the etchings are on heavier paper and the family history pages are heavy paper or cardboard stock. There are two pages of heavy stock with cutouts for possibly 16 photographs, however only seven photographs remain.

The ornate marriage certificate for Robert V. Cramer of High Bridge, Hunterdon County, New Jersey and Allie (Alice) G. Fulper of Clarksville, Hunterdon, New Jersey measures 35.5 cm x 45.5 cm and has two oval cutouts for photographs but no photographs.

There are two original Royal Arcanum certificates addressed to Robert V. Cramer: No. 173 dated December 31, 1892 and No. 174 dated January 31, 1893.

Fifty-seven postcards addressed either to Mr. or Mrs. Robert V. Cramer or Mrs. Edward Knisely ranging in date from 1904 to 1908.

A CD of the postcard images is also included.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift

Related Materials

Lehigh University Postcard Collection Doolittle Family Bible and Documents (SC MS 0196)

Separated Materials

The ornate marriage certificate measures 35.5 cm x 45.5 cm with two cutouts in the upper half of the document for photographs (no photographs attached). The certificate is badly damaged with tears and some missing paper. (Shelved in flat case)

Creator

Status
Completed
Author
Eleanor Nothelfer
Date
June 2011
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)