Fraktur Birth and Baptismal Certificate Frakturs were an elaborate form of German folk art and style of lettering adapted by the Pennsylvania Dutch (from Deutsch, meaning “German”). They were first used in North America in the 1740s to commemorate births, baptisms, weddings, and other life events. This birth and baptismal certificate for Eva Eissenhaer from around 1773 likely shows the infant’s parents in their finest dress. Used by permission of the Rare Book Department, Free Library of Philadelphia