Welcome to the Lower Merion Historical Society

Wednesday Evening Public Hours
2026-06-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
Join us Wednesday from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. to explore our collections and chat with board members. During your visit, we are happy to offer on-site services, including research assistance, guidance on handling of documents and objects, and use of our digital scanner and photocopier. More information about what to expect during your visit can be found here.

Local author talk on Frank Miles Day, Philadelphia architect
2026-05-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
Join local author Julia Steinberg Agnew as she shares the research behind her newly published book, Frank Miles Day: The Life, Works and Legacy of a Philadelphia Architect. Day designed numerous structures in Lower Merion and surrounding communities, including designs of the outbuildings at Stoneleigh and Oakwell in Villlanova.
This is a free program.
More about the book:
Philadelphia architect, Frank Miles Day (1861-1918), left his mark on Philadelphia and beyond, and yet, until now, his name is hardly known. In the late 1880s and 1890s, alongside the firms of Cope & Stewardson and Eyre and other members of the “T Square Club,” Day became widely known in the American architectural world for his Creative Eclectic style inspired by his study and travels abroad. In the early 1900s, he went on to design in his own interpretation of the Collegiate Gothic style. For nearly three decades, Day received commissions for townhomes, country residences, club buildings, warehouses, hotels and university buildings–many still standing today.
When viewed together in this compilation, his designs are evidence of his expertise in many areas–from classical architecture and brickwork to watercolor, sketch, horticulture, landscape design, and of his continued compassion and sense of social responsibility. The story of his upbringing, his marriage to social reformist Anna Blakiston Day and his early support for civic improvement, historic preservation, travel abroad scholarships, human wellness and women in the arts and sciences reveals an inspirational Philadelphian not to be forgotten.
Now, for the first time since the 1980 dissertation by architectural historian Patricia Keebler, we have a comprehensive description of his life and unique architectural works that includes his sketches, photographs of his designs, descriptions of his clients and excerpts from his many publications.

NarbEarth Day 2026
2026-05-02 12:00 - 16:00 | Narberth Park, 25 Windsor Ave, Narberth, PA, 19072
For the fourth year in a row, we will host an informational table at NarbEarth Day in Narberth Park. More information is available from the Narberth Civic Association.

LMHS Annual Meeting and Presentation on Lower Merion's first library, by Denise Francis
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:30 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
During our Annual Meeting, we look forward to updating our members and our community on our progress over the past year, and sharing our vision for the coming year. We will also dedicate a new memorial bench in honor of Presidents Emeritus Jerry Francis and Ted Goldsborough, as well as longtime volunteer Max Buten.
The meeting will include a presentation by Denise Francis sharing her research on Lower Merion’s first library.

In partnership with the Bala Cynwyd Library: Discussion with Sheilah Vance, author of Threshold to Valley Forge: The Six Days of the Gulph Mills Encampment
2026-04-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Bala Cynwyd Library, 131 Old Lancaster Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004, United States
In partnership with the Bala Cynwyd Library, listen as author Sheilah Vance brings to life an untold chapter of Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary War history at a critical turning point in America’s fight for independence.

Sheilah’s new book, Threshold to Valley Forge: The Six Days of the Gulph Mills Encampment, uses an image from our collection on its cover. Register for this free program here.

POSTPONED - Tintype Portrait Day! New date TBD
2026-04-12 10:00 - 17:00 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
Given our successful Tintype Portrait Day last year, we will again be hosting Victorian Photography Studio Gettysburg!
Watch the wetplate collodion process live and take home your own tintype. Each portrait session is 20 minutes. Period costumes are not provided, but everyone is welcome to bring their own. Pricing as follows, paid at the time of service via cash, card, PayPal, or Venmo. $10 of each portrait session will go to the Society to help preserve and maintain our photograph collection.
You must reserve your Portrait Session by registering here
All registrants will receive detailed event information by email prior to the event. If you have any difficulties with this form, please email us at info@lowermerionhistory.org to reserve your session.

