Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1967-1978 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
33 cm of textual material
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Isaak Johann Reimer was born on October 24, 1898 in Einlage (Kitchkas) Ukraine. He was born the youngest son of 12 children to Johann J. and Elisabeth (Ens) Reimer. He attended the Kommerzschule (school of commerce) in Alexandrowsk, and was married to Olga Winter on November 7, 1921 (or 1922). They had two sons: Peter and Cornelius. Isaak taught school in various communities, including Einlage, Kronstal, Schönwiese, and New Chortitz. Between January 1930 and August 1941, he worked as the head bookkeeper in a factory and sawmill in Dneprostroj. In 1943, the family fled westward with the German army, but were overtaken by the Russians in Poland. Olga was taken to Siberia, in the Irkutsk Region near the Chinese border, and Isaak was taken north to the coal mines in the Ural Mountains. They endured 10 years of forced labour. Then they were reunited and with the assistance of relatives, were able to move to Canada in 1966. Their sons had immigrated to Canada earlier. They settled in Saskatoon, but had difficulty finding employment due to language barriers. Isaak therefore applied himself to recording his memoirs and the family history. He also enjoyed collecting stamps. Olga died in 1983, and Isaak died of a heart attack on August 22, 1987.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Isaak Reimer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This fonds consists of two sets of manuscripts of Isaak's writings. The first manuscript contains his memoirs from his life in exile in Russia, and the second is a history of the Mennonite colonies in Russia. The manuscripts are primarily handwritten.
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Publication note
Bergen, Heinrich. Verbannung Unschuldig nach Sibierien ins Verderben, 1935-1955. Regina, Saskatchewan. (See CMU library)
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Dates of creation revision deletion
By Joanne Moyer in March 2007