Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1913-2020 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
1.4 m of textual records
4 reels of microfilm
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Bergthaler Mennonites first came to the West Reserve area from the East Reserve in 1877. These settlers formed four villages over the next decade. They first began worshiping together in 1880 in Rudnerweide. The education question caused these settlers to divide into two groups, the Sommerfelder and Bergthaler. Johann Funk was the leader of the Bergthaler and Abram Doerksen the leader of the Sommerfelder. In 1895 the Bergthaler built a new meeting house in Hochstadt. However, the centre for worship shifted in 1907 when the new Mennonite Educational Institute was built in Altona. In 1912 it was decided to build a new meeting house in Altona. In 1919 this building was expanded and again in 1944. With the Bible School expanding in Altona it was decided to build a new building to accommodate the large gatherings in connection with the Bible School. A larger building was completed in 1954. The language transition occurred over the next two decades. The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba, the Conference of Mennonites in Canada and the General Conference Mennonite Church since 1968. The language of worship was originally German and the transition to English occurred in the 1960s.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Records prior to 1981 were donated by D.H. Loewen. Since 1981 the congregation has made regular deposits.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This fonds consists of congregational bulletins (1965-1997, 2002-2010, 2014-2020), congregational newsletters (1981-1997), congregational directories (1976, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995), minutes of (Women's) Sewing Circle (1913-1937), finance committee (1953-1979), church council (1965-1979), ministerial committee (1967-1979), personnel committee, deacons committee, and search committee meeting minutes (1976-1978), worship committee, and MDS meeting minutes (1965-1967, 1976-1979), Education Committee meeting minutes (1962-1965), Sunday School teachers' meeting minutes (1966-1971), Education Commission, library committee, and music committee meeting minutes (1976-1978), World Mission commission, Home missions commission, missions committee, and service committee meeting minutes (1965-1969), congregational meeting minutes and reports (1949-1967, 1976-1978, 1984, 2004-2006, 2008-2010, 2014).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Some German.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Inventory file list
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Updated by Selenna Wolfe 15 March 2021. Updated by Selenna Wolfe 29 July 2021.