Manuscript Group 354
OLD ECONOMY VILLAGE COLLECTION
[ca. 1813-1953]
5.5 cubic feet
Old Economy Village is the restored 19th century home of the Harmonists, a Christian
communal society known for its piety and industrial prosperity. The Harmony Society
was founded by George Rapp, a German Pietist who believed in the need for more
purity in the Christian faith. Gathering a group of followers, Rapp left Wurtemerg,
Germany to come to America in 1803. The Harmonists formed a communal society in
Butler County, Pennsylvania in 1805. In 1814, the group moved to Harmony, Indiana,
hoping to further their industrial growth with the advantage of river transportation.
In 1825, the Harmony Society returned to Pennsylvania, establishing their third
and final home they called Economy near Ambridge. The Harmonists were well known
worldwide for the production of wool, cotton and silk, and Economy became known
as the pioneer American silk center in the 1830's and 1840's. Except for a brief
split of the Society in 1832 due to the emergence of "Count de Leon," who claimed
to be the Messiah, the Harmonists maintained a productive and peaceful way of
life. With the death of their founder, the increased economic competition occasioned
by the expanding industrial revolution, and the commitment to the practice of
celibacy led to a gradual decline and eventual dissolution of the Society in 1905.
After extended litigation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania received title to
the property of the Harmony Society in Economy. In 1919, Old Economy Village became
a historic site operated by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission.
The collection contains manuscript materials of the Harmonists including:
- Accounts
- Balance Sheets
- Business Correspondence
- Deinner Donation, including:
- Harmony Society Accounts (1825, 1831, 1851)
- Harmony Society Incoming Letters (1813-14, 1821, 1831, 1841, 1846, 1854-55,
1858,1863)
stamped envelopes (1850-88)
- Financial Settlements
- Ledgers
- Mary Fruth Papers, 1897-1937, including Letters, Postcards, and Photographs
- Memorandum
- William J. Werner Papers, including Economy Milling Co. Checks (1905-18)
and Journals (1898-1909)
- Yost Papers, 1832-33, dealing with the Count de Leon affair in the Harmony
Society
- Lithographs
- Engravings
- Prints
- Maps relating to the Harmony Society
- Glass Plate Negatives, ca. 1900, showing scenes in Harmony and Economy,
Pennsylvania
- Breeding Way Glass Lantern Slides
This manuscript group has been transferred to the PHMC's Old Economy Village
Historic Site, but the Pennsylvania State Archives maintains microfilm copies
of photographs of Old Economy Village and the Harmony Society leaders, members
and workers taken prior to 1950.
For related records see the Harmony Society Papers (Manuscript
Group 185), John S. Duss Papers (Manuscript Group 310),
Karl Arndt Collection of Harmony Society Materials (Manuscript
Group 437), Knoedler Family Collection (Manuscript Group
330), and Henry Mohn Family Collection (Manuscript Group
332), which have also been transferred to Old Economy Village.
- Harmony Society Papers, [ca. 1813-1953]. (5.5 cubic feet) {#354m.1}
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