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By Abigail Sholes '23
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection consists of 130 prayer covering patterns created by the Bucher sisters for women in the Annville Church of the Brethren as well as diaries of Sallie and Esther. The patterns are labeled with the names of the women for whom they were used.
Collection Historical Note
Clara, Sallie, and Esther Bucher were the daughters of Allen and Mary (nee Gingrich) Bucher. All three were raised in Annville, Pennsylvania on their father’s farm. Clara Bucher was born on 15 September 1888. She never married and lived with her sisters Sallie and Esther in Annville throughout her life. Clara was an active member of the religious community and made prayer coverings for local women in the Palmyra and Annville Brethren Churches. Clara Bucher passed away on 14 January 1967. Sallie Bucher was born on 22 July 1893. Alongside her sisters, Sallie Bucher never married. She was also an active member of the religious community in Annville and worked with her sister Clara and potentially Esther to make prayer coverings for local women. Sallie Bucher passed away on 21 December 1983. Esther Bucher was born on 3 November 1909. She attended a two-year teaching program at Elizabethtown College and graduated in 1931. Her first teaching job was located in North Londonderry Township. Later, she went on to teach first-grade in the Annville-Cleona School District for 45 years before retiring. Also a very active member of the church, Esther Bucher taught Sunday School at the Annville Church of the Brethren, which all three sisters were members of. She lived in Annville for most of her life, but passed away in Palmyra on 12 October 2000.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Earl H. and Anita F. Hess Archives and Special Collections
Acquisition Source:
Kathy Bucher
Acquisition Method:
Donated to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies
Related Materials:
Bucher, Simon G., 1887-1972, Papers (MG.1.071), Mennonite Life. For more information please see https://mennonitelife.org/research/.
Box and Folder Listing
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- Box 7
- Volume 1: Sallie Bucher Diary, 1 January 1966–31 December 1970
- This diary generally contains information about Sallie Bucher’s daily life: weather, chores, sewing, and church attendance. Aside from regular entries about daily activities, this diary contains several dates of note. In an entry from 15 April 1966, the author writes that her brother Allen Bucher passed away. On 14 January 1967, Sallie Bucher’s sister Clara Bucher passed away. Another entry dated 19 December 1968 notes the passing of her brother George Bucher. After these losses, subsequent diary entries mention sister Esther Bucher frequently. Oftentimes these entries are about Esther’s teaching career, noting days off or days when Esther returned home early or late from work.
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