Birth Certificate of Catharina Umberger

Date1822 (possibly)

Attributed to The Wild Turkey Artist (active ca. 1790-1822)

MediumWatercolor and ink on laid paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 11 x 15 3/16in. (27.9 x 38.6cm) and Framed: 12 7/16 x 16 1/2 x 3/4in.

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Topham of Pittsford, New York, in memory of G. S. Topham of Wytheville, Virginia

Object number1972.305.1

DescriptionTwo birds, commonly called "wild turkeys," perch on stylized stems with square-shaped blooms at their outer ends. Between them, a heart encloses wording. To either side, large, stylized tulips flank more wording in the center. A heart at lower center encloses more wording, and two curling stems extend from behind it, each terminating in another square-shaped bloom. A dotted line defines the roughly rectangular space reserved for the central text block. The colors are quite faded.
The 7/8-inch molded wood frame, painted black, is a modern replacement.
Label TextThis fraktur formerly was glued to the inside of the lid of a painted blanket chest made in Wythe County, Virginia, between 1820 and 1835 (acc. no. 1972.2000.12). Both items were presented as gifts to the Folk Art Museum in 1972, after which the fraktur was removed from the acidic wood lid. The practice of storing or displaying birth and baptismal certificates and other frakturs in such locations is well known.
Most of the characteristics associated with the Wild Turkey Artist's work are present in Catharina Umberger's certificate, including the paired wild turkeys flanking a heart motif at the top center; the simple tulips, at either side, that have large, stylized leaves and vines; the heart at the bottom; and a text block, which is set off by a thin border with interior dots. The cross designs on either side of the turkeys and the heart at bottom also appear on other frakturs attributed to the artist. Generally, the Wild Turkey Artist's ornamentation is characterized by undulating lines and calligraphic curls. The turkeys usually have hatched wings and rumps, solid-colored breasts, and heads and necks decorated with a series of dots.
Catharina Umberger was undoubtedly a sister of the Simon, Dewit (David), and Isaac Umbergers whose certificates survive and are now attributed to the Rowan County area of North Carolina [note 1]. All have parents named Leonhardt or Leonard Umberger and Elisabeth Neffin (Neff). When and how Catharina's certificate became separated from the others is unknown, but several possibilities exist. Her family may have moved from Virginia to North Carolina, or vice versa, during the years of her childhood; or, Catharina may have moved to Virginia from North Carolina when she reached adulthood, taking her certificate with her and ultimately attaching it to a chest she acquired there.

InscribedIn ink, in the heart at the top is written, "Gott allein/die Ehre". In the center is written, "Im Jahr Christy: Anno 1805, den 20ten January, ist an dass/Licht dieser Welt gebohren worden, Catharina Der Vater ist/Leonhard Umberger, und die Ehe Frau Elisabetha eine gebohrene/Neffin, und die Tauf-Zeugen sind Henrich Umberger und seine/Ehe Frau Catharina." At lower left is written, "Sein Wort sein Tauf:/sein Nachtmahl dient/wieder allen un/fall". At lower center is written, "Mein Hertz soll sein/Gott den Herrn allein". At lower right is written, "Der Heilge Geist/im Glauben Lehrt/uns darauf Ver/trauen".
The above was translated by Pastor Frederick S. Weiser to read: (in the heart at the top) "To God alone the glory"; (in the center) "In the year of Christ, A. D. 1805, on the 20th of January, Catharina was born to the light of this world. Her father is Leonard Umberger, and her mother is Elisabeth, nee Neff. The sponsors are Heinrich Umberger and his wife, Catharine"; (at lower left) "His word, His baptism, His Communion shield against all misfortune"; (at lower center) "My heart shall be for God alone"; and (at lower right) "The Holy Spirit in faith teaches us to trust therein".
MarkingsA watermark in the primary support reads: "P H," possibly for the Maryland papermaker Peter Hoffman.
ProvenanceN. B. Fraktur 1972.305.1 was acquired glued to the underside of the lid of chest 1972.2000.12. Information apparently gleaned from donor John Topham is that he bought chest 1972.2000.12 at the "Rock Dale" sale in Wytheville, Va. It is not known how (or if) this contradicts former curator Richard Miller's speculative line of descent for the chest/fraktur as:
Possibly Henry Umberger, Jr. (1783-1866); to his son, Solomon Umberger (1813-1881); to his daughter, Mrs. Robert Crockett; Catherine Campbell, Wytheville, Va.; George Steven Topham, Wytheville, Va.; Mr. and Mrs. John S. Topham, Pittsford, NY.