Bradley Smith Presents: “Wonderful Nice: The Curious Legacy of the Pennsylvania Dutch”
October 15, 2026 · 6:30 PM · Berks County Genealogical Society Goggleworks Room 413 – 4th Floor, 201 Washington St, Reading · Free
About the event
The Berks County Genealogical Society welcomes Bradley Smith for "Wonderful Nice: The Curious Legacy of the Pennsylvania Dutch," a talk tracing the people whose language, customs, and craftsmanship shaped this corner of Pennsylvania and spread well beyond it. The program looks at where the Pennsylvania Dutch came from, how their dialect took root here, and why their traditions still carry weight in Berks County kitchens, churches, and family trees.
Smith brings both scholarship and personal connection to the subject. He holds a master's degree in history from Shippensburg State University and serves as Assistant Director at the Berks History Center, and as a native of Lebanon County he grew up in a Pennsylvania Dutch family hearing the language spoken every day. He also teaches history at Alvernia University and leads Pennsylvania Dutch language classes.
A brief members' meeting opens the evening, with the presentation following. Whether you grew up hearing the dialect at the supper table or are just getting to know the region, there is something here to take home. The gathering gives genealogy enthusiasts and curious neighbors alike a chance to swap stories about their own roots, and those who cannot make it to Room 413 may join online through a link available from the Society.
