Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- ca. 1970 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
9.50 Cubic Feet
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born 29 May 1919 at Stutthof-Störbuderkampe, West Prussia. His parents were Hermann Thiessen and Katharina Bench. Married Liesbeth Maekelborger on 23 December 1942. Fled from Prussia in April 1945 via the Baltic to Denmark. They have 3 children. He worked in various agricultural marketing occupations. At the time of his genealogical work, he lived in Burgdorf, Germany. See p. 127 of the Martin Thiehsen genealogy for more detail. Died 19 October 2011, Burgdorf, Germany. His interest for the archives is his work concerning family history. He was the compiler of five family histories:
-Martin Thiehsen [sic] und seine Nachkommen 1737-1977 (1977)
-Bartholomäus Tiessen: 350 Jahre Familientradition (1986)
-Familiengeschichte der Familie Bench (1989)
-Peter Heydebrecht und seine Nachkommen (1990)
-Die Familie Mekelburger (1992)
Hermann Thiessen died 19 October 2011 in Burgdorf, Germany.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
donation
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection consists of Thiessen’s genealogical correspondence and various materials he collected while compiling his books. In addition to files of correspondence and notes, there are three card files: male Thiessens (and variant spellings), female Thiessens, and a “Suchindex” which apparently all Mennonites he found who were born before 1820 or baptized before 1840. The first file folder contains some introductory and explanatory notes by Hermann Thiessen.
There is also some correspondence addressed to Hermann Schirmacher, so it is not quite clear where Thiessen’s material ends and how much of Schirmacher’s is included. Information on Schirmacher can be found in folders 785 and 786.
The papers have all been microfilmed. There is also a rather low-quality scan of most of the collection at http://www.mennonitehistory.org/archives/thiessen_herman/index.html
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The materials were divided into sequentially numbered groupings by Thiessen. It is unclear what the significance of the numbering is. It may represent the order in which Thiessen received or acquired the materials. Some numbers are missing (75, 229, 593, 617, 736, 737, 807, 813, 823 ). It is unknown whether Thiessen simply skipped these numbers, or whether some papers are missing or misnumbered. A sheet from 540 is in with 454 for some reason.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
open for research
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
- German
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
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
- Thiessen (Family) (Subject)