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The Society of Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles
While researchers were collecting information for the 1923 publication of The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families, an interest in the genealogy and history of the Schwenkfelders since their arrival in this country was raised among the immigrants' descendants. As a result, "The Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles" was organized in Philadelphia on February 8, 1921, with 125 charter members. The organization, founded by the descendants of those Schwenkfelders who arrived during the years 1731-1737, is similar to the Mayflower Society. Visit www.schwenkfelderexilesociety.org for more information about joining the Exile Society.
Benefits include:
- Invitation to the Annual Fall Meeting with a featured speaker
- Semi-annual newsletter to keep members informed of news and upcoming events
- Receipt of Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center newsletter with invitations to special events
- Various papers, pamphlets, books (on discounts on same) distributed by the Exile Society
- Volunteer opportunities
- Viehweg Monument upkeep
- Exile plaque monument at Walnut Street Waterfront area of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia
- Update of families descended from Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
- Project of entering the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families into a genealogical computerized database
- Maintenance of website at www.schwenkfelderexilesociety.org
Support of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
- Annual program, publicity and refreshments
Postage and handling of correspondence and semi-annual newsletter
- Download an application for membership here. Annual membership fee: $15.00 Associate Life/Descendant Membership $300.00.
Join the Schwenkfelder Family Tree! The Genealogical Record Project
If you can trace your ancestry to a Schwenkfelder immigrant, we need your family history for our Schwenkfelder Families Genealogical Record Update File
Download a current Schwenkfelder Families Genealogical Record form
Mail to: Schwenkfeldian Exile Society
C/O Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
105 Seminary Street
Pennsburg PA 18073
A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of the Schwenkfelders Who Arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733, 1734, 1736, 1737 was compiled by Rev. Reuben Kriebel in 1879 from the German records of Rev. Balthasar Heebner. At a later date it was determined that the records should be updated to reflect the growth of the descendants of the original Schwenkfelder immigrants. Dr. Samuel K. Brecht undertook the challenge to gather, organize and publish the information. The original cut off date was to be in 1917 but some information as late as 1922 made it into the final edition of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families.
In 1980 The Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles (Schwenkfeldian Exile Society) proposed extending the link to the original immigrants with the present day generations. As a result, a Schwenkfelder Families Genealogical Record Supplement Form (GR form) was designed to catalog four generations with the purpose of identifying lineage back to a descendant named in the 1923 publication.
What can YOU do to help continue this project? You and your families can help continue these efforts for the benefit of future generations. If you have not already completed a Schwenkfelder Families Genealogical Record Supplement form, please do so. If you have previously submitted a G.R. form, is it up to date?
The Exile Society continues to maintain this file out of funds from membership dues. For more information about obtaining forms and the status on the project, please write, call or email the Schwenkfeldian Exile Society, 215–679–3103, exile@schwenkfelder.com. See the Exile Society website at www.schwenkfelderexilesociety.org