When Schweinitz as a boy accompanied his parents to Germany, he soon found an opportunity to engage in his favorite pastime, botany, choosing the Fungi for special study. Several publications resulted from his European studies, but that work was interrupted by his transfer, by the Moravian Church, to Carolina where his avocation carried him through many years of botanical collecting in America. In 1821 he was again transferred, this time to Bethlehem, Pa. where he was in charge of all Moravian activities in America.

He had become a member of the Academy and bequeathed a large part of his scientific effects to this institution. Our holdings consist of a transcript of Bishop Edmund de Schweinitz' manuscript “History of the family of the von Schweinitz,” notes and letters about the Nazareth Moravian school which he attended in childhood, and letters about Schweinitz. A section about his library, its disposition, lists, orders and letters with four certificates of membership in learned societies, complete the Academy's holdings.