Events > Recent News

April 2008 Valley Forge Archives and Rochester Library Closed
PLEASE NOTE: Due to building renovation delays, ABHS is still in transition, and the dates for re-opening to research requests, researchers and new acquisitions have been changed. For the latest moving and re-opening news, CLICK HERE.

Both locations of the American Baptist Historical Society are now closed for all research requests and visits.  The staff and volunteers are now totally involved in organizing, preparing and packing the various records, collections and books for the relocation to the Atlanta campus of Mercer University.  The physical move will begin later this month, April 2008. The Society plans to once again be in a position to process some research requests in July 2008.  Please continue to watch this website for updates on the relocation.

Individuals interested in giving collections to the Historical Society are asked to hold them until August 2008, when new acquisitions will be sent directly to Atlanta.

We still welcome questions about historical materials you are interested in giving to ABHS.  If you have questions about giving materials or have an urgent research need, please contact ABHS at 610-768-2269.

September 2007 ABHS Inital Atlanta Event Well Recieved - Ensuring & Sharing the Dream

It was a night to remember.

The facilities were perfect for the event, the food delicious, the discussion lively, and the speaker inspiring.

The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Discussion following the lecture was lively and engaging. The crowd didn't want the evening to end. Said one participant, "I think you should have one of these every quarter--and then every two months--and then every month--and then...!!!"

The first public event, sponsored by ABHS and Mercer University, during the ABHS Board of Managers meeting, September 2007, was an unqualified success.

Rev. Adam Bond, associate minister for African-American ministries with the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin, youth minister at Progressive Baptist Church, Milwaukee, Ph.D. candidate at Marquette University, and a lecturer at Mt. Mary College and Central Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke on the topic, "Everybody is God's Somebody: The Public Ministries of Samuel DeWitt Proctor and Martin Luther King Jr." (You can also read Rev. Bond's article on Proctor and King in the Fall 2006 issue of the American Baptist Quarterly.)

The night reaffirmed once again that this move is the right decision for the American Baptist Historical Society. With the facilities that Mercer University is providing, the possibilities for sharing Baptist history with ever-increasing circles of interested persons are endless.

September 2006 AMERICAN BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD SELECTS CONSOLIDATION SITE

VALLEY FORGE, PA -- At its annual meeting, September 22-24, 2006, the Board of Managers of the American Baptist Historical Society voted to consolidate its collections in Atlanta, GA, on the campus of Mercer University, pursuant to approval of a formal agreement. This will be the fifth home for the Society in its 153-year history.

"After reviewing the three final proposals, the Board decided that Mercer's proposed partnership and site best meets our mission and vision," said president Dr. Trinette McCray. "We struggled, we prayed, we evaluated each proposal carefully. After a thorough discernment process, the Board believed that this is the direction God is leading us."

According to executive director Dr. Deborah Bingham Van Broekhoven, for the past 20 years, the Historical Society has managed two locations, 350 miles apart, housing different parts of the collection. "Good stewardship of finances, staff time, the collections' growth, and accessibility of those collections to researchers who -- often needed to visit both sites -- was the compelling reason why the Board decided to consolidate."

Among the compelling features of the Mercer proposal were impressive facilities for offices and the collections, as well as the potential to work with new and traditional partners on educational opportunities.

The mission of the Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share Baptist history with a wide variety of publics. "The Society was founded in 1853 at a meeting of the American Baptist Publication Society, now Judson Press," said Van Broekhoven. "Like Judson Press, we are a ministry of American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. We have always collected materials from the whole family of Baptists, and today we hold the largest and most diverse collection of Baptist material in the world. This Board action is intended to solidify and expand the Society's ability to continue that broad vision."

This decision was the result of a two-year search. After conversations with institutions across the country, the Board of Managers received proposals and presentations from three organizations: the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, NY, and Mercer University's Atlanta, GA, campus.

