This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Prodigal Homecoming and German Heritage in Virginia Valley
A fragmented chronicle moves from a prodigal son’s return and a mother’s tearful kiss to a long survey of Germans in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It honors Germanic families, notable figures in politics, education, and industry, and notes schools, presses, and caves tied to Northern Virginia’s German influence. The piece blends poetry with prose commentary on birthplace, culture, and public life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earth
Blue Ridge
Alleghany Mountains
Virginia
Augusta
Rockingham
Page
Shenandoah
Warren
Frederick
Clarke
Jefferson
Berkeley
Morgan
West Virginia
Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah River
Potomac
Harper's Ferry
Maryland
Pennsylvania
East Virginia
Rockbridge
Botetourt
Roanoke
Franklin
Orore
Bedinger
Bowman
Conrad
Spengler
Putman
Baker
Hite
Stover
Funk
Stickley
Painter
Neff
Huffman
Snyder
Henkel
Mauck
Strickler
Rultner
Zirkle
Koontz
Miller
Roller
Keezel
Pennybacker
Nicholas
Pence
Bear
Bumgardner
Keister
Koiner
Daniel Sheffey
Jacob Swoope
Henry Bedinger
National
House of Representatives
Isaac S. Pennybacker
H. H. Riddleberger
United States
Jacob Rinker
Absalom Koiner
Marshall Hanger
George 8. Keezell
Holmes Conrad
J. G. Muhlenburg
Joseph Bowman
Abram Bowman
Jotn Hite
Philip Spengler
Col. Inc
Francis Neff
Muhlenberg
Col
Rogers Clark
Northwest
Col. Neft
Second Manassas
Sid
Virginia Infantry
Stonewall
Lewis Wetzel
Ohio Valley
Rockingham County
Henry Ruffner
Aldine Kieffer
F.W.N. Painter
Danske Dan
W. H. Ruffner
Daniel C. Flory
Bridgewater College
Charles G. Maphis
Valley of Virginia
Massanutten Academy
Woodstock
Shenandoah Collegiate Institute
Dayton
Brandon Institute
Basic City
Roanoke College
Shenandoah County
United Brethren
German Methodists
Elon O. Henkel
New Market
America
ISWS
Jacob D. Dietrich
Staunton
Dietrich
Joseph Funk & Sons
Isaac K. Funk
New York
Joseph
Ruebush-Kieffer Company
South
Funk Company
Singer's Glen
Musical Million
Joseph Funk
Aldine Kietler
L. J. Heatwale
Dale Enterprise
Canada
William J. Showalter
Washington City
National Cleographic Magazine
Panama Canal Zone
South Sea
J. C. Branner
Stanford University
Cooper I. Sebmitt
University of Tennessee
Heber M. Hays
University of Missouri
Justus H. Cline
University of Virginia
Weldon T. Myers
Converse College
S. C
I. S. Wampler
George Peabody College For Teachers
Nashville
Tenn
Anthony J. Showalter
Georgia
J. Henry Showalter
Ohio
John D. Brunk
Indiana
E. T. Hildebrand
St Paul
John E. Roller
Harrisonburg
Pennsylvania-German Society
Charles E. Kemper
Treasury Department
Washington
John Whern
United States Senate
E. D. Crumpacker
Charles L. Kagey
Kamas