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Welcome to Local History !

The Bethlehem Area Public Library is a great place to learn more about the rich and diverse history of our city, region and people. BAPL's Local History pages provide convenient online access to historical content from a variety of sources. Genealogists, students, educators, and others, can get connected  to our online exhibitions and cataloged searchable reference.
If you need more info or assistance, contact our Information Department at 610-867-3761 x224.

Some Collection Highlights

When looking for information about a local ancestor, be sure to check out our online Obituary / Biographical Article Indexes compiled from the pages of area newspapers published over the past 140 years. It's a great resource, not found anywhere else other than www.bapl.org

For detailed info on some of the non-circulating collections housed in the Bethlehem Room, take a look at our PDF finding aids, then stop by!

Unlock the History of YOUR House at BAPL

Research the story of your home with some hands-on investigation time in our Bethlehem Room. Find out when it was built, who lived there in the past and if your house is historically significant. Jump-start your research by downloading and reading this PDF House Resarch Guide prepared by Bethlehem’s
North by Northwest Neighborhood Initiative.