Old Order Amish: Their Enduring Way of Life

Abstract

Out of place in modern America, yet powerfully reminiscent of the American past, the Order inspire curiosity and admiration. But life is far from the quaint existence often portrayed in conventional picture books. Old Order Amish details the rigors of hard work, the strength of family and community, the discipline of the religious Ordnung, and the ingenious compromises with modernity. This book offers an authentic portrait of the - in photographs and honest accounts of their daily concerns and enduring traditions. Photographer Lucian Niemeyer earned the trust and friendship of families by helping to harvest crops on their farms in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County, site of one of the oldest settlements in North America. After many back-breaking days in the fields, he gained acceptance in a community that draws sharp lines of separation from the outside world - and has, by tradition, shunned photography. With the encouragement of his friends who welcomed the chance to correct inaccurate accounts of ways, Niemeyer began to assemble this honest and sensitive photographic record. He worked without filters or darkroom manipulations, using only natural light. results are unprecedented - photographs of families, community gatherings, even the seldomseen interiors of homes and schools. These unique images capture the deliberate simplicity and the natural beauty that characterize life in Lancaster County. In the accompanying text, Donald Kraybill, author of the acclaimed Riddle of Culture tells the often surprising story of today's Order Amish. His introduction provides a sweeping overview of life in North America and explains how a traditional people have managed not merely to survive but to flourish in the midst of modern life. In 35 vignettes throughout the book, Kraybill explains views on issues ranging from Childbirth and Women Entrepreneurs to The Riddles of Farm Machinery, Sowing Wild Oats, and The Politics of Separation. His concluding essay examines why modern observers are so drawn to the and their traditional values.

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