Elizabeth Nord was the Shaker Historical Society's first director and curator. Mrs. Herman Nord was tireless in her mission to preserve, protect, and to promote the legacy of the Shakers of North Union. She was instrumental in forming the Society and in the Society's important role in preventing the construction of the Clark Freeway, which would have destroyed the Shaker Lakes. The Society's Elizabeth Nord Library and Archives was dedicated to her memory on Sept 15, 1987.

The library is open to researchers by appointment only. Admission is free for SHS members or $5 for general admission.

The library contains books related to the Shakers of North Union, utopian societies, the development of Shaker Heights, and Cleveland. The archives contain vertical files about Warrensville Township, the Shakers, and Shaker Heights. We are actively collecting material. 

Some of the special collections include our Map Collection, Stereoview Collection, and the James A. Toman Photograph Collection, which features the Shaker Rapid and other interruban trains.

We are happy to do initial research at no charge, but if your inquiry will take us more than 15 minutes to address or search in our archives, we charge $25 an hour. 

Reprographics or copying material is at the discretion of the Director only to ensure the long term preservation of the materials. Fees may apply. No photography or cell phone use is permitted.

Are you looking to use an image from our library or archives? Please fill out the Image Reproduction Request form and send it to collections@shakerhistory.org.

The Scrapbook Collection

Did you know we share a Shaker Heights collection with the Shaker Heights Public Library on Cleveland Memory?

Browse the entire collection and be sure to look through Louis Baus's 1931 scrapbook "Shakers and Kirland", a unique look at the Center, North, and East families of the North Union Shaker Colony. It also contains photographs of Warrensville Township and the Mormon Community in Kirtland.