Birth Certificate for Huldah Fritz

DatePossibly 1827

Attributed to Henry Young (1791-1861)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Lycoming County

MediumWatercolor and ink on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 9 7/8 x 8in. (25.1 x 20.3cm) and Framed: 11 7/8 x 9 3/4in.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1976.305.3

DescriptionA woman in a blue dress stands at full length in the center. She holds aloft a bouquet of flowers in her far hand, a purse in her near hand. She stands on a green mound. Her body is turned in profile. To either side of her head is a bird clutching a tulip and to either side of her lower figure are pink roses. Eight-pointed stars appear at either side of an inscription at the top.
The 1 1/8-inch molded, red-painted, wood frame is probably original.
Label TextHuldah Fritz's certificate, with its drawing of a single woman in the center of the composition, represents the third type of fraktur produced by Young. Many of the motifs seen in 1976.305.2 also are present here, including almost identical birds and roses, although the roses lack inked veining and other refinements.
Young invariably drew the single woman in profile, and surviving examples with this motif show the figures facing either left or right. As seen here, the women usually hold in one hand a bouquet of four flowers --- a pink rose, a spray of blue and yellow daisies, a yellow tulip, and a fanciful multicolored flower --- while the hand closest to the viewer is dropped to the side and grasps a small purse or basket. All of the ladies have similar coiffures, with the hair piled high on the head and held by a comb and with two small curls covering the temple. Young used several colors for the dresses, usually blue, red, or yellow. In some other examples, the dress is further embellished with small flowers.
Most of Young's frakturs in this format are documented to Lycoming County. Two examples from Lehigh and Northumberland counties are known.
InscribedThe ink inscription in the top margin reads: "Huldah Fritz/Daughter of Henry Fritz And his wife/Mary was born Scott was born the 16th Day/of September in the year of our Lord 1827/Fairfield Township Lycoming County/State of Pennsylvania." An inscription at lower left reads: "By A present of her Brother John Fritz."
ProvenanceOwnership prior to Lawrence E. King is undocumented.