Charles H. Glatfelter, distinguished historian: He would sign his kind letters ‘Charlie’
Dr. Charles H. Glatfelter addresses members of his extended family, the Glatfelters, at the York County Heritage Trust’s Agricultural and Industrial Museum in this York Daily Record/Sunday News file photo. Dr. Glatfelter, one of America’s leading experts on the Pennsylvania Dutch, died this week at the age of 88. Also of interest: A example of Dr. Glatfelter’s research: Greathouse family researcher seeks Herman Grothaus descendants with York County ties.
York/Adams’ historical community – in fact, America’s historical community – has lost a friend with the death of Charles H. Glatfelter, a Glen Rock native and a leading authority on the Pennsylvania Dutch.
Since learning of his death, people are sharing their stories about their times with Dr. Glatfelter.
One of my favorite assessments, ydr.com’s story, that captures a lot about Dr. Glatfelter:
“Joe Lynch, alumni director at Gettysburg College who has a history degree from the college, described Glatfelter was a ‘demanding professor’ who had earned the respect of students. He remembered the professor’s measured cadence, his wry sense of humor and his astonishing command of history.
” ‘If there were a Mount Rushmore of iconic Gettysburg College faculty, he’d be one of the figures on that mountain,’ “Lynch said. “He was an iconic presence here.’ ”
Here’s a Charles Glatfelter story that I wrote in a previous post:
“I am always glad to see an envelope from Dr. Glatfelter in the mail. There’s always a bit of suspense because he reads my York Sunday News column and occasionally offers a critique which is always gentle and always on point… .
“But I must say that the biggest thrill in receiving letters from the distinguished and erudite Dr. Glatfelter, professor emeritus of history at Gettysburg College, is his kind signature: ‘Charlie.’ ”
In my conversations and correspondence with him – which were just about every other month for many years – I never could bring myself to call him “Charlie.”
It was always Dr. Glatfelter, and Dr. Glatfelter it will always be.
Also of interest:
– A Hanover Evening Sun story: Charles Glatfelter’s love for Adams County history will be missed
A sampling of other yorktownsquare.com posts in which Charles Glatfelter served as a source:
– Thanksgiving Day thoughts: Sermon in 1846 from son of York County resonates today
– Gift to York countian Millard Gladfelter: ‘Gladdie, who wears wonderful good after 25 years’
– Baltimore screamed for York County ice cream.
