History Center
Research
Search the History Center
Finding Aids
Use this to search for online archival collection guides (called finding aids). The finding aids in this database currently cover only a portion of the History Center's collections, and we are continually updating it with new guides. If you cannot find relevant materials, please contact the archivist for additional assistance.
History Center Special Collections
Use this to search LibSearch, the library's catalog, for physical items held by the Bethel History Center.
Digital Collections
Use this to search for digitized materials such as the Bethel student newspaper, yearbooks, academic catalogs and photographs, as well as Converge/BGC historical materials like annual conference minutes and Minnesota church photographs.
Converge Archives
Some historical materials from the Baptist General Conference/Converge such as annual conference minutes and Minnesota church photographs have been digitized and are available in the Bethel University Digital Library and/or the Minnesota Digital Library, while others are only available as physical items. Use the "Digital Collections" tab above to search Bethel's digital library, or use the buttons below to browse the Bethel and Minnesota digital libraries' collections. If you cannot find what you are looking for there, use the "Research Request From" located further down this page to get help from the university archivist.
Still not finding what you're looking for?
Visit the History Center
On site at the History Center, our manuscript collection includes conference minutes, conference and university publications, church and district records, home and foreign mission records, Swedish Bibles and hymnals, bibliographical records on conference pastors and laypersons, and photographs. Contact the university archivist with your research question or set up an appointment to visit the History Center:
Additional Resources
- Our ebook collection offers a suite of historical monographs on the history of the conference, seminary, college, university and key individuals.
- Our Youtube channel has a growing collection of videos with university and conference history.