President McCray added, "The Board is very appreciative of the time, talent and other resources put into offering the Society a new partnership. The enthusiasm for the Society's mission and substantial offers of aid communicated in the proposals encouraged the Board to envision exciting possibilities of some kind of shared ministries with all three institutions, regardless of our physical location.

"What broke through for us was the incredible interest in communicating Baptist history and heritage in such a way that it brings forth a new generation of Baptist leaders in church and society. It is with excitement at this cooperative prospect that we take this step. It is the Board's determination to build upon the gifts of all our partnerships."

Members of the American Baptist Historical Society Board of Managers are as follows:

Mrs. Mary Alice Brake, Germantown, TN; Rev. Garth E. Brokaw, Rochester, NY; Dr. Loris B. Coletta, Aptos, CA; Mrs. Sally Dodgson, East Rochester, NY; Dr. J. Samuel Escobar, Valencia, Spain; Rev. Leroy Gilbert, Ph.D., Fairfax Station, VA; Ms. Melva Gray, Indianapolis, IN; Mrs. James Ella James, Berkeley, CA; Rev. Dr. Trinette V. McCray, Milwaukee, WI, president of the Board of Managers; Dr. Beverly E. Mitchell, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Mary Purcell, Wallingford, PA; Rev. Dr. Wesley A. Roberts, Wenham, MA; Ms. Carla Gay A. Romarate-Knipel, Jeffersonville, PA; Dr. William R. Scott, Bethlehem, PA; Rev. Dr. John C. B. Webster, Waterford, CT; Rev. Henry A. Pedersen, Warwick, RI; ex-officio members Rev. Esther Irish, Warren, RI, immediate past president; Dr. Deborah Bingham VanBroekhoven, Norristown, PA, executive director.

FAQs About The Move to Atlanta

1. Why move to Atlanta? The Mercer proposal enables the Historical Society to continue services to its ABC partners, as well as to other users of the collections. This campus provides ample housing for our growing collections and facilities for hosting programs and creating publications that reach out to the next generation.
2. Weren't there other options? Yes, two very enthusiastic proposals came from Baptists in Rhode Island and from the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. These proposals, however, would have required
   • many more dollars be spent on housing the collections and
   • fewer dollars and care be spent on educational ministries.
3. Are we giving our heritage away by moving so many records of northern Baptist life to Atlanta? ABHS will continue its relationship and special services to the various parts of the denomination, including the program boards, educational institutions, regions, and congregations that make up ABC-USA. Without the stronger financial base that the Atlanta option provides, ABHS would need to cut services drastically, including to its traditional partners. In Atlanta we can better share these wonderful records with more people.
4. Hasn't Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School long been a supporting partner with the Historical Society?  Yes, for more than 50 years CRCDS has provided the space in which ABHS collections were housed.  Unfortunately the seminary does not currently have sufficient or cost-effective space for ABHS.  We plan to continue our support for CRCDS students, faculty, staff and alumni research from our new home.
5. Why do we need to have all the collections under one roof? Having the collections together enables our small staff to provide better service and eliminates the necessity for researchers to travel to both locations. Relocation will result in significant savings.
6. What about Rhode Island? The willingness of RI Baptists to give ABHS land and assist with a building campaign was exciting, heartening, and encouraging. The Board decided, however, that rather than put almost all our resources into a building project, the option of space already available made it possible for ABHS to focus more on its mission of collection, preserving, and sharing Baptist history materials with the current and future generations.
7. When do you plan to move to Atlanta? In 2008, as soon as renovations to our space are completed and funds are raised to pay moving costs.
8. What about the ABHS staff? Each of the four current staff members is assisting with this transition. Two key staff members, however, will not relocate. Therefore training of a new archivist and an office manager will be part of the transition.
9. When can I visit ABHS in Atlanta?  The ABHS Board is meeting in Atlanta the last weekend in September 2007.  Either Friday or Saturday evening the public will be invited to a special lecture and reception.  We will provide tours in late January 2008, for Baptists attending the New Baptist Covenant Celebration.

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