Celebrating 100 years of the Mennonite Historical Society

During 2026, Mennonite Historical Society (MHS) will conclude more than a century of promoting public understanding of Anabaptist-Mennonite history and contemporary Mennonite life and thought, with a mission that served the overarching goal of deepening commitment to Christian faith. The gathering on March 28 will serve a time to mark its closure and celebrate its impact.

MHS was founded in 1921 and reorganized by Harold S. Bender in 1924. For more than a century it has promoted public understanding of Anabaptist-Mennonite history and contemporary Mennonite life and thought, with a mission that has served the overarching goal of deepening commitment to Christian faith. MHS’s founding and early growth was deeply rooted in Goshen College’s scholarly activities, but it grew to become a much broader endeavor that connected scholars across the North Atlantic. Alongside Goshen College, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Bluffton University have been especially key institutions in providing leadership to MHS, supporting emerging scholars with research grants, and overseeing publications. MHS has spearheaded periodical and book publication in the field of Anabaptist history and thought, including Mennonite Quarterly Review, the C. Henry Smith Series, and the Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History.

Any questions? Contact Elizabeth Miller: [email protected] | (574) 535-7418