
Visit Archives & Library
Come for a visit!
Use our archives and library to learn about Mennonites and interrelated communities. Our reference desk staff is ready to assist you.
Hours & Admission
Open Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm.
Members of Mennonite Life and students use the library and archives complimentary; non-members pay a nominal fee of $7 per day.

Ancestry.com Available Here!
Ancestry.com is the world’s largest collection of online family history records, and it’s available for you to use complimentary in our library. Our reference staff can help you with your research and with making sense of what you find!

Anabaptist Archives
Our archive is filled with treasures that give glimpses into the individual and community lives of Lancaster area Mennonites and their neighbors. We are the official depository for records of LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches (Lancaster Mennonite Conference) and of Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA.
The archival collections span a range of material and formats such as art prints, audio recordings, broadsides, correspondence, charts, deeds, diaries, folk art (fraktur, scherenschnitte), genealogical records, maps, newspaper clippings including obituaries, photos and slides, postcards, videos, and wills.
Explore Our Online Museum Store
Featured Stories
March 18, 2025
Fifty Years of the Biblical Tabernacle Experience
Directions Biblical Tabernacle Experience (at the Mennonite Life Visitors…
Learn MoreOctober 27, 2021
Introducing Mennonite Life
It’s an exciting time to be a Mennonite history…
Learn MoreOctober 11, 2021
Welcome, Refugees
For Mennonites in Lancaster, loving your neighbor means welcoming…
Learn MoreOctober 4, 2021
Mennonite Artists
Beyond folk arts, Mennonites contribute significantly to visual, language,…
Learn MoreDiscover Something New
July 22
Early Anabaptism in Global Perspective: Past, Present, and Future at 500 Years
Mennonite Life joins the Young Center for Anabaptist and…
Learn MoreAugust 4 @ 7:00 pm
Annual Storytelling Night
In a celebration of stories that transcend boundaries, Mennonite…
Learn MoreAugust 22 @ 10:00 am
Behind the Scenes: A Look into Mennonite Life’s Museum Collection Care
Join us for a unique behind-the-scenes look at the…
Learn MoreSeptember 11
Bookworm Frolic
This year’s Bookworm Frolic takes place Thursday, September 11 through…
Learn More