Baptist Historical Societies On the Move

Both the American Baptist Historical Society and the Baptist History and Heritage Society have announced that they will move their offices (and respective collections) to the Atlanta campus of Mercer University in 2007. Previously, ABHS's offices were located in Valley Forge, PA, and BH&HS's were in Brentwood, TN.

ABHS's move was an effort to consolidate their collection. Their collection had been split between their offices in Valley Forge and the campus of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, NY. They received proposals from Colgate Rochester and the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island before ultimately deciding to move to Atlanta. The ABHS announced the move in a press release, the culmination of two years of searching. Similarly, the BH&HS's decision to move was motivated by the Society's goals for the future, as well as by the knowledge that they will be closer to the ABHS's considerable resources. Previously, the BH&HS resided in the offices of the Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

This move will likely make Mercer's Atlanta campus the center of Baptist History research in the coming years.

BH&HS has announced a sale for many of their resources in an effort to cut their stock before the move. Many SDB churches have used information from BH&HS in the past, and so now would be a good time to check their catalog if any individuals or churches plan on using any of their materials in the near future.

The SDB Historical Society has had good relationships with both of these Baptist Historical Societies over the years and we look forward to continued relationships with both in the years ahead in their new home.