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Samuel Gottschall (1800–1898) was an American fraktur artist.

Born into a family of teachers, Gottschall was a resident of the Mennonite community of Franconia, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Gottschall, was a preacher and bishop as well as a sometime teacher; with his students he produced books of musical notation. Three of Samuel's siblings were educators as well; one, Martin, also produced fraktur. Neither of the two signed his work, and it is difficult to tell the two apart; their paintings have become popular among collectors because of the colors and imagery employed in their creation. Neither of the two men married; they worked as millers after the end of their teaching careers,[1] operating a property on Perkiomen Creek in Salford.[2] Samuel was a weaver as well, and among his surviving documents are his weaver's record book and weather diary, both of which have proven instrumental in identifying his work.[1]

Surviving frakturs from Gottschall date to the years 1833 to 1836, and do not appear to postdate his teaching career.[2] Several of his works are in the collection of the Mennonite Heritage Center.[3] Others are owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art,[4] the Free Library of Philadelphia[5][6][7] and the American Folk Art Museum.[8] Gottschall's style inspired other artists, including John Derstine Souder.[9]

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