The
Perry Historians
The Lenig - Focht Library
The Lenig-Focht Library
and
The Lawrence and Julia Hoverter Archives
By Harry A. Focht
The Perry Historians was founded in 1976 to fill two voids in the study of family and local history in the Perry County area:
1. To provide a library where people could conduct serious research; prepare scholarly publications; and securely house such records. As early as 1974 a program was initiated to transcribe the tombstone inscriptions of Perry County (later expanded to all the counties surrounding Perry), copy the church records, and abstract the court records of both Perry and Cumberland Counties (the latter from 1755 to 1829). These were copied by hand and then typed. Until 1979 these records, plus at least 500 pounds of books were kept in the second floor apartment of one of the founders and hauled to Perry County every time we had a workshop. In November, 1977, I bought the Airy View School which had been a residence for 20 plus years. Following a year of work, the schoolhouse was dedicated again as an “institution of learning” in April, 1979.
2. The second reason for founding The Perry Historians was to assure the continuation of the 50 years of research and the preservation of the many records collected by Harry W. Lenig. Several of the founders worked with and were taught by Mr. Lenig for 20 years and realized the value of his collection of family Bibles, church records, books, land survey drafts, taufscheine, and extensive correspondence. Due to ill health Mr. Lenig was not able to participate in many organizational work sessions. Upon Mr. Lenig’s death in July of 1978, the library was named in his honor.
The initial public meeting was held March 21, 1976, in the under croft of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Newport. The following charter members signed Articles of Incorporation on April 11, 1976: Donald Baker, Annette Brown, Robert
and
The Perry Historians was founded in 1976 to fill two voids in the study of family and local history in the Perry County area:
1. To provide a library where people could conduct serious research; prepare scholarly publications; and securely house such records. As early as 1974 a program was initiated to transcribe the tombstone inscriptions of Perry County (later expanded to all the counties surrounding Perry), copy the church records, and abstract the court records of both Perry and Cumberland Counties (the latter from 1755 to 1829). These were copied by hand and then typed. Until 1979 these records, plus at least 500 pounds of books were kept in the second floor apartment of one of the founders and hauled to Perry County every time we had a workshop. In November, 1977, I bought the Airy View School which had been a residence for 20 plus years. Following a year of work, the schoolhouse was dedicated again as an “institution of learning” in April, 1979.
2. The second reason for founding The Perry Historians was to assure the continuation of the 50 years of research and the preservation of the many records collected by Harry W. Lenig. Several of the founders worked with and were taught by Mr. Lenig for 20 years and realized the value of his collection of family Bibles, church records, books, land survey drafts, taufscheine, and extensive correspondence. Due to ill health Mr. Lenig was not able to participate in many organizational work sessions. Upon Mr. Lenig’s death in July of 1978, the library was named in his honor.
Bessie Byrnes, Jerry
Clouse, Harry Focht, John Hackenberger, Winifred Keiter, Lorna Leach, Harry Lenig, Michael Mumper, Ruth Reigle, Margaretta
Sarver, Loman
and Melissa Seitz, Marian Shade, Gladys Shughart, Andrea Snedaker, and
Jeffrey Wright. Officers elected were: President – Harry Focht, Vice President – Jerry Clouse, Secretary – Andrea Snedaker, Treasurer – Jeffrey Wright. Starting in 1976 and continuing every year since a bi-monthly newsletter and annual publication,
The Perry Review, and at least one local fundraising project has been held.
Records Available
The Harry W. Lenig Library
is comprised of the Lenig Files
which consist of SURNAME file information (See surname listing) and Card Catalog information as well as extensive list of items that we currently house in the Library. If you are interested in requesting research on any of the below listed Surnames, please see our Research Policy. (Research Policy)
The Perry Historians' Newsletter, "The Airy View"
(Our Bi-monthly newsletter, 1976-present, containing many genealogical articles, newspaper clippings, accessions, queries, and surname exchanges).
Church Records: Copies of all extant Perry County Church records, and translations. Also have copies from other counties, and several originals.
- Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever (1730-1779) in Maryland and Pennsylvania (Click Link to view)
Newspapers: All known files from 1820 and upwards are on microfilm. They are being indexed.
Tombstone Inscriptions: All Perry County burial grounds have been copied, including several that have been destroyed; German stones have been translated. Also have records for surrounding counties.
Census Records: Complete collection for Perry County on microfilm; also various years for various other counties on microfilm.
Mortuary Records: Original records for two funeral homes; microfilm records of another; access to cemetery burial records.
Court Records: Deeds, probate, vital statistics, tax lists, civil & criminal cases for Perry, Cumberland and Juniata Counties.
Land Survey Drafts: Originals from the late 1700's to the early 1900's.
Printed Works: Large collection of genealogical, biographical and historical publications and reference works.
Family & Subject Files: Approximately 8,000 files that are arranged by surname and subject. Also, a card catalog containing about 800,000 cards.
Photographs: Large collection of photos; people and various places/scenes.
Estate Files: Over 20,000 Estate Files have been indexed and shelved.
Taufschein Collection: (Birth/Baptismal Certificates), almost 400, plus publications containing about 1,000. These supply a date/place of birth and usually the mother's maiden name.
Digital Records: The Lawrence and Julia Hoverter Charitable Trust grant has enabled us to purchase from the Perry County Court House, the digital records of the Marriage Licenses, the County Estates and Deeds.
