author
E. H. (Edward H.) Rauch
1826–1902
Best remembered for writing in Pennsylvania Dutch, this 19th-century Pennsylvania newspaperman and politician helped bring a regional language and culture into print. His work still stands out as an early effort to teach and preserve Pennsylvania German for readers of his time.
1 Audiobook
Pennsylvania Dutch Rip Van Winkle: A romantic drama in two acts
by E. H. (Edward H.) Rauch, Washington Irving
About the author
Born in Pennsylvania in the 19th century, Edward H. Rauch became known as a writer, editor, and public figure with strong ties to the state's Pennsylvania German community. Library records connect him with books including Rauch's Pennsylvania Dutch Hand-book and The Pennsylvania Dutchman, which reflect his interest in recording and explaining the language now often called Pennsylvania Dutch.
Rauch was also active in public life. The Pennsylvania House Archives lists him among former members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, showing that his career reached beyond publishing and into politics.
Today, he is mainly remembered for helping put Pennsylvania Dutch language and culture into print in a way that was accessible to ordinary readers. That gives his work a lasting place in the history of regional American writing.