In the 18th and early 19th centuries, German Lutheran churches in America typically provided elaborately printed and hand-lettered certificates called “frakturs” to commemorate occasions such as births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, funerals, etc. By the late 19th century, the practice of giving printed souvenir booklets began in which an official, such as the minister would enter the appropriate information to commemorate the occasion.
The above page is from a 16-page-booklet sold by the United Lutheran Publication House of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; it was printed in the United States. The booklet was presented on the occasion of the confirmation of Kathryn Elizabeth Dietrich of Specktown, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, which took place in Gratz on 26 October 1929 and was performed by Rev. Wayne Z. Artz of the Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz.
The cover of the booklet (shown above) refers to it as “A Token of your Confirmation.”
The signed certificate was considered a legal document.
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