Lecture notes on geography, history, and astronomy : manuscript, ca. 1815-1820.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

Lochman, Johann Georg, 1773-1826.

Contributor:

Stroh, J. N.

Language:

English

German

Subjects (All):

Geography.

World history.

Astronomy.

Lutheran Church--Clergy--Training of.

Lutheran Church.

Lutheran Church--Clergy.

Genre:

Lecture notes.

Manuscripts, German.

Penn Provenance:

Gift of the Lutheran Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), 1953.

Physical Description:

1 volume (84 leaves)

Place of Publication:

ca. 1815-1820.

Biography/History:

Born in Philadelphia of German immigrants, Lochman completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Pennyslvania in 1789, and became licensed as a Lutheran clergyman in 1794. He served as pastor in Lebanon, Pa. until August 1815; and then in Harrisburg, Pa., from September 1815 until his death. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was awarded to him by Allegheny College in 1819. Having himself been privately tutored for the ministry by the German-born Lutheran pastor Justus Henry Christian Helmuth (1745-1825), Lochman is known to have, in turn, instructed more than 30 candidates, including one by the name of Stroh, presumably the individual who produced this manuscript. That student is possibly identical with the Lutheran pastor Nicholas J. Stroh (1798-1897), who was born in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pa., and served as pastor in New Kingstown, Pa., from 1839 to 1845, before moving to Illinois.

Summary:

Handwritten notes in German on geography, history, and astronomy, written by J. N. Stroh, or N. Stroh, evidently while being instructed by the Reverend Johann Georg Lochman. The notes are in 3 sections: geography (pp. 1-42); history (pp. 49-89); and astronomy (pp. 91-105). Geography consists of profiles of the inhabited continents and of countries and regions all over the world, with inclusion of data on government, religion, and number of residents. Information is displayed in tables for Germany (pp. 10-14), North America (pp. 38-39), South America (pp. 40-41), and islands of the South Sea (Südlichen Meer; p. 42). Many rubrics, including country names, are given in both German and English, or occasionally in English only. History is presented under the headings Old Testament (pp. 49-64) and New Testament (pp. 65-88), with each subdivided into 4 periods. Modern history is included under New Testament, with the last period extending from the Reformation until the present time (von der Reformation bis zur jetztigen Zeit, d.i. 1517 bis 1815; p. 80). Astronomy includes sections on the solar system, the astrological signs, comets, meteors, lightning storms, and the measurement of time. Included in the volume are a hand-drawn diagram of the globe (p. 2); a printed, fold-out map of Palestine (Charte von Palästina; between pp. 28 and 29); a hand-drawn map of Palestine (Terra sancta; p. 30); and a hand-drawn diagram of the solar system (p. 97) showing 7 planets, including Uranus (Herschel). On the front flyleaf, in the same hand as the notes: Geographie Geography: J. N. Stroh / Transcribed from George Lochman D. D. On both inside covers: N. Stroh (also in the same hand). Several notes in English appear to be later insertions, possibly in a different hand (pp. 50, 89, 107).

OCLC:

232640818