JOHANNES SCHWALM HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

2010 ANNUAL MEETING

Dear Members and Friends of JSHA,

Our JSHA Annual Meeting is fast approaching! Hessian Heritage Day will be held at the Valley View Park starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 11, 2010. Members and the public are invited to the 36th consecutive Annual Meeting of the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, Inc. (JSHA). Admission is free to all. This event will be held rain or shine, as pavilions and trees offer shelter and shade.

Genealogy, history, folklore, fun, fellowship, and food are the ingredients for the Hessian Heritage Day event. Throughout the day short talks and demonstrations will be given on a variety of topics. Children's activities include a playground, games and stories.

If you have paid your 2010 annual membership, you will receive your membership card in this mailing and you will be able to pick up your 2010 The Hessians: Journal of the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association at the Annual Meeting (or it will be mailed to you the following week).

The 2010 Journal will include an article on German recruits in the 38th Regiment of Foot; an annotated translation of the journal of Wilhelm Johann Ernst Freyenhagen 1776-1778; a report on the court martial of Johann Christian Lindorff of the 40th Regiment of Foot; the autobiography of the Rev. Charles LaHatt, Hessian surgeon's apprentice and NY Baptist preacher; a description of the Hesse-Cassel Canton regulations of 1774; and the story of the Waldeck detachments used by the Royal Naval galleys in New York. Also included are a report on the Burgoyne campaign of 1776-1777, as it applied to his German auxiliaries; an article on the first Hessians to arrive in Philadelphia in 1776; the story of Lewis Kinen, Hessian and Provincial cavalry officer; Part 3 of the correspondence between the Admiral at Portsmouth and the Secretary of the Admiralty concerning the German troops, David Schwalm's article on the Civil War letters of Samuel Schwalm, recipes, research notes, and All in the Family.

Since 1995, because of the generosity of JSHA members, the Board of Directors has been able to allocate funds to enable the research committee to acquire microfilm and photocopies of documents to be published in our Journal. Over several years, we have had the British Navy Board minutes for the Revolutionary War period filmed by The National Archives (TNA) in Kew, England. Among its many duties, the Navy Board was responsible for hiring and managing transports, including those which carried German troops, their dependents and baggage. Many of the minutes refer to the board's outgoing orders and incoming letters concerning transports, (most of which no longer exist) and which provide details of the movement of troops not found elsewhere. So far, with the exception of the minutes for 1778 which were already filmed, we have underwritten the filming of the minutes from 1776 through 1781, making us the only source for this information outside of TNA.

Because of a substantial decrease in revenue, the JSHA board was reluctantly forced to eliminate research and filming funds from next year's budget. Having heard that the National Archives is seriously considering eliminating their microfilming service, we would like to have these remaining eight volumes of the Navy Board minutes for 1782 and 1783 filmed as soon as possible. The cost will be approximately $6000. To enable us to accomplish our objective, your research team is asking our members to contribute money above and beyond their annual dues so that we can continue to purchase research materials, including the Navy Board minutes.

Many attendees bring their own picnic lunches. Traditional bean soup is cooked in a large iron kettle, hot dogs and beverages are available and for sale. The day will conclude with a short business meeting followed by a "Kaffeeklatsch" with coffee and punch provided. Donations of cookies, pies or cakes would be appreciated.

Exhibits for the day will include a replica of a Hessian Grenadier Helmet, watercolor paintings of the original costumes from the Schwalm Valley, Hesse, Germany, original Civil War letters of Captain Samuel Schwalm and more. Our sales booth will offer the 2010 issue of our Journal, the Hessians of Lewis Miller, the biography of Theodore R. Schwalm, journals from previous years, publications, badges and other related items.

Valley View Park is located in Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 8 miles west of I-81, Exit 112. Follow Route 25 toward Hegins to Gap Street in Valley View and turn left toward the gap in the mountain. Directional signs will be posted. For further information contact N. Daniel Schwalm, Annual Meeting Coordinator, through the organization's website www.jsha.org. We hope to see you and your family at the Annual Meeting on Sunday July 11.

Sincerely,
Linda B. Schwalm, Membership Chairperson and Annual Meeting Committee

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