Texas Wendish Heritage Society & Museum Serbin, Texas

Mailing Address

Route 2, Box 155
Giddings, TX 78942

Street Address

1049 County Road 212
Serbin, TX

Phone: 409-366-2441
Fax: 409-366-2805

Related Links

wendish.concordia.edu/html/frames.htm

Admissions

$1.00 Members fee; school children free

History

The museum, founded in 1980 by the Texas Wendish Heritage Society, was housed in an old school building. In 1988, a new facility, which houses the archives, library, administrative offices, gift shop, and a permanent display interpreting the history of the Wends, was added. The museum complex includes the former St. Paul Parochial School buildings and two log buildings.

The mission of the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum, Archives, and Library (TWHM) is to preserve, interpret, and make available for study the history of the Texas Wends, one of the European ethnic groups which immigrated to Texas in the 19th century. The Wends are a Slavic race, but were citizens of Prussia and old Saxony, an area now in East Germany.

Artifacts Collections

The museum collection includes artifacts brought from the homeland, Lusatia, and objects used by the Wendish in Texas. Personal, household, religious, educational, agricultural, and business artifacts are included in the exhibits.

Research Collections

The archives' primary collection focus is Wendish heritage in Texas from 1555 to 1990. Collection includes: 16.69 cubic feet manuscript collections, 15.45 cubic feet institutional records, 800 books, pamphlets, 3,000 photographs, maps, one oral history, 13.47 cubic feet newspapers.

Ninety-nine percent of the printed matter, manuscripts, and certificates of the historical collection are in Wendish and German. Most of these are in the old fraktur printing and the old German script.

Five hundred and fifty of the books are rare, and focus on religious, historical, and educational subjects. Those most revered are the Kilian translations into Wendish and the original writings of Rev. Johann Kilian, the religious leader of the 1854 immigration. Many early editions of the writings of Martin Luther are included. There are also about 1,000 images, collections of personal papers, the Anne Blasig research collection as well as baptismal, confirmation, and marriage certificates. The portraits of wedding couples show the progression from the traditional black bridal dress of the 19th century to the grey and eventually the white of the 20th century.

Library

Open to general public, students, scholars; approximately 325 volumes and numerous periodicals in English, Wendish, and German, specializing in the history and genealogy of the Wends throughout the world; does not circulate print materials; no appointment necessary; cannot assist with inter-library loans.

Visual reference collection: approximately 3,000 images pertaining to the Wendish culture worldwide; 90% of permanent collection visually documented.

Contact Archives about rights and reproduction. Permission to publish or publicly display photoduplications of archival materials:

A fee of $25 per item will be paid to the TWHM Archives. The expense of a glossy print, cost of a copy negative, and mailing costs will be paid by the patron. All negatives are to be retained by the archives.

Request for photoduplications: A fee of $7.50 per item is charged for requests made by the relatives of those in the image. A ten dollar per item is charged for requests by others. The expense of a glossy print, cost of a copy negative, and mailing costs will be paid. All responsibility for possible copyright infringement is assumed by the patron.

All responsibility for possible copyright infringement arising from the use of reproductions will be assumed by the patron. All reproductions of TWHM material require the following credit line: "Texas Wendish Heritage Museum Archives" and if required, photographer/author/artist or other appropriate description. Alterations of the original image are not allowed. A copy of any publication containing reproduction of TWHM archival materials will be sent to the TWHM archives. A request form serves as written permission for one-time right of publication and/or public display for the materials and purpose stated.

Appointment required: False

Services

Publications

Five newsletters per year.

Facilities

6,327 square feet total; 3,260 square feet exhibition area; lecture hall; wheelchair-accessible.

Staff

Barbara Hielscher
Phone: 409-366-2441

Archivist

Assistant Archivist

Librarian


Museum Type

History
Specialized


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