555 W. James St.,
Lancaster, PA USA 17603
Phone: 717-290-8734
Fax: 717-394-4254
email: erhs@lancasterseminary.edu
Personnel
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President – Rev. Linda Gruber, gruber@stjohnsucc.com -
President Emeritus – Rev. Dr. John B. Payne, jpayne@lancasterseminary.edu
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Archivist –Rev. Richard Berg, (717) 290-8704, rberg@lancasterseminary.edu
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Administrative Assistant – Dawn Snyder, (717) 290-8734, erhs@lancasterseminary.edu
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General Inquiries and research – Dianne Russell, (717) 290-8711,
Holdings
From the former Reformed Church, the ERHS collection includes minutes of synods, classes, congregations; records of the mission boards; hymnals; liturgies, and such important publications as the Reformed Church Messenger and the Mercersburg Review.
Especially noteworthy are original manuscripts of the Mercersburg theologians, John W. Nevin, Phillip Schaff, Henry Harbaugh and Emanuel Gerhart. Also valuable are the manuscripts and transcriptions of records of early German Reformed churches and ministers in America which the society received from the library of William J. Hinke in 1947.
Services
The resources of the society are available without charge to its members and to ministers and local congregations of the United Church of Christ. Local churches celebrating anniversaries or wanting information concerning their history may receive assistance from the society's archives. Confirmation classes and other church groups are welcome to visit the archives, as are scholars who are conducting research. Genealogical researchers are required to pay a daily fee or to subscribe to a membership.
The collection is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday except on days when the Seminary is closed.
Origins and History
The Historical Society of the German Reformed Church was founded in 1863 at the time of the tercentenary celebration of the Heidelberg Catechism. The Rev. John Williamson Nevin was elected the first president. Even before the founding of the society for the purpose of stimulating an interest in the church's identity and encouraging accurate record keeping, Reformed churches recognized the importance of recording baptisms, marriages and deaths. In the mid-eighteenth century Michael Schlatter, who gave important leadership to colonial Reformed churches, brought record books with him from Germany to Pennsylvania for the newly organized congregations.
In 1934 the Reformed Church in the United States merged with another church of German Protestant background, the Evangelical Synod of North America. With that union the society became the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society (ERHS). When the Philip Schaff Library was built at Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1967, the society, at the invitation of the seminary's trustees, transferred its collection from the Fackenthal Library of Franklin and Marshall College to the Omwake room on the second floor of the library.
Financial Support
The Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society receives support from memberships, contributions, investment income, and the annual UCC Historical Council appeal. Churches and individuals are encouraged to add to the society's endowment to help assure the continuance of its mission. They are invited to contact the ERHS for further information. The ERHS is a sponsored agency of the United Church of Christ.
Member Benefits
Members of the society receive the Newsletter, published twice a year, and copies of lectures published by the UCC Historical Council. They also have free access to the archives where they can conduct genealogical and church historical research. Click here to download the pdf-format membership application form (new and renewal).
The society holds an annual meeting at which lectures are presented and business is conducted. All members are invited to participate in these meetings and share in the work of the society. Click here to download the registration form for the next annual meeting.
Quick links
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Application to use photographs and/or materials. Complete and send this form to ERHS if you wish to use ERHS materials for purposes beyond personal use, such as publication in printed or electronic formats. -
Application for permission to publish. Should you wish to publish materials owned by ERHS, you may download this form, completing and sending it to ERHS.