Bethel Community, Shelby County, Missouri, Song Books, n.d. (C3876)

3 volumes on 1 roll of microfilm

MICROFILM

DONOR INFORMATION

The Bethel Community Song Books were loaned to the University of Missouri for microfilming by Mrs. Virgil Culler through Adolf E. Schroeder on 9 June 1992 (Accession No. 5184).

HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Bethel Community was a communistic, agricultural experiment established by William Keil, a German immigrant, in 1844. His followers were mostly Germans and Pennsylvania Dutch from Ohio and areas around Pittsburgh.

The colonists lived under a loosely governed but sternly moral patriarchy and subscribed to no particular religious tenet. Property and labor were shared and the group prospered and was self-sufficient. Keil founded the Aurora Community, which followed the same ideals, in Aurora, Oregon, in 1855.

Both communities flourished until after Keil's death in 1877. Shortly thereafter they disbanded, Bethel in 1879 and Aurora in 1881.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The three undated song books contain the words only of German songs, including folk songs and hymns.

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

• Bethel Community, Shelby County, Missouri
• Folk songs--German American
• Hymns--German American
• Songbooks