Brethren Historical Library and Archives
Mission Statement
The Brethren Historical Library and Archives is the official repository for Church of the Brethren publications and records. Its purpose is to keep alive the Brethren faith heritage, by:
- collecting and preserving materials relating to the cultural, socio-economic, theological, genealogical, and institutional history of the Brethren;
- giving historical perspective and understanding to the mission of the church through counsel and publication;
- providing a centralized Brethren research center;
- serving as a clearinghouse for information on Brethren historical materials in other repositories.
Contact Information
Contact the director at 800-323-8039, x368, direct line 847-429-4368 or brethrenarchives@brethren.org.
BHLA News and Notes
News & Notes is the newsletter for BHLA. In each issue, you can read about the rich history of the Brethren and discover new additions to the Brethren Historical Library and Archives,
BHLA News & Notes Issue 5
Articles include: "Faith, Archives, and History"; "The Unintended Consequences of American Missions"; "BHLA Notes"; "Recent Additions"; and more.News & Notes Issue 4
In this issue, an interview with actor Don Murray about the influence of Brethren Service on the foundation of the Peace Corps, and an article about Donald Durnbaugh’s ecumenical vision.News & Notes Issue 3
Learn about James Quinter, "Brother" Balsbaugh, recent additions to BHLA, and more.News & Notes Issue 2
This issue features a look at Ralph Smeltzer's role in the Selma Civil Rights Movement as well as a review of the book Gettysburg Religion: Refinement, Diversity, and Race in the Antebellum and Civil War Border North by Stephen Longenecker.News & Notes Issue 1
Check out the inaugural issue of BHLA's newsletter, featuring an article by Brethren Historian David A. Hollinger, author of After Cloven Tongues of Fire: Protestant Liberalism in Modern America.
Free Pamphlets
The Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA) has a series of free pamphlets available on request. These include the following:
- Guide to Research in Brethren History
- Guide for Local Church Historians
- Guide to the Brethren in Europe
- Brethren Historical Library and Archives
Used books for sale
BHLA maintains a collection of used Brethren books for sale. Search the list of available books and contact BHLA for more details, including pricing.
