08/13/2026
At this year's Goschenhoppen Folk Festival, the Goschenhoppen Historians were pleased to present the 2026 Annual Award for Scholarship to Douglas J. Madenford, recognizing his dedication to researching, preserving, and sharing Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
Born and raised on a small farm near Centerport in Berks County, Doug grew up hearing both English and Pennsylvania Dutch at home. His interest in language and culture led him to earn a certificate in German literature and linguistics at the Universität Paderborn in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He went on to earn bachelor's degrees in German and international studies from Lock Haven University, and a Master of Education degree in German from Millersville University. He is the only American to ever win the "Emichsburg Prize" given annually in Bad Dürkheim, Germany, for the preservation of the Pfälzisch dialect, of which PA Dutch is closely related.
Since 2008, Doug has taught history and German in the Keystone Central School District. He has also served as a lecturer of German at Penn State's Altoona and Main campuses, and since 2015 he has served as co-editor of Hiwwe wie Driwwe.
His scholarship includes several books, among them Homecoming, Davey Applebutter, Penny Olive, An Introductory Pennsylvania Dutch Course, and a collection of short stories in Pennsylvania Dutch, all published by Masthof Press in Morgantown. He has also written numerous articles for Hiwwe wie Driwwe and presented many papers at grundsau lodges.
Doug's YouTube channel, PA Dutch 101, has 15,000 subscribers and over 1,500 videos, which introduce audiences to Pennsylvania Dutch words and usage and interview individuals dedicated to preserving the culture.
Doug's work extends to music. He performs folk songs in both English and Pennsylvania Dutch, singing and playing mandolin with his small folk band, The Broken Spokes.
Outside of his scholarship, Doug is a father and husband, and an avid motorcyclist. He and his wife are raising their two children, Estella and Oscar, bilingually in English and Pennsylvania Dutch.
There are many ways to preserve and share a culture: through scholarship, teaching, writing, language, music, and passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Doug Madenford has devoted himself to all of these.
Congratulations, Doug, and thank you for your dedication to researching, preserving, and sharing Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
https://padutch101.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PADutch101
https://www.youtube.com/user/dmadenford/featured
PA Dutch 101
