They are chartered to collect, preserve, and present to the public the folk culture and history of the Goschenhoppen folk region and surrounding areas of southeastern Pennsylvania. The Goschenhoppen region includes parts of Bucks, Berks, and Lehigh Counties, and can be roughly identified as the valley of the Perkiomen Creek north of Schwenksville. Rather than just preserving and protecting historic structures, records, and artifacts, the Goschenhoppen Historians have devoted themselves to the European model of folk culture research, which studies the region's language and dialects, folk beliefs and practices, material culture, and geographic, historic and religious influences. By spring 1964, the Goschenhoppen Folklife Museum and Library had been established in the village of Vernfield, moving in 1971 to a building which is an outstanding example of late Victorian village lodge-hall architecture in Green Lane, Pennsylvania. Local material culture, folk beliefs and customs are illustrated by permanent exhibits in a room-like settings.
Docents act as interpreters.
The Goschenhoppen Folklife Library holds local English and German newspapers, account books, tradesmen's records, mid-19th century insurance company records, as well as books, magazines and pamphlets on Pennsylvania German folk culture. Since 1963, monthly meetings of the Goschenhopper Historians have featured programs on various aspects of Pennsylvania folk culture, on the history of the area, and other folklife topics. Yet another Goschenhoppen Historian initiative was the sponsoring of a quilt-documentation project. Shall Be Forgotten , which summarized the outcomes of the project. Another long-term preservation project of the Historians is the restoration of the Henry Antes house in Frederick, upper Montgomery County, thought to be the headquarters of General Geroge Washington during the Pottsgrove Encampment in 1777.