Bicentennial History Book

"Blessed Bethany"

The Bethany Centennial History Book was published in 2010 with 546 copies sold.

Every individual or family, church, school and business in Bethany was encouraged to submit a 500-word summary and one photograph for free. More space could be purchased as an advertisement. The history of Bethany and Southern Nazarene University, photos of city officials, police officers and fire fighters were featured in the front of the volume.

The book built pride in the community's history.  Photos published in the book have been used for Bethany murals, and on t-shirts and illustrated note cards sold by Bethany Improvement Foundation. 

After  paying publication costs, and selling all printed copies of the book at $60 each, a $5,000 donation contribution was made to The Children's Center. The Children’s Center was a charter establishment begun by Mattie Mallory when the city started. Mallory signed the city charter in 1909.