Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center - Rosina Heydrich's Midwifery Manual and Ledger, 1770-1819

About This Collection

An extensive midwifery manuscript (Hebamme Büchlein) in the archive of the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, penned between the years 1770-1819, is attributed to Rosina Heydrich, a midwife and member of the Schwenkfelder community in the Upper Perkiomen Valley. This unique manuscript served as both a birth register and a compendium of specific remedies, treatments, and recommendations for women’s health. The largest and most significant portion of the text is devoted to listing the dates and names associated with 1,739 births to which she dutifully attended, detailing the breadth of five decades of service to the community as an experienced lay practitioner of obstetric medicine. This project was supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historical Archives and Records Care Grant, a program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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Rosina Heydrich Midwifery Manual and Ledger, 1770-1819
Rosina Heydrich Midwifery Manual and Ledger, 1770-1819
Midwifery--Pennsylvania
This journal, written by Rosina Heydrich, is a rare artifact of women’s work and medical practice in early America, covering 1775 to 1819. It contains recipes and cures for ailments dealing with childbirth and also records the births of over 1,700 children. This project was supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historical Archives and Records Care Grant, a program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Rosina Heydrich's Midwifery Manual and Ledger, 1770-1819: Transcription and Translation
Rosina Heydrich's Midwifery Manual and Ledger, 1770-1819: Transcription and Translation
Midwifery--Pennsylvania
An extensive midwifery manuscript (Hebamme Büchlein) in the archive of the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, penned between the years 1770-1819, is attributed to Rosina Heydrich, a midwife and member of the Schwenkfelder community in the Upper Perkiomen Valley. This unique manuscript served as both a birth register and a compendium of specific remedies, treatments, and recommendations for women’s health. The largest and most significant portion of the text is devoted to listing the dates and names associated with 1,739 births to which she dutifully attended, detailing the breadth of five decades of service to the community as an experienced lay practitioner of obstetric medicine. This project was supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historical Archives and Records Care Grant, a program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.