Archives & History

We promote our heritage

Through fulfilling research requests from various parties, to speaking engagements, to webinars, online courses, podcasts, and so much more, we ensure that those in the pews, the seminaries, the pulpits, and beyond know what it means to be United Methodist.

We preserve our heritage

With over six miles of linear shelving, we house the primary documentary record of our connection. We also care for a digital vault, an artifact’s vault, and a growing digital archive/exhibit.

EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES

Rooted Methodism - Getting to the root of us

Welcome to "Rooted Methodism" where we take a deep dive into the story of Methodism in America, focusing on how various topics and groups, including women, race, medicine, education, and youth reshaped the church


Rooted Methodism
The Center for LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage will collect and preserve Queer Mehodist history. Logo by United Methodist Communications, Creative Strategy team.

United Methodists' LGBTQ+ Heritage Season is a joyful celebration of the historic 2024 vote affirming full LGBTQ+ inclusion in our Church.

Radicle Methodism is a free online history course from the General Commission on Archives and History that takes a deep dive into our roots and how we became The UMC today.

Welcome to Radicle Methodism. For those of you with green thumbs, you may see the word “radicle” and know that it refers to a foundational part of a plant.

Turning the world upside down with 'Wesleyan Vile-tality'

It’s time to get uncomfortable, says Dr. Ashley Boggan, author of “Wesleyan Vile-tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity,” a book that challenges United Methodists to reclaim our Methodist roots, embrace holy disruption, and live out the radical, inclusive love that defines our faith. Learn more.

UM History Hub logo

Learn alongside the General Commission on Archives and History to understand the past, contextualize the present and envision the future. Courses include Local Church Historians' School, offered for free.

Un-Tied Methodism podcast logo. Courtesy of GCAH.

"Un-Tied Methodism," a podcast hosted by Dr. Ashley Boggan, General Commission on Archives and History's general secretary, takes a deep dive into The UMC's past, while offering context to what it means to be United Methodist today.


Contact Information

The General Commission on Archives and History welcomes visitors to its location at the United Methodist Archives and History Center on the campus of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, USA. Conveniently located 25 minutes from Newark International Airport and one hour from Manhattan, individual and group tours can be arranged by contacting [email protected].

Address 36 Madison Ave | Mailing Address P.O. Box 127, Madison, NJ  07940, USA | Phone 973-408-3189

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