PENNSBURG PA – For much of Pennsylvania’s history, the state had a bilingual population. The range of bilingualism that existed here between the 1700s and 1900s is the topic of a November presentation in Pennsburg.
Guest speaker Peter Siebert will discuss bilingualism, and challenges early German immigrants faced, during a Brown Bag Lunch lecture scheduled for Wednesday (Nov. 11, 2026) at noon at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St.
Language barriers were among the many difficulties confronting German immigrants. Because English was not their first language, they dealt with problems in conducting business and transacting legal matters.
Admission to the talk is free, thanks to a grant from KeyBank. Advance registration is requested to ensure everyone has a seat, whether real or virtual. To sign up, send an e-mail to info@schwenkfelder.org, or call 215-679-3103. Indicate whether you plan to attend in-person, or via a Zoom conferencing software link.
About The Speaker
Raised in central Pennsylvania, Seibert attended Dickinson College and Penn State University, with a bachelors degree in humanities, and masters of arts in American studies.
Seibert currently is the president and CEO of the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. The accredited museum features a world-class collection of maritime art and artifacts. It also is home to the Spanish American war cruiser Olympia, and World War 2 submarine Bacuna.
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is the region’s largest museum sharing stories of the Pennsylvania German experience in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is open free of charge Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
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