The library and archives contain works printed by the community and related volumes from the 18th century to the present. Manuscripts include thousands of letters by community members and by leader Christian Metz (1794-1867), which we have catalogued and indexed. Passports, citizenship papers, account books, maps and diaries are also part of the collection. Most of these manuscripts are written in the German language in the old German script. As our community historian, the museum also documents the present by collecting papers and materials from local organizations, boards and clubs.
Approximately 14,000 photographs dating from 1880 to the present are included in the collection. We recently added over 3,000 slides of present day Amana to the collection. The library contains extensive genealogical records. Oral histories of over 150 residents who lived during the communal era are recorded on cassette, transcribed, and indexed. The museum actively collects articles and research work on Amana and its history.
