Presbyterian Historical Society
Organized in 1852, the Presbyterian Historical Society is the oldest denominational archives in the United States and serves as the national archives for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and many predecessor denominations. It exists to collect, preserve, and share the story of the American Presbyterian and Reformed experience with Presbyterians, the scholarly community, and the general public. The society’s holdings include more than 250,000 titles reflecting the history of the Presbyterian tradition in America and over 30,000 cubic feet of official records and personal papers. A 2018 Center grant supports collaborative research projects that introduce Community College of Philadelphia students to rare historical materials, leading to exhibitions that examine the notion of accessibility and representation in archives.
