Archives and Special Collections

Bethel University Library has collections that document the unique history and culture of Bethel and its founding denomination, the Baptist General Conference, now called Converge.

Archives

The Archives, officially known as the History Center: Archive of Bethel University and Converge, serves as the repository for the institutional and cultural history of both the school and the denomination. The collection is located in Room B216 on the second floor of the Lakeside Center on the Saint Paul, MN campus. See the History Center website for hours and to make an appointment. Some material can be accessed online through the Bethel University Digital Library Digital Collections.

Bethel University Library also has a small collection of Bethel Publications in print including yearbooks, student newspapers, Coeval student literary journal, rosters, and college catalogs available for browsing by request.

Special Collections

Special collections are unique or rare items gathered together around a topic that would be of interest to researchers. Bethel's unique history as an institution founded by Swedish immigrants with a pietistic faith leaves a legacy of devotional literature, hymnals, and rare books that contribute to research in Scandinavian studies, North American and European religious history, evangelical Christianity, and musicology to name a few.

• Klingberg Bunyan Collection - Pilgrim's Progress (Libsearch)
• Illustrated Pilgrim's Progress Digital Exhibit
• Klingberg Puritan Collection
• Bethel Hymnal Collection

The Seminary acquired a copy of the Larson-Bethel Baghdad Torah that is on display on the first floor of the Anderson Center.

• Larson-Bethel Baghdad Torah