Research Support

The Society is located on the second floor of the Lower Merion Academy Building, a beautifully restored 1812 building and the oldest existing school building in Montgomery County. The physical address is 506 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.

Our outstanding collection of local and regional history includes:

• Reading Room—Our library of general reference materials, including a reading room with internet access.
• Archive Room—A conservation environment housing our primary source materials, maps, books, papers, photographs, and textiles.
• File Room—Collections of pamphlets, brochures, papers, newspapers, and reprints.

For general inquiries and appointments, email us at info@lowermerionhistory.org. 

For research requests, email us at research@lowermerionhistory.org.

Our library is open to the public every Wednesday, except holidays, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. for drop-in visits. We also offer visits by appointment, depending on our availability. To schedule an appointment, email  info@lowermerionhistory.org.

More information about what to expect during your visit can be found here, and more information about our collections is available on our Collections page. 

Yes! We can help you find answers in many ways: you can review our collections and resources online, visit us in person, and/or send us a research request. If your research needs exceed what we can provide, we may be able to connect you with a professional to research on your behalf. In that case, all fees and terms would be negotiated between you and them.

We are happy to direct you to resources that may include your family members. Our collection of yearbooks, atlases, and real estate ads are the most frequently used resources for tracing genealogy. For birth and death certificates, municipal employee records, and other government documents we suggest reaching out to the appropriate township, borough, or county directly.

The Society has a robust collection of photographs, including images of homes, community events, and local landmarks. We are currently able to search by location or subject, but many of our photographs of individuals are not yet identified. We encourage you to visit during our open hours to browse, but if a visit is not possible we are happy to scan and send images via email.

Lower Merion and its built resources are rich with intriguing history waiting to be uncovered. 

This Brief from the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) serves as a guide through the basic steps to researching the history of a building, its construction date, and past owners.

Reach out to us at info@lowermerionhistory.org with the specifics of your request. We welcome “fair use” of our materials for purposes of research, scholarship, or teaching, with attribution to the Society. In cases where we may not own the copyright, or the materials may not be in the public domain, you will need to secure permission from the copyright owner and pay any required fees. The Society, at its discretion, may charge additional fees for commercial use of images in its collection. The user of any supplied reproductions assumes all responsibility to comply with existing copyright laws, and may be required to supply The Society with a copy of any publication or project in which the images appear. The Society reserves the right to decline to scan or photograph any item in its collections, or any research request. Shipping & Handling costs per quote. We must include 6% Pennsylvania sales tax on all sales and services.

If doing the research yourself is impractical or overwhelming, and LMHS staff is unable to provide research services due to time and capacity limitations, we may be able to connect you with a professional to research on your behalf. In that case, all fees and terms would be negotiated between you and them.

The best resource for historic home repair guidelines is Lower Merion Township’s Historical Commission and Historical Architectural Review Board.