Quarter plate (3.25 x 4.25″): $75
Half plate (4.45 x 5″): $85 – not recommended for more than 3 people
5 x 7″ plate: $100 – not recommended for more than 5 people

Archive deep dive: Woman's Club of Bala Cynwyd, with Xandra O'Neill
2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
Lower Merion Historical Society intern Xandra O’Neill will present a summary of her work with the newly accessioned Woman’s Club of Bala Cynwyd materials. She will share about her experience processing the collection and highlight a few of the collection’s items that tell the story of the club throughout its roughly hundred year history. Her internship was supported by a Historical & Archival Records Care grant to the Society from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

In partnership with Natural Lands: The Legacy of the Women of Stoneleigh
2026-02-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Stoneleigh: a natural garden, 1829 County Line Road, Villanova, PA, 19085, United States
Join us for an event in partnership with Natural Lands: an unforgettable journey through time highlighting the women who lived and worked at Stoneleigh. Dating as far back as the 1680s, historical records paint a vivid picture of the history of Stoneleigh through the years, from its origins as a home to the Lenape people, to its time as a Quaker settlement and active farm, and finally as an estate to three prominent Main Line families.
Erin Betley of the Lower Merion Historical Society will present the findings of years of research into the women who shaped the story of Stoneleigh over many decades, creating a legacy that can now be enjoyed by all as a public garden.
The evening will include a presentation, opportunities to view historic materials from the LMHS collection, and a Q&A with Erin. This event will take place in the Main House at Stoneleigh, and light refreshments will be served. You must register for this event here.
Please note: the inclement weather date for this event is Thursday, February 19.

2025 Dickens Festival
2025-12-07 12:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Narberth, 221 Haverford Ave, Narbeth, PA, 19072, United States
Come visit our informational table at the 2025 Dickens Festival in downtown Narberth!
The Festival is a free family event held each December on the streets of downtown Narberth. It draws thousands to this little borough every year, and it has become the fastest-growing holiday festival in the Philadelphia area. In this Dickens-themed event, the town of Narberth is transformed into 1840’s London, as Ebenezer Scrooge and all the characters from A Christmas Carol roam the streets for an afternoon.
There is entertainment and activities for all ages, including carriage rides, crafts, carolers, period vendors and food, dancers, musicians, ballet performances, puppet shows, ice sculptors, a free scavenger hunt for children, and much more.
This year’s Narberth Dickens Festival will be held on Sunday December 7, 2025, from Noon to 4pm.
For more information on the festival see link below:
http://www.narberthonline.com/dickens-festival.html

Horn & Hardart: Past, Present, Future!
2025-11-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Bala Cynwyd Library, 131 Old Lancaster Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004, United States
We are partnering with the Bala Cynwyd Library for a special conversation with David Arena, CEO of the legendary Horn & Hardart!
Journey through 135 years of Horn & Hardart’s rich history, from the Automat’s groundbreaking beginnings to its exciting revival. Hear about David’s current initiatives and get an inside look at what’s ahead for the brand’s relaunch! Complimentary coffee will be served.
Coffee and copies of The Automat: The History, Recipes, and Allure of Horn & Hardart’s Masterpiece will be available for purchase.
The event is free, registration is here: https://lmls.libcal.com/event/15334548

Montco Roots- Family and Property History Through Deeds
2025-11-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Ludington Library, 5 S Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010, United States
Join Jeanne Sorg, Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds as she presents Montco Roots!
Learn about the different types of documents that are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds office and look at some of the interesting historical details you can find in those documents.
We present this event in partnership with Ludington Library. 30 seats are available and pre-registration required: https://lmls.libcal.com/event/15037559
About Montco Roots:
Jeanne Sorg, Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds, will overview the types of documents that are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds office and go through how to use your current deed to begin your journey, as well as the interesting historical details you can find in the documents recorded in her office. Our records date back to 1784 and are mostly public record. Historical deed research, and through other documents the Recorder of Deeds stores in perpetuity, can be a useful tool in learning more about your home and potentially family history.
Jeanne Sorg:
Jeanne Sorg was elected Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds in November 2015 and assumed office in January 2016. Prior to being elected Recorder of Deeds, Sorg served as a senior advisor to an elected state official. She is currently Mayor of Ambler Borough and serves on the Ambler Main Street Board. As Recorder of Deeds, Jeanne and her staff have worked to bring the office to the people by creating the Montco Roots program, partnering with legislators and groups around the county to protect homeowners from fraud, and expanding the Veterans’ Discount ID Program. Her community outreach initiatives have been used as a guide and resource for other offices. She is humbled to have been called the most active and effective Recorder of Deeds for Veterans by the PA Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. Jeanne has been awarded the Martin Luther King Jr Award by the Daniel W. Dowling American Legion for her dedicated service to the community.

