Benigna von Zinzendorf in America

This lecture by Marita Gruner, Greifswald University, Germany, will take a closer look at the letters Benigna von Zinzendorf (1725-1789) wrote during her travels to America. She made her first trip to America in 1741-1743 as a teenager, arriving in America when she was 15 years old. During this trip, that she undertook together with her father, Count Zinzendorf, she was very involved in the missionary work.

The second letter is from 42 years later, when Benigna made her third trip to America (no letters or diaries have survived from her second trip in 1748). The crossing to America in 1783 was very difficult, unusually long and ended in shipwreck. They arrived in Bethlehem several months late. Benigna was able to see her grown daughter again in Bethlehem and get to know her grandchildren. During this time she wrote many letters to her younger sister Elisabeth.

Finally, the presentation will focus on the similarities and differences in the subjects and language of her letters from the times of her visits as a teenager and as an older Woman.

Location & Time
Tuesday, November 17; 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Online via Zoom
Please register at Moravianchurcharchives.org/event/lecture-benigna-von-zinzendorf-in-america/

We will send you a link to follow the lecture by Zoom.

This lecture is part of a program series in connection with the exhibit “Zinzendorf in America.”, which was made possible with the kind support of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, New York.