The E&R Library & Archives (formerly known as the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society) recently announced that it has taken the first step to relocate its central office and archive from Lancaster, PA, to Lewisburg. This milestone is a major move for the E&R Library & Archives (ERLA) on its mission to engage, inspire, and educate people through the study and preservation of family and church history, putting to good use the records of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and its predecessor denominations, which the ERLA collects, preserves, and makes accessible to the public.
“This is an exciting time in the life of the E&R Library & Archives,” says Dr. Scott Meyer-Kukan, President & CEO. “This relocation and consolidation will help expand our reach to all the churches that originated in the Evangelical and Reformed Church and to grow the organization as a genealogical center. This is new territory for the organization, and we are looking forward to building upon the work we have been doing to reach a wider audience.”
This news comes in the wake of many recent accomplishments of the E&R Library & Archives, including:
• The completion of the digitization of genealogical materials found in our church record groups, personal papers, and printed books, serials, and periodicals.
• Increased fundraising efforts that help place the organization on a sustainable path moving forward.
• The rebranding of the organization to more effectively communicate and align with our updated mission and vision.
“Honoring our past and maintaining our artifacts is noble work in a time when so many records are digital and intangible,” says Rev. Beth Gedert, member of the ERLA Board of Directors. “Caring for these primary sources and making them available to all ensures that our history can’t be easily rewritten to suit people’s whims. Moving to a new space and building new partnerships marks a new chapter for us. It expands our capacity to share the knowledge that has been entrusted to us by our ancestors. We are excited to see what’s next.”
While it will take some time for the ERLA facility to become ready, the organization has purchased and is currently renovating a building on Houfnaggle Road in Lewisburg. As the organization moves forward, it will offer a wide variety of genealogical services for the local community and beyond by providing computer workstations with access to a wide variety of genealogical databases, onsite staff to assist users, and will provide classes, workshops, and webinars to help genealogists with their research. The ERLA will also include a DIY memory lab with technology to digitize photographs, documents, and a wide variety of media. Users will be able to digitize items such as slides, family films, VHS tapes, vinyl records and much more to preserve their individual family history!
To learn more about the organization, visit https://erlibrary-archives.org/. There are also many ways you can help support the ERLA by helping to prepare the new facility or through generous donations. You can reach out to the organizations President & CEO, Dr. Scott Meyer-Kukan, by emailing president@erlibrary-archives.org or by calling 717-290-8734.
Upcoming events at ERLA:
The ERLA will be holding a Rummage Sale fundraiser to benefit the building renovation fund on Friday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The ERLA is seeking donations of saleable items for the Rummage Sale. To make donations, please contact Dr. Scott Meyer-Kukan (president@erlibrary-archives.org or 717-290-8734) to schedule a donation time.
The ERLA will also be hosting a ribbon cutting and community open house on Aug. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members of the Board of Directors will be present to meet you. RLA invites you to tour the space, see the status of renovations, and hear about our exciting plans for the future. The ribbon cutting is offered in conjunction with the Greater Greenbrier County Chamber of Commerce.
About the E&R Library & Archives:
The E&R Library & Archives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and first began as the Historical Society for the Reformed Church in the United States in 1863. The ERLA reorganized as the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society to incorporate the Historical Commission of the Evangelical Synod of North America after the 1934 merger that created the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The E&R Library & Archives is the official repository for the former Evangelical and Reformed Church, the (German) Reformed Church in the United States, the (German) Evangelical Synod of North America, and the Hungarian Reformed Church. The organization holds over 1,000 church record groups, 500 personal papers and manuscript collections, and over 5,000 printed books, serials, and periodicals.
