Joseph Funk & Sons Correspondence
Scope and Content
The Joseph Funk & Sons Correspondence includes two handwritten letters from a Mennonite hymnbook publisher in Rockingham County, Virginia, to a client, James Curry, in Lewisburg, Virginia [now West Virginia]. The letters predate the Civil War and discuss Curry's order of the Mennonite hymnbook, Harmonia Sacra, and the settlement of his account. The unreliability of shipping books to the western counties via the railroad and the burden of increasing shipping fees are also mentioned. Noted geographic locations include Harrisonburg and Staunton, Virginia.
Dates
- 1858 - 1860
Creator
- Joseph Funk & Sons (Rockingham County, Va.) (Organization)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Joseph Funk was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1778 to the former Mennonite bishop, Henry Funk, and Barbara Showalter. In 1786, the Funks moved to Rockingham County, Virginia, in the area called Mountain Valley. In 1804, Joseph Funk built a log cabin and married Elizabeth Rhodes of York County, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth died, after bearing five children, in 1813. Funk was once again widowed by his second wife Rachel Britton in 1833.
A man of many talents, Funk was a landowner, farmer, schoolmaster, teacher of vocal music, and the creator/publisher of music books. In 1832, Funk published Genuine Church Music, a popular Mennonite hymnbook written in shape-note style. (Beginning with the 1851 edition, the title of the work was changed to Harmonia Sacra.) With the success and multiple editions of Harmonia Sacra, Funk established a printing house in 1847—thus making him founder of the first Mennonite printing house in the United States. Joseph Funk died in 1862; his grandsons then took over the printing house and had great success with the publication of gospel songs.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
The Joseph Funk & Sons Correspondence predates the American Civil War and includes two letters from a Mennonite hymnbook publisher in Rockingham County, Virginia, to a client in Lewisburg, Virginia [now West Virginia]. The letter discusses book shipments, the settlement of accounts, and the unreliability of shipping to the western counties via the railroad.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Source of Acquisition
The Joseph Funk & Sons Correspondence was purchased by Special Collections in 1993.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Joseph Funk & Sons Correspondence by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Joseph Funk & Sons Correspondence commenced and was completed in September 2008.
- Title
- Joseph Funk & Sons Correspondence, 1858-1860
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Emily Cook, Student Assistant
- Date
- 2008 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu