Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

A stalwart of the Moravian community in Salem, N.C., Christian Ludwig Benzien was connected in spirit and blood with some of the most prominent of American Moravians. The Benzien manuscript is a complex document comprised of occasional poetry, hymns, and songs written largely, but apparently not exclusively, by Christian Ludwig Benzien.

The Benzien manuscript is a complex document comprised of occasional poetry, hymns, and songs written largely, but apparently not exclusively, by Christian Ludwig Benzien. A Moravian minister, the son and step-son of ministers, Benzien was also a talented poet in German, and his work shows the evidence of a highly developed literary and musical aesthetic, deeply interconnected with an equally highly developed spiritual devotion.

Most of the works were written in celebration or commemoration of special days set aside throughout the year, including Christmas and New Years, birthdays, childbirths, arrivals and departures, Lord's Suppers, and Love Feasts. The volume provides insight into the Moravian religious world view, and perhaps even more into their social and familial relations through sensitive depictions of the nature of friendships between men (and women), family members, and members of church organizations -- particularly the various choirs with which Benzien was associated.

The manuscript appears to have been transcribed in about 1810-1815 by Dorothea Sophia Bötticher, and is written in two hands, entirely in old script German.

Elizabeth Lippit compiled 2 volumes of hymns and religious songs around 1762. The songs, which are copied from various sources, pertain primarily to Christian themes.

Elizabeth Lippit compiled 2 volumes of hymns and religious songs around 1762. The volumes are 80 pages and 96 pages, respectively, and contain copied selections from various authors and sources, such as Alexander Pope. Many entries are based on specific biblical verses from both the Old and New Testaments and on biblical stories, primarily concerning the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Others relate to holidays, including Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, and more general celebrations like fasts and sacraments. Some poems pertain to historical figures, including Constantine, Saint Ambrose, and King George III. Additional subjects are virtue, beauty, love, and death.

The Emilie St. Cyr Songbook is a collection of hymns and prayers taken from Cantiques des Missions Composés by St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort.

The Emilie St. Cyr songbook, entitled "Cantiques Spirituels," is a single manuscript volume that records the text of several French hymns, taken from Cantiques des Missions... and originally composed by Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. The songbook, copied in a neat hand, seldom diverges from the original, and was created at Saint Ferdinand in Florissant, Missouri, later home to a convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Most discrepancies between this copy and the original are spelling differences; one notable exception is the songbook's version of "Pour L'ouverture de la Mission," which is significantly abbreviated. An inscription shows that the book belonged to St. Louis native Emilie St. Cyr, who added four short poems of her own "pour la fete de st Louis gonsague" in the book's first pages. The songbook also contains an index.

A currently unidentified writer copied six Protestant Christian hymns and songs into this volume sometime around the 1850s. The 16 pages of text include "Montgomery", "The Romish Lady", "The Orphan's Song", "Gloom of Autumn", "Remember the poor; or, the Widow's Prayers" (by Rev. H. G. Barrus), "Dying Hymn" (by Alice Cary). The copyist wrote the hymns and songs in a slim blank book with blue-green covers. The front cover bears a printed decorative border at the center of which is an armored prince with sword and shield, standing before a seated Clio with two books and holding out a quill pen to him. Surrounding text explains the relationship between history and "men's great actions." The back cover bears a printed multiplication table and advertising information for Benjamin B. Mussey & Co., Publishers, Booksellers, and Stationers, 29 Cornhill, Boston (including a list of popular books and music books published by Mussey, and types of stationery supplies).

A currently unidentified writer copied six Protestant Christian hymns and songs into this volume sometime around the 1850s.

• "Montgomery"
• "The Romish Lady"
• "The Orphan's Song"
• "Gloom of Autumn"
• "Remember the poor; or, the Widow's Prayers" (by Rev. H. G. Barrus)
• "Dying Hymn" (by Alice Cary)

The copyist wrote the hymns and songs in a slim blank book with blue-green covers. The front cover bears a printed decorative border (with quills) at the center of which is an armored prince with sword and shield, standing before a seated Clio with two books and holding out a quill pen to him. Surrounding text explains the relationship between history and "men's great actions." The back cover bears a printed multiplication table and advertising information for Benjamin B. Mussey & Co., Publishers, Booksellers, and Stationers, 29 Cornhill, Boston (including a list of popular books and music books published by Mussey, and types of stationery supplies).

