In 1955, the Board of Directors instructed the General Manager, James Watkins,to take steps “to preserve Church of God General Conference historical documents before they are lost or destroyed.” (Restitution Herald February 15, 1955). A small closet was dedicated to house these historical materials in the facilities of the college/conference in Oregon, IL.

When the headquarters of the Church of General Conference was moved to McDonough, GA., a climate-controlled room for the Archives was created in the headquarters building. Today the archives contains a world-class collection of pre/post-Millerite 1800 to 1900 Adventist materials.

Once the board created the archives, Sister Grace Marsh gifted all the material collected by her husband G. Eldred Marsh (who had served as pastor for 50 years; as editor of the Restitution Herald 1931-38, and as General Conference historian until he died in Nov. 1954).

Over the years, the Archives has added to its collection: books written by Church of God authors and others who shared our beliefs, along with tracts, magazines, papers presented at Ministers Conferences, Christian Workers Seminars, and Theological Conferences.

The archives contain bound volumes of the Restitution Herald, Progress Journal, Mission Newsletters, Church and Conference Histories, Berean Youth Magazines, OBC Maranatha, and much more historical material.