Richard (Dick) Berg

Named Lancaster Theological Seminary’s librarian in 1988, the Reverend Berg is a 1969 graduate of Heidelberg College who received his Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School in June of 1972. Case Western Reserve University School of Library Science awarded him a Master of Science in Library Science degree in 1978. His areas of specialization while at Case Western Reserve were Archives and Academic Libraries.

Before coming to Lancaster Seminary, the Reverend Berg was the Periodicals/Learning Resources Librarian at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, from 1979-1982 and the Assistant Librarian at United from 1982-1988. During his tenure at United he served as Acting Librarian for the 1984-1985 academic year.

An avid historian, the Reverend Berg was Director of the Geauga County Historical Society from 1976-1979. He was appointed archivist of the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society in 1998. An ordained minister with standing in the Lancaster Association of the United Church of Christ, he enjoys supply preaching and has served three interim pastorates. An active member of the American Theological Library Association, the Reverend Berg has served on several section committees and on the Board of Directors. As a member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Theological Library Association, he has served as president and as chair of the Executive Committee. He has also held elected positions with the Ohio Theological Librarians and the Methodist Librarians Fellowship.

The Reverend Berg is married to Judy Christina (Smith), an instructional facilitator with McCaskey High School in Lancaster. Residents of Lancaster, the Bergs are the parents of two children: Rebecca Ellen (1974), married to Daniel Williams (1997), and Brian Richard (1978).

Strategies and resources for theological research and writing

Class readings.  Note that the password to these will be provided in class.

• Trible article
• Yaghjian pages

The education of clergy in the Reformed Church in the United States before 1825
History of the Reformed Church in the United States, particularly its publication efforts
History of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, particularly its involvement in social issues
History of Lancaster Theological Seminary, particularly the Philip Schaff Library
History of Christian hymnody

Kelly, Bridgette, Margaret Beneroth, Richard R. Berg. GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH HISTORIAN/ARCHIVIST. Rev. Ed. Cleveland: United Church of Christ Archives, 2007.

“A Chapter Closed, A New Chapter Begun: First United Church of Christ, Lakewood, Ohio.” NEWS FROM THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 34.1 (May 2007): 4-5, 10.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT MANUAL, LANCASTER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. Rev. Ed. Lancaster, Pa: Lancaster Theological Seminary, 2006.

“Fraktur in the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society Collection.” NEWS FROM THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 33.2 (April 2006): 1-3.

GUIDE FOR ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION OF LOCAL CHURCH RECORDS. Rev. Ed. Lancaster, PA: Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, 2005.

“Nuggets From the Collection: Broadsides.” NEWS FROM THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 33.2 (Winter/Summer 2005):9-10.

“Nuggets From the Collection: Bible Records as Sources for Genealogical Research.” NEWS FROM THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 32.1 (Summer 2004): 1-3, 8-9; 33.2 (Winter/Summer 2005):5-9; 33.2 (April 2006): 10-13.

“Nuggets From the Collection: Decorated Vellum Bindings.” NEWS FROM THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 31.2 (Spring 2004): 1-2.

“Strategic Planning for Libraries” in SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 1993 (264-278).