A member of the Sager family of Canada and Vermont created this handmade volume registering the births of children to Frederick and Lydia Sager, along with other family events. While undated, the volume includes content ranging from 1814 to 1840, suggesting it was produced within that timeframe. Most entries list individuals' names and birthdates, written within pen-and-ink heart frames along with geometric patterns and other embellishments. The entry for an unnamed infant who died the same day it was born includes an illustration of a coffin, while other entries include drawings of objects like a quill, manicules, and flowers. The volume concludes with copies of two Biblical hymns, one carefully written to look like printed type.

A member of the Sager family of Canada and Vermont created this handmade volume registering the births of children to Frederick and Lydia Sager, along with other family events. While undated, the volume includes content ranging from 1814 to 1840, suggesting it was produced within that timeframe. Most entries list individuals' names and birthdates, written within pen-and-ink heart frames along with geometric patterns and other embellishments. The entry for an unnamed infant who died the same day it was born includes an illustration of a coffin, while other entries include drawings of objects like a quill, manicules, and flowers.

• Andrew Alonzo Sager, b. July 19, 1814
• Thomas Jetson Sager, b. August 15, 1816
• Horatio Nelson Sager, b. July 2, 1819
• Adam Sager, b. September 5, 1821
• Eve Sager, b. May 5, 1824
• An unnamed infant, born and died December 14, 1827
• Urane Mary Melissa Sager, b. March 22, 1830

• An unnamed infant, born and died August 4, 1832
• Zeri Saterns Sager, b. May 4, 1838
• Frederick Sager's marriage to Lydia Leffingwell Hawley, May 26, 1813
• Lydia Leffingwell Sager's death, April 4, 1840
• As well as incomplete records for Adam Sager (b. April 3, 1771) and Eve Sager

The volume concludes with copies of two Biblical hymns, one carefully written to look like printed type.

The volume has later covers made from an 1896 advertising board for a New York newspaper.

A member of the Sager family of Canada and Vermont created this handmade volume registering the births of children to Frederick and Lydia Sager, along with other family events. While undated, the volume includes content ranging from 1814 to 1840, suggesting it was produced within that timeframe. Most entries list individuals' names and birthdates, written within pen-and-ink heart frames along with geometric patterns and other embellishments. The entry for an unnamed infant who died the same day it was born includes an illustration of a coffin, while other entries include drawings of objects like a quill, manicules, and flowers. The volume concludes with copies of two Biblical hymns, one carefully written to look like printed type.

A member of the Sager family of Canada and Vermont created this handmade volume registering the births of children to Frederick and Lydia Sager, along with other family events. While undated, the volume includes content ranging from 1814 to 1840, suggesting it was produced within that timeframe. Most entries list individuals' names and birthdates, written within pen-and-ink heart frames along with geometric patterns and other embellishments. The entry for an unnamed infant who died the same day it was born includes an illustration of a coffin, while other entries include drawings of objects like a quill, manicules, and flowers.

• Andrew Alonzo Sager, b. July 19, 1814
• Thomas Jetson Sager, b. August 15, 1816
• Horatio Nelson Sager, b. July 2, 1819
• Adam Sager, b. September 5, 1821
• Eve Sager, b. May 5, 1824
• An unnamed infant, born and died December 14, 1827
• Urane Mary Melissa Sager, b. March 22, 1830

• An unnamed infant, born and died August 4, 1832
• Zeri Saterns Sager, b. May 4, 1838
• Frederick Sager's marriage to Lydia Leffingwell Hawley, May 26, 1813
• Lydia Leffingwell Sager's death, April 4, 1840
• As well as incomplete records for Adam Sager (b. April 3, 1771) and Eve Sager

The volume concludes with copies of two Biblical hymns, one carefully written to look like printed type.

The volume has later covers made from an 1896 advertising board for a New York newspaper.