How to Use our Collections

Those interested in researching at the Courthouse Square are required to make an appointment with at least 48 hours notice.  Those visiting the museum during regular business hours for research only will not be charged an admission fee.   

 

You can request this by emailing John Moga at jmoga@berrienhistory.org.  Please include the subject(s) you are seeking information for and the date(s) you are interested in visiting the museum.  Researchers who arrive at the museum to do research without an appointment will be assessed a $50.00 convenience fee.

Other Resources

Check out the following organizations for additional research and historical resources:

 

Museums and Non-profits

 

Government Resources

Area Libraries

We are actively seeking yearbooks and student newspapers from Berrien County, with special focus on secondary and collegiate institutions. Contact us at info@berrrienhistory.org for more information.

About our Vaults & Library

The Berrien County Historical Association is a collecting institution and as such accepts the donation of both artifacts and archival materials from Berrien County’s past.  As preservation and conservation are our primary responsibility, the employment of trained museum professionals has been key to filling this mission.  It is also through the use of professional-grade museum products from sources, such as Gaylord,  that the staff have been able to provide safe artifact housing aligned with industry standards.  Which means that our donors can be assured that their history will remain safe for generations to come. 

 

In addition to the archival and collection vaults, the BCHA reopened the Research Library in 2022 to the public and is currently available by appointment only.  Here, researchers can access books and resource materials focused on local history as well as those that connect Berrien County to state and national stories.  The BCHA is always accepting donations of books and materials for the library.  Please contact our staff to learn more.

 

The care of these collections, however, is expensive and it has been through the generosity of donors like St. Peter’s Catholic Church that have made this work possible.  Financial donations specifically earmarked for collections are used to purchase archival-quality materials to house artifacts and to maintain necessary environmental controls, such as humidity and temperature.  To learn more about how your donation helps, visit here or call 269-471-1202.

The BCHA vaults are home to several subcollections with concentrated information or artifacts about their respective subjects.  The following is a sample of some of the collections available for research:

  • The Clark Equipment corporate archives and the BCHA Clark Equipment collection
  • Yearbooks for the following high schools
    • Benton Harbor
    • Berrien Springs
    • Buchanan
    • New Troy
    • St. Joseph
  • Rudy Lindquist  art collection
  • Woodworking tools collection
  • Marguerite Parmalee photography collection
  • Robert Rosenbaum photography collection

Additional subcollections and individual items are available – contact us to see what can help you on your history journey!

Artifact Donations

As a collecting institution, our vaults are made possible through contributions and donations from community members.  Because our vaults are currently limited in space due to their size, the BCHA’s collections management team have developed a rubric for accepting items.  While we treat every donation on a case-by-case basis, we have created the following questionnaire and needs lists to help our staff and donors determine if the BCHA may be able to take said items.  If you are unsure if we are able to accept your donation, please call 269-471-1202 to speak with curator John Moga.

 

Please note that any artifacts that are left on the museum grounds with no attribution or information will be deemed abandoned property and disposed or sold as the museum sees fit.

  1. Does this artifact have a direct connection to Berrien County?
    1. Meaning was it used, created, or owned by someone living in the county
    2. If not, can this artifact help connect Berrien County to a history shared regionally, nationally, or internationally?
  2. Does this artifact fill an existing need in the collection?
    1. If not, does this artifact help expand upon stories already represented in the collection?
  3. Does the BCHA have the resources to care for and maintain the artifact?
    1. Resources include archival-quality storage materials, appropriate environmental controls, and storage space
  4. Is the artifact too damaged for the BCHA to maintain?
    1. Overly damaged items are difficult to care for and can be a danger to other artifacts, especially if rotting or mold/mildew is evident
  5. Is the artifact too dangerous to handle?
  6. Are there any donor-requested restrictions for this artifact?
    1. The BCHA does not accept any donor-requested restrictions for items directly gifted to the museum as ownership transfer directly to us

The following lists were developed by the BCHA and are current as of October 1, 2024.  If needs or requests change, these lists will be updated and noted as such.

 

Areas of Interest

These are areas in our collections that currently have little to no representation.  This list is on-going as our staff is made of aware of new topics.  If you have artifacts connected to a topic not currently on this list, we may still need it and you are encouraged to contact us!

 

Items of Interest

These are artifacts we are actively seeking out to add to the collections.  We do note that while we list artifacts like signage, depending on the item’s fragility or size, we may not be able to accept at this time.

 

Items Not Collecting

The items on this list are not being accepted by the BCHA.  The staff may opt to remove restricted items in the future and at that time the list will be updated.