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

The 10th Historical Convocation is set for September 10-13, 2024, at Bozeman UMC in Bozeman, Montana. The theme is "Methodist BIPOC Experiences in the American West."

The 10th Historical Convocation is set for Sept. 10-13, 2024, in Bozeman, Mont. The theme is "Methodist BIPOC Experiences in the American West."

The Center for LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage will hold its kickoff celebration on Oct. 23, 2024.

Stories, songs, exhibits and a special film screening are part of the festivities when the new Center for LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage holds its Kickoff Celebration on Oct. 23, 2024.

Radicle Methodism is a free online course from the  General Commission on Archives and History that examines the beginnings of Methodism to our present time.

"Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots" is an in-depth, four-module online course offered for free to local churches, small groups, confirmation classes, new member classes and anyone who wants to examine Methodism from the earliest days to the present.

What does it mean to be United Methodist?

Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, shares her thoughts on what United Methodists believe and how we are to live our faith in the world around us.

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 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

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved