Elevating Community Through Connection, Communication and Caring

MISSION

The Bratenahl Historical Society, formed in 1990, is a non-profit institution organized to discover, collect and preserve documents and materials relevant to the history of Bratenahl Village. The Society believes that an understanding and appreciation of our historical heritage is essential to maintaining a unique and meaningful identity as a community. The mission is to celebrate and preserve the history of Bratenahl and its people and to assure this legacy is passed on to future generations.

Toward this end it shall own and maintain all Bratenahl Historical Society properties for collecting, preserving and interpreting archival materials and artifacts indigenous to Bratenahl Village, encourage historical research, cooperate with other organizations interested in historical preservation, engage a diverse public through variety of programs and manage the Society openly, ethically and professionally.

LIBRARY

Because the Bratenahl Historical Society collection is limited and consists largely of one-of-a-kind and out-of-print materials and therefore deemed by us to be irreplaceable all persons when using the materials and facilities are required to adhere to the following:

1. The Society is located in the Bratenahl Community Center. Hours of operation are generally Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Because the staff is limited an appointment is recommended.
2. Use of the materials in the collection is available to current members current in their annual dues. Use of the materials by non-members is subject to a fee of $5.00 for the day. All persons using the collection must sign the registration sheet showing their address, telephone number and email address.
3. Only items essential to research may be brought into the room. All other articles such as coats, purses, large notebooks, briefcases, totes, or other items the archivist on duty is uncomfortable with must be left outside the door.
4. No food, drink, candy, or chewing gum may be brought into the reading room. Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the Community Center.
5. Fragile materials may only be handled by an archivist. No patron is permitted into the files except for those that might from time to time be designated as open. Patrons may not refile reading room materials.
6. Only pencils may be used for note taking. Pens of any kind are not permitted. All materials consulted must be handled with care and may not be used as a writing surface. No marks of any kind may be made on any of the Society’s materials except by an authorized archivist.
7. No materials may be removed for the Society’s room at any time other than such materials that may have to be removed for repair or photocopying, and then only with the consent of the President or Vice President.
8. Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the archivist. Printed materials over 100 years old and bound manuscripts may not be photocopied. There is a charge of 10 cents per sheet for photocopies. Currently copies are letter size only.

NOTE: The staff of the Bratenahl Historical Society reserves the right to inspect all research materials, and personal articles befo re a person leaves the facility and to detain for a reasonable period of time any person suspected of removing Bratenahl Historical Society materials.

CONTACT

William Beckenbach, President wbeckenbach@gmail.com

Paul Kesselem, Treasurer kesselem7@spcglobal.net