Presbyterian Historical Society

The Presbyterian Historical Society is an archive and historical institute in Philadelphia focused on Presbyterian history. It preserves more than 30000 cubic feet of documents and 250000 titles documenting the Presbyterian tradition in America since the 1500s.

The institute was founded in 1852 at a General Assembly meeting in Charleston and is the oldest continuously operating denominational historical society in the US. Since then it has collected materials from various Presbyterian denominations and also serves as an archive for the Federal Council and National Council of Churches.

The building holds a notable collection of communion tokens, paintings, and writings from important Presbyterian figures. These items show how the Presbyterian community lived and shared their faith throughout America.

Visitors can access the collections Monday through Friday, with extended hours on Wednesdays until 7 PM. The institute is located in Society Hill, a historic neighborhood of Philadelphia that is easily walkable.

The archive preserves materials from both current and former Presbyterian denominations. It also serves as the official repository for two major church councils, making it a central hub for documenting American church history.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1852

Website: http://history.pcusa.org

GPS coordinates: 39.94300,-75.15010

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:01