The volume contains the history of the Frill, Schoene, Orth, and related families in Reading, Pa., and a history of Reading, 1820-1850, interpreted through an analysis of James Frill's manuscript fiddle music book, 1830, and Henry Schoener's manuscript piano music book, 1793. Rathman provides biographical, historical, and cultural contexts for the existence of the two manuscripts. Samuel P. Bayard lightly pencil-edited this copy.