The Baltzer Meyer Historical Society's library -- The Paul Miller Ruff Library -- is located in the Baltzer Meyer Center, formerly the Old Zion Lutheran Church, at 642 Baltzer Meyer Pike.

The library has extensive information on early German families -- particularly those who settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Use of the library is free to BMHS members. Nonmembers are requested to pay a fee of $2.00 per visit.

The library is named in honor of the society's founding father, The Reverend Paul Miller Ruff. As historian, translator, and publisher, Pastor Ruff has preserved the history and the spirit and record of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century German, Palatine, Swiss, and Huguenot settlers of Western Pennsylvania. His translations of early German church records and German language newspapers have added considerably to our understanding of these early settlers to this region.

Pastor Ruff's books, and other books on local history published by various members of the BMHS, are available for use in the library.

You are welcome to visit our library and browse through the archives. Or, for a moderate fee, our research staff will do the browsing for you.

Genealogist confers with research
author while former and present
presidents meet

Many of these publications are also for sale by the society. To receive a hardcopy printout of our book list, send us a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request.

The library is staffed by volunteers. Please see our Contact page for information on where we are located and when we are open.