The Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic
Presents
Congregational Heritage
Workshops
Saturday
September 15, 2012
At the Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Celebrating Your History…For the Future
A day of educational sessions on keeping archives, planning major anniversaries, writing
meaningful history, and much more…helping congregations to preserve and celebrate
Lutheran heritage in the Mid-Atlantic region
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Who Should Attend?
Pastors
Church leaders responsible
for records
Anniversary planning
committee members
Members of congregational
and synod History
Committees
Persons maintaining
historical records or archives
Persons who keep and write
history
Not just Lutherans
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What you will learn….
To gather and organize
records
To preserve history for the
future
To discover family in the
history of the church
To plan for anniversary
celebrations
To utilize current resources
for effective research
To understand and appreciate
church history and heritage
and the role that it plays in
our lives.
Workshops
Session I – 9:30 AM
I-A – Archives for Small Churches – Basic procedures for organizing congregational archives (what to keep, how to
organize, how to inventory, etc.) Rev. Richard Berg, Archivist, Evangelical & Reformed Historical Society
I-B – Local Lutheran Records – Discover Lutheran register transcripts, church files, cemetery records, and information
about local clergymen at the Adams County Historical Society. Timothy H. Smith, Research Historian, ACHS
I-C – Oral History – Often overlooked, conducting oral histories with individuals in the congregation. Equipment,
methods, transcription, and authentication. Linda Shopes, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (retired)
Session II – 10:45 AM
II-A – Archival Preservation – Basics in preserving archival materials, oversize materials, audio visuals, restoration,
disaster planning, microfilming. John Peterson, Curator, Lutheran Archives Center
II-B – Congregational Anniversary Planning – Organizing committees, designing events, developing resources, and
promoting participation. Rev. George Handley, Pastor (retired)
II-C – Pennsylvania German Baptismal Records – How to make available, and how to use, important congregational
archives in researching family history. John T. Humphrey, PAGenealogy Books
Session III – 1:15 PM
III-A – Library Resources – An overview of current reference sources for Lutheran church history, with emphasis on the
holdings of the Wentz Library. Rev. Dr. Maria Erling, Gettysburg Seminary
III-B – Writing Congregational Histories – Discussion of ways to write history creatively, effectively and
meaningfully. Where to start, resources, organization. Dr. Don Housley, Susquehanna University (retired)
III-C – “Dealing with Dirty Linen” – Overall perspectives on how to deal with negative aspects of congregational
history and anniversaries. Rev. George Handley
Workshop Program
All sessions take place in
Valentine Hall
Visit Us on Our Web Site at
www.lhsmidatlantic.com
To Obtain More Information and
Registration Forms
8:30 AM
9:00 AM
9:30 AM
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
11:45 AM
1:15 PM
2:30 PM
3:00 PM
Registration (Continental Breakfast)
Welcome/Devotions
Session I
Archives for Small Churches
Local Lutheran Records
Oral History
Break
Session II
Archival Preservation
Congregational Anniversary
Planning
PA German Baptismal Records
Lunch (Deli Buffet)
Session III
Library Resources
Writing Congregational Histories
Dealing with Dirty Linen
Special Presentation:
Schmucker Hall Renovation Update
Departure