Letter From Henry M. Fulmer to Alfred L. Shoemaker, August 1, 1954

Authors

Henry M. Fulmer

Document Type

Correspondence

Files

Date

8-1-1954

Keywords

Amish, education, religious beliefs, Lutheran Church, jailing, legislation

Description

A handwritten letter from Henry M. Fulmer addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated August 1, 1954. Within, Henry expresses his shock upon hearing news of a group of Amish men being jailed for refusing to allow their children to be educated after the eighth grade. Henry expresses a desire for legislation to be passed with the help of Shoemaker, in ensuring the Amish are exempt from compulsory education.

Sender

Henry M. Fulmer

Recipient

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Corresponds to:

Packet 401-11

City

Washington, D.C.

Transcription

632 “A” St, S.E.

Washington D.C.

Aug. 1, 1954

Dr. Alfred L Shoemaker

The Pa. Dutch Folklore Center

Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster Pa.

Dear Sir:

I have a problem (adopted) which I hope you too will adopt, if you haven’t already done so.

I don’t know whether the educational controversy of the Amish has come to your attention or not. I’m writing you about it so that in the event, (due to the pressure of the many things you have to deal with), it has escaped you, you may know about it.

I was terribly shocked when I saw in our Lutheran church publication a picture of several Amish men being jailed because (as the small accompanying article put it) they refused to send their children to school beyond the eighth grade.

I was horrified that such a thing could happen in this freedom loving country where special stress is laid on religious freedom.

Here is a people who pay their taxes and bear their full share of the state’s burden yet require less of the state’s services. They are in no way a problem, they occupy no space in the jails or poor houses, they don’t cause near the wear on the highways that the average citizen does and are willing to do with less educational outlay then the rest of us, and yet for that very reason they are jailed. Religious freedom?

It is part of their religious belief (as I understand it) that education beyond the eighth grade is unnecessary for their way of life, furthermore their homes and farms are conclusive proof that it is so. Nowhere can one find a better environment and a more desirable atmosphere in which to live (if one is desirous of peaceful living) than among these people. Yet because some judge feels hey are not living up to the letter of the law they must be jailed.

Now you might say why tell me all these things which I’ve known for a long time?

Well here is the reason, something should be done about it, and you are in a far better position to bring pressure to bear than I am.

I am hoping that if there is a movement already organized to correct this injustice, you will get your organization behind it and give it all the help possible, and if nothing is being done about it, thus far, that you will start a movement to do whatever is necessary even to the point of having special legislation enacted if necessary. State or National or both if needed.

There are exceptions to every rule and this surely is a most worthy exception.

Personally I think this country would be far better off if the entire citizenry was as devoted to God as the Amish.

I will be glad to hear that the situation is being remedied.

Yours truly, Henry M. Fulmer

Language

English

Rights Statement

This item is available courtesy of the Ursinus College Library Special Collections Department. It is not to be copied or distributed for commercial use. For permissions which fall outside of educational use, please contact the Special Collections Department.

Recommended Citation

Fulmer, Henry M., "Letter From Henry M. Fulmer to Alfred L. Shoemaker, August 1, 1954" (1954). Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents. 57.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/shoemaker_documents/57