Do you have an artifact, books, or papers of local Mennonite significance or from a local family that you would like to see preserved for future generations?  Consider donating the material to the Mennonite Heritage Center, where it will be housed securely, cared for professionally, and shared with the public through cataloging, exhibits, and programs.

The Mennonite Heritage Center collects and preserves items documenting the life of Mennonites in eastern Pennsylvania from the 18th century to the present in Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Lehigh, Northampton, and parts of Berks and Chester counties.

Your artifact or family document could tell an important story!

Before you discard old papers or family antiques, contact Joel Alderfer at the MHC and he will bring your items to the MHC Collections Committee for review as possible additions to the permanent collection.

Joel Alderfer, Collections Manager
alderferjoel@mhep.org
215-256-3020 ext 111

Priorities for Collection Acquisition

Museum Collection

Artifacts made or used by local Mennonites that contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of their way of life, such as textiles, clothing, furniture, tools, and housewares; also items with no direct connections, but which can serve as examples of items used by local Mennonites.  Other artifacts of local interest; and some artifacts relating to Mennonite culture outside of southeastern Pennsylvania.

Library and Archives

Books, periodicals, conference and congregational records, diaries, genealogies, letter collections, cemetery records, photographs, video and audio recordings, and other historical materials that relate to the Franconia Conference and  Eastern District Conference Mennonites.  Also general genealogical and biographical materials pertaining to southeastern Pennsylvania; regional histories and local community cemetery records; materials produced or used by those who had Eastern District or Franconia Mennonite roots (for example, Ontario, Virginia or western Pennsylvania communities.)  Materials pertaining to denominations that had or have a special affinity with local Mennonites; Pennsylvania German culture publications.