Research

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In an effort to bring renewed attention and interest to our collection and to the study of Moravian history, the Moravian Historical Society welcomes research and image publication requests. Our research facilities include our:

Library & Archives

The society has a research library of over 3000 books and other materials, focusing primarily on Moravian church history, music, locations and people, and on local history.

Genealogy Collection

The research collection includes extensive records on local genealogy, including over 200,000 Lehigh Valley obituaries, files and family charts, family history books, and cemetery records.

There are two ways to do research at the Moravian Historical Society:

Research in Person

If you visit the Whitefield House we will be glad to help you use our available archival and museum collections. There is a five dollar ($5.00) fee to visit and use our research facility. If you intend to spend time with us:

• Please call ahead to schedule your visit.
• Let us know what materials or titles you are interested in. If you do not have specific information, please let us know what you are researching so we can prepare appropriate material for your visit.
• We ask that you use pencils when working with collections. Pens are not permitted.
• Photography is allowed in certain instances. Please ask a staff member before taking any photographs.

Research by Mail

If you are unable to research in person, you may request research or images from the Society via mail. Please make all requests in writing and include a check or money order (payable to the Moravian Historical Society) for all applicable fees. Please send your written request, including all pertinent information as described below, and payment to:

Research
Moravian Historical Society
214 E. Center Street
Nazareth, PA 18064

Or e-mail us at:

If you request information via the mail or e-mail, our dedicated staff will research and respond to your request, for a pre-paid fee. The fee includes up to ten pages of photocopied materials per hour. Responses will be sent 8-10 weeks from receipt of payment. We cannot guarantee our investigation will produce any results, but we will make every effort to aid you. Included in our response will be list of the sources consulted in the course of our research.

In order to expedite your request and to prevent repetition, please include the following when inquiring:

• Your name, address, phone number and other useful contact information
• What you hope to find
• Specific names, dates, locations, etc. (if known)
• List of sources already consulted
• Initial payment covering first hour's research (you will be informed if more is required)

Inquiries that include the request, "Please send everything you have on..." will not be answered.

You will receive your information only after the research fees have been paid in full. The research fees are as follows:

• First hour is free. After the first hour,
• Member:  $15.00 per hour
• Non-member:  $25.00 per hour

Ten pages of photocopies are included in each hourly fee (e.g. two hours of research allows for 20 pages of free photocopies). Any number exceeding ten pages per hour will be 25¢ per page.

Image Publication & Usage Fees

Photographs, black & white negatives, color negatives, transparencies, and slides of objects in our collection are available. Digital files are not yet available for most of the collection. Please send your written request for images to the address listed above. A bill will be sent along with the requested images. Requests are subject to approval by the MHS. Please allow four to six weeks to process your request.

Fees are per image. Cost includes any and all image reproductions, including photography (if needed). If requestors already have a copy of the image or will be photographing it themselves, all costs are waived, but all appropriate publication and use fees apply.