Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society
Where history (and your story) matter.
Ivan and Pearl Kropf Heritage Center
6030 South Whiskey Hill Road
Hubbard, OR 97032-9406
phone: 503-266-6447
View our PNMHS Video
The Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society (PNMHS) was established in 1988 by Hope Lind, a historian of Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference. She wanted to consolidate Mennonite family history by creating a resource for the local community. Since then, the PNMHS has expanded from a few shelves of documents to a library and archival center in Hubbard, OR and works as a resource with local schools and organizations.
The Amish Mennonite community in Oregon came from the Midwest and settled in the 1880s, establishing the Zion Mennonite Church in 1893. They continue to be involved in their community, considering how they can best interact as a resource with those around them.
The purpose of the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society is to record and preserve the history of Mennonite and related groups for present and future generations. We serve the congregations and communities of the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference. Our goals are to:
• collect, preserve and organize records, writing, and artifacts of Mennonite groups,
• aid historians and genealogists,
• increase interest in Mennonite history and genealogy.
Visitors Welcome: The Center is open to guests
on Wednesdays: 9am – 3pm and by appointment – contact us
PNMHS Mission Statement
Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society seeks to collect and preserve historical materials and to celebrate the heritage of Mennonites in the Pacific Northwest in order to educate, inspire, and witness to the church and broader community.
Vision Statement, proposed draft by archivist Mike Barber
Our vision is to assist researchers, genealogists, historians and others interested in biographical, family, institutional and Anabaptist/Mennonite histories. Primary to this vision is maintaining an available archives and library. Which will be enhanced through relationship building in the Pacific Northwest encouraging material donations and where appropriate searching out pertinent material donations.
We are the only repository for historical/genealogical materials relevant to Mennonites west of the Rocky Mountains between British Columbia and central California. Our library of 3,000+ titles includes Mennonite history books, Anabaptist, European, Canadian and American as well as conference and congregational histories. This includes genealogies and family histories; and books by Mennonite authors (or published by one of our publishing houses) on a variety of topics.
• The library contains various collections including
• Mennonite periodicals
• denominational organs,
• genealogical and general information pertinent to Mennonite organizations and activities,
• nearly complete records of the former Pacific Coast Conference of the Mennonite Church,
• records of the former Pacific District Conference of the General Conference Church,
• current to-date records of the new Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference organized in 1994,
• personal collections, many of which contain valuable historical and/or family information,
• Hope Lind’s collection of resources she gathered and used when she wrote Apart and Together, a story of Mennonites in Oregon from 1876 to 1976.
Extensive information is available for congregations in the area, including several extinct congregations. Information for other congregations varies. The majority of Mennonites in the area are from Amish Mennonite/Mennonite or General Conference Mennonite background.
Other Mennonite groups with a smaller representation are encouraged to be a part of our Society and we welcome historical/archival contributions from them. You are encouraged to come, browse, and see our collections or to do serious research. We also appreciate questions concerning family as well as general or specific history questions about the area. We may not have the answers but we will try.
Please browse our site to learn more about us, what we do and how you may become involved. Use the tabs [About PNMHS, Archives, Library, and Links] on the navigation bar to explore our site.
Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society – Founded: 1988
We serve the congregations, members and friends of the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference.
