How to Conduct Research in the Library & Archives

You are welcome to do research in person or request information via mail or email (though not by phone).

On-site research

Calling or emailing in advance to make an appointment ensures that the desired material is available. Library materials are often more easily available than archival materials. Walk-in visitors who wish to view material from the archives will be asked to make an appointment for a later date.

Appointments are preferred Tuesday through Friday; staffing is limited on weekends. For weekends, you must have put in a request for materials ahead of time. Inquiries are taken in order of receipt. Please make an appointment by emailing hunt@schwenkfelder.org or calling 215-679-3103 (ask for Hunt).

See Reading Room Guidelines for more details.

Research Requests

The archivist answers email and mailed reference inquiries only, not phone requests. Reference inquiries are handled in the order they are received. As research can be very time consuming and involved, our researchers can only answer inquiries for specific dates, names, etc. In addition, they can only devote one hour to each request.

When sending a request, be as specific as possible. Include names, locations, denominations, and dates that are important to your research. List related manuscript collections or print materials of which you are aware of.

Send email inquiries to: hunt@schwenkfelder.org

Address mailed inquires with a SASE to:

                Hunt Schenkel, Archivist
                 Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center 
                 105 Seminary Street
                 Pennsburg PA  18073

For fees for research requests, please go to the Services & Fees section.

German Language Materials

Since over 50% of our collection is in German, if your request entails transcription and/org translation, please email or call to discuss additional fees.

Photography and Reproductions

Visitors to the Library are welcome to take photographs of collection items, and all are invited to request reproductions for their needs. These images are for personal use only. If you wish to use them online or in print, please contact us using this form as possession of that photograph or digital scan does not grant you rights to reproduce it. For fees, please go to the Services & Fees section.