author
Phebe Earle Gibbons
1821–1893
A lively 19th-century observer of American life, she wrote with curiosity, warmth, and a sharp eye for the communities around her. Her best-known work helped introduce many readers to the everyday customs of Pennsylvania German country.
1 Audiobook
"Pennsylvania Dutch," and other essays
by Phebe Earle Gibbons
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1821, Phebe Earle Gibbons was an American writer who later made her home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Living for many years among Pennsylvania German neighbors gave her the material for the book she is best known for, Pennsylvania Dutch; and Other Essays, first published in 1872.
Her essays draw on direct observation and familiar acquaintance, describing the lives, beliefs, and traditions of groups including the Amish, Mennonites, Moravians, and other communities in the region. She also wrote other books, including French and Belgians, showing a wider interest in travel and culture.
Gibbons came from a prominent Quaker family and is remembered as a thoughtful interpreter of the world around her. She died in 1893, but her writing still offers a vivid window into 19th-century Pennsylvania life.