Writings of George Rapp

Old Economy Village is in the process of digitizing archival material. The following documents are highlights from the collection. One-time only personal use of documents is allowed. For publication or other public usage, permission is required. If you have questions or wish to speak with someone regarding your research please contact our Curator, Sarah Buffington, (724) 266-4500 x 111 or sbuffingto@pa.gov

Gedanken über die Bestimung des Menschen, by George Rapp, was published in New Harmony, Indiana by the Harmony Society on their new printing press in 1824. The book is the German version of “Thoughts on the Destiny of Man,” also printed in 1824. On March 6, 1824, George Rapp wrote to Frederick Rapp “I have begun to write a Philosophy on the system of Harmony.” And on November 15, 1824 he again wrote to Frederick “You may not give anyone a copy of the printed book; it must be printed over, because so many errors are still found in the manner of writing which must be improved, which you should have done, especially Christoph.” Since it was printed during the Society’s move to Economy, Pennsylvania, it was never rewritten, however it still shows Rapp’s ideas, strongly influenced by Johann Gottfried Herder, about die Harmonie and the destiny of man.

Harmonist Sermons – Thousands of sermon notes, thought to be in George Rapp’s hand, remain in the Old Economy Village archives. They are all in old German script and vary in size, approximately 2.5-3.5 inches. Most of the sermons are not dated and include symbols within the text.