This fonds consists of a number of categories of materials created and collected by its founder Abram A. Vogt, and subsequent volunteer staff. The oldest item is a book by Menno Simons published in 1556 entitled Die Fundamente der seligmachenden Lehre unsers Hern Jesu Christi. Most of the published [Series 3] and unpublished genealogies and family histories were published in the 20th century with most of them bewteen 1960 and 2004. Collection contains a Historical Library of 1155 published titles related to Mennonite history and genealogy. Unpublished Mennonite genealogical collections is another category of materials [Series 1]. There are over 200,000 cards in a genealogy card index (entitled Kartei) [Series 4]. There is a substantial collection of biographical newspaper clippings (entitled the Aktei) and geographical/event newspaper clippings (entitled Chronik) [Series 2]. The MGI photograph collection contain photo of individuals, families and organizations [Series 5]. There are 37 maps related to Mennonite history. The collection contains the correspondence from the MGI Office with researchers [Series 6]. There are also electronic records -- both related to administration of the collection and also various genealogical databases in PAF and BK formats. The MGI holdings also contained the following separate fonds or collections: a) Mennonite Benevolant Society - Bethania fonds, b) Agnes Kettler collection, c) Anna Vogt fonds, d) A.K. Friesen letter collection, e) Katherine H. Loewen collection (to be described separately).
Photographs relating to the Ontario Mennonite Immigrants Advisory Committee (OMIAC) program of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, which served the Low-German community in southwestern Ontario.
The "Peace Factory" toured through southwestern Ontario in winter 1997, and included a stop at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener. An interactive exhibit, Peace Factory was a cooperative project of several Mennonite groups. Its goal was to "help all Christians connect their faith in God with a life of peacemaking." It covered approximately 2000 square feet and had several different learning stations for adults and children.
This file contains a sampling of the glass slides collected and used at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church in the 1940s. Some of the slides were created from photographs of church activities or supplied to the church by mission organizations. Others, mostly texts of hymns, were ordered from the United Church Publishing House in Toronto and used in informal worship services. All slides in this file bear the United Church Publishing House label (not visible in scans), which would indicate that this publishing house did the work of transforming all of these photographs into slides.
Several mission and service activities supported by the congregation are highlighted. They include: 1) The Stirling Crusaders program whereby children and youth grew produce, raised livestock, collected recycling and did odd jobs to raise funds for war relief and missions projects; 2) the activities of missionaries Lillian and Cyril Forth of the Sudan Interior Mission (a non-Mennonite mission in Nigeria supported by the congregation); 3) the House of Friendship in Kitchener. These slides were used by the congregation in meetings and informal services to highlight these mission and relief activities.
Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church (Kitchener, Ontario)
Photos of Indigenous people in the Yalva Sanga settlement, Paraguay. The first twelve photos (not uploaded) were taken by Nancy Flowers and are credited to the Standard Oil Company.
Photos of Indigenous Ayoreo people in the Paraguayan Chaco and of Mennonites interacting with them. The folder also includes a photo of Catholics with Ayoreo children. Notes: Our historic documents refer to these subjects as "Moro Indians," a loaded and outdated term. The history between Mennonites and Indigenous peoples includes serious injustices. For more information, see https://mcc.org/what-we-do/initiatives/indigenous-neighbours