Book talk with Joe Lex, author of All Bones Considered: 52 Laurel Hill Women
2025-10-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
The Lower Merion Historical Society welcomes local author Joe Lex for a discussion about his new book, “All Bones Considered: 52 Laurel Hill Women – biographical sketches of 52 women of Laurel Hill East and Laurel Hill West.”
In 2016, Joe Lex retired after more than 45 years in emergency medicine. His career began as a combat medic in Vietnam (1968–69), followed by years as an ER tech and registered nurse before starting medical school at age 35. He spent 14 years as a community ER doctor, then 13 years teaching at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he retired as a professor. Joe became one of the most recognized emergency medicine educators globally, helping to establish training programs in Poland, Argentina, Vietnam, South Africa, and Myanmar. Known as the “Godfather of Free Open Access Medical Education,” he made over a thousand lectures available online. The American Academy of Emergency Medicine renamed its top teaching award the Joe Lex Educator of the Year Award in his honor.
After retirement, Joe missed research and teaching. He began volunteering as a tour guide at Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery, leading to the podcast All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories, which features more than 400 residents of Laurel Hill East and West. He later launched Biographical Bytes from Bala to explore lives at Laurel Hill West in Bala Cynwyd. Despite being DIY and low-tech, his podcasts have been downloaded over 75,000 times, placing them in the top 25% globally.
In 2024, Joe adapted some podcast scripts into All Bones Considered: 52 Laurel Hill Women, highlighting remarkable women who shaped Philadelphia and the world. Meet him LIVE and pick up an autographed copy at this Author Event!
The event is free, please RSVP below.
Additional Links: https://linktr.ee/joelex

Shaping Our Story: A fundraiser for the Bala Cynwyd Library
2025-10-23 18:00 - 21:00 | Bala Golf Club Ballroom, 2200 Belmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, United States
Join us in supporting our local libraries!
Shaping our Story is a fundraiser for the Bala Cynwyd Library. The event is an adults-only private evening including delicious dinner and silent auction. During the event, the Society will share rich information about the history and impact of the Bala Cynwyd Library.
Tickets available here: https://lmls.org/shapingourstory

Haverford Civic Association's Party in the Park
2025-10-18 11:00 - 14:00 | Sharpe Park, 405 Montgomery Ave, Haverford, PA, 19041, United States
We will host an informational table at Party in the Park, organized by Haverford Civic Association.

Harriton Farmstead Fair
2025-09-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Harriton House and Park, 500 Harriton Road, Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010, United States
We will sponsor an informational table at the 35th Annual Farmstead Fair hosted by the Harriton Association.
Join your friends & neighbors for a full day of family friendly entertainment featuring
• Children’s Games with Pandora• Attic Treasures Sale• Raptor Jawn birds of prey demonstrations• Living Historians• Bluegrass tunes with Summit Hill• Tours of historic Harriton House• Farm Animals• Conshohocken Brewing & Carmona Mobile Foods• Craft vendors• Community Partner information tables• FREE PARKING & FREE ADMISSION

Bala Avenue Art Walk
2025-09-14 11:00 - 15:00 | Bala Avenue between Montgomery Avenue and Cynwyd Road, 225 Bala Ave, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004, United States
For the third year in a row, we will sponsor an informational table at the Bala Avenue Art Walk organized by our partner City Ave District, in collaboration with Bala Avenue of the Arts and Art Star. Most information is available from City Ave District.
The Art Walk is on Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The popular community event returns with an open-air celebration of more than 30 local artists, live music, food and fun for all ages.

Volunteer Open House & Information Session
2025-06-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
Interested in exploring how to leverage your time and expertise in support of the Lower Merion Historical Society?
Join our open house and information session to learn about opportunities to:
– inventory and manage collections
– engage in historical research
– develop outreach and educational materials
– support patrons who either visit the Society or send us research requests
…and much more!

PALM's Juneteenth Block Party Celebration
2025-06-21 10:00 - 16:00 | West Spring & Greenfield Avenue, Ardmore, Ardmore, PA, United States
For the third year in a row, we will be sponsoring an informational table at the Juneteenth Block Party Celebration organized by PALM: Center for Positive Aging of Lower Merion! Most information is available from PALM.

LMHS Annual Meeting
2025-05-04 14:00 - 15:30 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
During our Annual Meeting, we look forward to updating our members and our community on our progress over the past year, and sharing our vision for the coming year under the guidance of President-Elect Linda Tasker and Vice President-Elect Scott Reynolds.

NarbEarth Day
2025-05-03 12:00 - 16:00 | Narberth Park, 25 Windsor Ave, Narberth, PA, 19072
For the third year in a row, we will host an informational table at NarbEarth Day in Narberth Park. More information is available from the Narberth Civic Association.

Tintype Portrait Day!
2025-03-09 10:00 - 17:00 | Lower Merion Historical Society, 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004
Step back in time with the Lower Merion Historical Society’s Tintype Portrait Day!
