Paul Wieand: A Folklore Legend

Paul R. Wieand, born March 03, 1907 in Guth’s Station, Pennsylvania, led a vibrant life enriched in his Pennsylvania German Heritage. He was not a man of one talent, and found joy in many different ways of artistic expression.

During his life, Paul was hailed as “Mr. Pennsylvania Dutch” by people who knew him. His artworks, Christmas cards, tapestries, and other projects contribute to an extensive legacy that lives on in history. He was known as a proficient artist, actor, and playwright, and was best known for his role playing “Sabina” in the audio show Assaba un Sabina that aired from 1944 to 1954.

He wrote 15 Pennsylvania Dutch plays between 1933-1949, which were performed by local groups and organizations, such as the Paul R. Wieand Pennsylvania German Folklore Group. Paul R. Wieand also created a folklore-inspired singing and performance group called the Paul Wieand Singers. In all of Paul’s works, his personality and accomplishments shine through everything he created.

Two images- the first a poster that reads at the top "In Person- The Famous Assebe un die Sabina" This poster advertises a live performance of the radio show ‘Assabe und Sabina’, where Dr. Harry Hess Reichard played Der Assabe and Paul R. Wieand played die Sabina, his nagging wife. In many different recollections of the radio show, Wieand was praised for his high pitched, almost shrieking voice as Sabina. In the show’s popularity, they were invited to perform live at many different Pennsylvania German events.

‘Assabe un Sabina’ appearance at Reinholds Liar’s Contest, newspaper clipping, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University Before famous handmade Christmas cards, Paul R. Wieand was best known for his role on the popular radio show ‘Assabe un Sabina’, where he played Sabina Mumbauer, the wife of a Pennsylvania German farmer, Assabe. The show became so popular that they performed live, often at renowned events like the Reinhold’s Liar’s Contest.

“Der Kritz Wake Schtore”, A Pennsylvania German Play, performed in 1993 at Conrad Studio, Allentown, Pa, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University

‘Through the Year With the Pennsylvania Germans’ playbill for a concert performed by the Paul R. Wieand Pennsylvania German Folklore Group on July 23, 1989, Souderton, PA, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University

Paul R. Wieand Pennsylvania German Folklore Group Binder, Allentown, Pa, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University

Inside the Paul R. Wieand Pennsylvania German Folklore Group Binder, Allentown, Pa, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University

A pamphlet detailing the origin of the Paul R. Wieand Pennsylvania German Folklore Group, Allentown, Pa, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University This pamphlet explains how the group was founded and includes a beautiful floral, fraktur esq design on the front page.

Inside of the Paul R. Wieand Pennsylvania German Folklore Group Information Flyer, Allentown, Pa, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University The inside of the flyer details the founding of the group at the Lyric Theatre in Allentown, where the group first met, and goes on to list its presentations and performances at folk festivals on local and national levels. It explains the mission of the group was to preserve the folklore and heritage.

Oh Weibsleit,, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University. Aside from being a locally famous actor, genius artist, and Christmas card entrepreneur, Paul R. Wieand also wrote many plays to be performed in Pennsylvania Dutch. Interestingly, the stage directions were written in English, and the script was in PA Dutch. ‘Oh Weibsleit’ was intended to be performed by 3 men and 4 women, and would take around 12 minutes.

Christmas Card Flyer, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityA flyer sent to inform potential customers about Paul R. Wieands handmade linocut Christmas card orders. Boxes were sold for $1.00, with other options avaliable. Wieand was known for his Christmas cards, and people often sent him cards of their own in hopes of getting one back.

The front and back of ‘Wieand’s Pennsylvania Dutch’ store catalogue, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityA store catalogue with the intricate, traditional style of Paul R. Wieand’s art as well as a personal note from him and his wife on the back. It is decorated with distelfinks and floral designs in bright colors.

Christmas Cards from ‘Wieand’s Pennsylvania Dutch’ store catalogue, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityVarious original linocut Christmas cards for sale. Customers had the option to order cards in a special mix, receiving 20-24 regular or large sized cards and envelopes that had a variety of designs on them, or could hand pick by card or batch of a certain design. Card No. 675 “Der Belsnickel Comes” is featured in the Paul R. Wieand collection.

Mail in Order page from ‘Wieand’s Pennsylvania Dutch’ store catalogue, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityAt the time when the internet didn’t exist, an order form in the back of the catalogue existed for the ease of shopping. Wieand’s store also boasted serving ‘misplaced dutchmen’ who would otherwise be unable to order traditional food outside of the area. Wieand and his wife ran a Crossroads Store replica on the Kutztown Fairgrounds and offered store goods at the Hershey Park Dutch days that happened during the time but otherwise spent the rest of the year fulfilling mail orders from their home in Guth’s Station.

Newspaper Ads for Recipe Cards in Vol. 1, No. 14 and Vol. 1, No. 22 of The Pennsylvania Dutchman, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University

Greeting card box, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityOne of Paul R. Wieand’s boxes of cards containing various designs for his recipe cards and envelopes for each of them. The box itself is a deep teal with dark blue embellishments.

Greeting card collage, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityTraditional bright colors and Pennsylvania German motifs were common in Paul R. Wieand’s Christmas card collections. These are a part of the “Richly colored notes” offer that was sold for $1 for 10 cards. These cards are double folded, come with envelopes, and sport one or two classic Pennsylvania German recipes.

Original Linocut Greeting Card #85 “Lady Ogle”; With Lemon Funeral Tart Recipe, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University

Original Linocut Greeting Card #80 "Das hertze mein is dehr alein"; With Shoo-fly Pie Recipe, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University“Das hertze mein is dehr alein” roughly translates from German to “My heart is dear alone”. Around the inscription is a heart design with symmetrical flowers on either side in bold blue, green, and reds. On the back is the recipe for Shoo-fly Pie, one of the more recognizable foods of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Original Linocut Greeting Card #15; Flower Design and Original Linocut Greeting Card #13, Two Birds in a Heart, Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityThese two cards don’t have recipes on the back but instead a blank space for one to write their own greeting or recipe.

“Der Belsnickel Comes”, Paul R. Wieand, Guth’s Station, Lehigh Valley, PA. Paul Wieand Archive, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown UniversityThe front and back of a trifold linocut Christmas card titled “Der Belsnickel Comes, Be Careful”, depicting the legendary figure of the Belsnickel scratching on a window with his birch switches. Inside, a brief background on the history of der Belsnickel is written, along with some Christmas and New Year’s wishes.

"Mountain Mary: Barricke Mariche" by Paul Wieand, Gladys Lutz, and Students. 1939. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University.This hand-printed banner depicts scenes of the saintly deeds of Mountain Mary, called “Barricke Mariche” in Pennsylvania Dutch. The banner was coordinated by art educator, playwright and folklorist Paul Wieand as part of a teacher’s continuing education class at the request of Professor Henry W. Sharadin at the Kutztown State Teachers College. The linoleum cut prints were produced by students supervised by Wieand and his colleague Gladys Lutz, schoolteacher and folk artist called “The Grandma Moses of the Lehigh Valley.”

This online exhibition was created by Vance Dotterer (’28).