Sammlung PP - David Toews collection

Executive of the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization Mennonite World Conference in Europe David Toews attending school in Kansas Burwalde school children and teacher David Toews David Toews General Conference Mennonite Church Mission Board David Toews sitting at a table David Toews in front of filing cabinets David Toews in front of filing cabinets David Toews sitting at a table David Toews passport photo David Toews sitting in a chair David Toews outside in winter with a cane. David Toews with cane posing for photo outside David Toews with cane posing for photo outside
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Bereich "Identifikation"

Signatur

CA MHC PP

Titel

David Toews collection

Datum/Laufzeit

  • 1886-1991, predominant 1926-1947 (Anlage)

Erschließungsstufe

Sammlung

Umfang und Medium

21 cm of textual records
64 photographs
1 artifact

Bereich "Kontext"

Name des Bestandsbildners

(1870-1947)

Biographische Angaben

David Toews was born February 9, 1870 in Lysanderhoeh, Am Trakt colony, Russia to Mennonite minister Jacob Toews (1838-1922) and Marie Wiebe (1838-1924). In 1880 the family moved east to Turkestan to avoid military service and where leaders such as Klaas Epp predicted Christ would return. In 1884 the Toews family abandoned the trek and moved to Newton, Kansas. In the autumn of 1885 David Toews enrolled at Halstead Seminary in preparation to become a teacher. He began his teaching career in small Mennonite communities of Kansas in 1888. In 1891 he retuned to Halstead for more education.

In 1893 his former teacher, Heinrich H. Ewert, invited Toews moved to Gretna, Manitoba to teach in the Mennonite village schools. From 1895-1897 Toews studied at Wesley College (now University of Winnipeg) for his teacher's certificate. He taught in Burwalde, Manitoba and later in Tiefengrund, Saskatchewan. Here he met and married Margarete Friesen (1881-1941) in 1900. Together they had 9 children. The youngest, Irene died in 1926 in a house fire. This had a deep impact on Toews who received many cards and condolences during this time.
David Toews was ordained as minister in the Rosenorter Gemeinde (conference) on August 18, 1901 in Tiefengrund. He was ordained as bishop in September 14, 1913. Toews went on to a life of service to the church and the Mennonite people. He was one of the 9 men who founded the Conference of Mennonites in Canada (now Mennonite Church Canada) in 1902 serving on the executive committee in various roles from 1904-1940. In 1906 he moved to Rosthern to become principal of the German-English Academy (now Rosthern Junior College). He gave up his teaching duties in 1917 so he would have more time for church work.

In 1922 Toews invited church leaders to discuss the growing distress of their co-religionists in southern Russia. A new organization was struck which became known as the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization and Toews was elected chairman. This board was seen to speak for the Canadian Mennonites who had immigrated from Russia. Toews was dubbed "The Mennonite Moses" for helping bring 21,000 Mennonites out of Russia in the 1920s. To do this Toews personally signed a gentlemen's agreement with Col. Dennis of the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) for an amount of 1.5 million dollars. This debt was repaid in November 1946, a short time before his death.
During the Second World War Toews was one of the leaders who negotiated with the Canadian government for an alternative service program for conscientious objectors. Toews and many other ministers advocated on behalf of their people during these difficult times. Bishop Toews became one of the most influential Canadian Mennonite leaders which grew out of his love for his Mennonite people. Toews died February 25, 1947.

Bestandsgeschichte

This collection has been deposited over a 20- year period (1988-2008) by various family members -- most of it coming from C. Blake Friesen who married David Toews' daughter Louise.

Abgebende Stelle

Bereich "Inhalt und innere Ordnung"

Eingrenzung und Inhalt

This collection consists of correspondence, a travel diary, condolence cards, short biographies, and photographs related to bishop David Toews, his work, and his family. Together with the related materials this collection shows the depth of involvement Bishop Toews had in the Mennonite community and how he, as one of the most influential Mennonite leaders of his time, dealt with forces from within and without the Mennonite community for the good of the Canadian Mennonite community.

Bewertung, Vernichtung und Terminierung

Zuwächse

Ordnung und Klassifikation

Described by Conrad Stoesz September 30, 2008. Updated by Alf Redekopp, 15 February 2012.

Bedingungen des Zugriffs- und Benutzungsbereichs

Benutzungsbedingungen

None

Reproduktionsbedingungen

In der Verzeichnungseinheit enthaltene Sprache

Schrift in den Unterlagen

Anmerkungen zu Sprache und Schrift

German and English

Physische Beschaffenheit und technische Anforderungen

Findmittel

Bereich Sachverwandte Unterlagen

Existenz und Aufbewahrungsort von Originalen

Existenz und Aufbewahrungsort von Kopien

Verwandte Verzeichnungseinheiten

At the Mennonite Heritage Archives:
-Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization fonds
-Conference of Mennonites in Canada fonds
-Abraham A. Friesen fonds
-Jacob H. Janzen's biographical sketch of David Toews (in German) ( Vol. 4566-19)
-William Janzen Collection: Correspondence between Mennonite leaders B.B. Janz, C.F. Klassen and David Toews and the Canadian government (including significant correspondence with judges Embury in Saskatchewan and Harvey in Alberta) regarding conscientious objectors and alternative service. -- 1942-1945, 1950. (Vol. 5110-23)
-MHC David Toews biography project (Vol. 1995-1996)
-David Toews correspondence with Alvin Miller (Vol. 4673-61)
-Norman Bull interview with Benno Toews re. father (MHC audio cassettes #466, 1722.)
At the Centre for MB Studies:
-Cornelius F. Klassen fonds
-Benjamin B. Janz fonds

Bereich "Anmerkungen"

Anmerkung

Acc. No.1988-072, 1988-074, 1994-035, 2002-074, 2002-082, 2006-026, 2008-078, 2012-012.

Alternative Identifikatoren/Signaturen

Zugriffspunkte

Zugriffspunkte (Thema)

Zugriffspunkte (Ort)

Zugriffspunkte (Name)

Zugriffspunkte (Genre)

Bereich "Beschreibungskontrolle"

Identifikator "Beschreibung"

Archivcode

Benutzte Regeln und/oder Konventionen

Status

Erschließungstiefe

Daten der Bestandsbildung, Überprüfung, Löschung/Kassierung

Sprache(n)

Schrift(en)

Quellen

Bereich Zugang

Verwandte Themen

Verwandte Personen und Organisationen

Verwandte Genres

Verwandte Orte