Frederick Rapp letter, 1823

Resource Information

The work Frederick Rapp letter, 1823 represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Indiana State Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, http://bibfra.me/vocab/marc/Collection, Multimedia, Mixed Materials.

Label

Frederick Rapp letter, 1823

Inclusive dates

1823

Creator

• Rapp, Frederick, 1775-1834

Creator

• Rapp, Frederick, 1775-1834

Subject

• New Harmony (Ind.)
• Pennsylvania
• Textile machinery industry
• Clothing and dress
• Young, William
• Weaving

Language

• eng
• eng

Summary

This one photocopied letter, the original of which is in the Chicago Historical Society's collection, is three pages, handwritten, plus the envelope which makes four pages. Frederick Rapp wrote to Mr. William Young, No. 10 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 27, 1823. He began his letter thus: "After a short and pleasant voyage down the Ohio River, I arrived here on the 12th in good health among my friends, whom I found generally well and as glad to see me as I was to see them." Frederick wrote that he wanted William to loan him machinery to weave cloth, including cashmere. Frederick reports on the harvest of wheat, rye, barley, corn and oats, which "look very promising." They also had wine and fruit. "The builders of our town are preparing rapidly in rearing up good houses for the comforts of its inhabitants, whose industry is everywhere blessed with plenty, and their united efforts crowned with success. They have by constant applications converted the wilderness into pleasant gardens and extensive fields, and those engaged in the creation of them, conscious of having done their duty, are cheerful and happy." At the end of his letter, Frederick wrote: "I must also congratulate you on the progress of mechanical improvements, and particularly compliment Mrs. Young on her inventive and well applied genius. The recital of her exploits has astonished all those who heard it and excited the curiosity of my little girl, who desires me to beg Mrs. Young for a few samples of her needle work achievements for patterns of her favorite occupation."

Biographical or historical data

Frederick Rapp was the adopted son of German immigrant George Rapp, who founded the Harmony Society in 1814 in Harmony (now New Harmony), Indiana. Ten years later, in 1824, a group of Harmonists left Indiana for their new community of Economy (now Ambridge) in Pennsylvania. The following year, the last members of the group left after the 20,000 acres in southern Indiana were sold.

Cataloging source

ISL