This fonds contains the records of the Russian government department that was responsible for all issues related to the foreign settlers in Russia. The department was charged to ensure the success of the settlers. Of high interest to family historian are the vital records of births, marriages and deaths for the Chortitza Mennonite Colony for much of 1801 and 1802. There are also lists of children vaccinated (see 1809 and 1814 lists). A fair number of files relate to criminal cases or other situations where legal documents were generated due to some type of conflict in the colonies. Other files contain primarily statistical information about the colonies. The files also provide considerable information about how the Office of Guardianship governed the colonies. The content is organized chronologically with file descriptions listed in eight (8) separate finding aids called inventories (i.e. Inventories no. 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8). See "Fund 6 Overview chart" linked with this description and "Finding Aid Links" to inventory file lists and indexes.
Guardianship Committee of Foreign Settlers in Southern Russia
The earliest records in this fonds date back to 1843 when a church membership register was begun in the Bergthal Colony in South Russia - a book which was brought along with the emigrants in 1874. The membership records in this fonds continue to cover the period in Canada from 1874 onward. After 1930 the records at the Mennonite Heritage Centre dealing with the Chortitzer Mennonite church are extremely sparse. The collection comprises of some preaching schedules and annual report books. The bulk of the materials are from the Waidenamt organization.
The most unique and important document is the letter of invitation (Privilegium) signed by John Lowe of Canada's department of agriculture in July 1873.
This fond consists of three series : -1) Bergthaler/Chortitzer church registers -2) Waisenamt twelve sub series -3) Chortitzer Mennonite Conference annual report books
Fonds is arranged in the following series: 1) Vital Statistics - baptismal records, family registers, birth records, death records, church records, church leaders, immigration records, travel documents and registration forms - (13 files) Box 296 2) Vital Statistics - Polish language documents - (2 files) English translation of birth certificates - (1 file) Box 296 3) Photographs 4) Miscellaneous - Gameo article "Deutsch Kazun (Poland)", 2010; GenWiki article "Einwanderungszentralstelle (EWZ) Antraege", 2010; article" Perpetuating the memory of the Victims of Repression", 2008; Birth & Baptism records for Eugen Schroeder (b. 1933) & Heinrich Schroeder (b. 1913) - (1 file) Box 296
The records document Mennonite life in Russia and early Mennonite life on the Manitoba Mennonite West Reserve. Starting with the Jacob Wall diary (created by Johann's father) with details of life in Russia, to school materials (penmanship) and copied reports and speeches such as information on Hutterites written by Heinrich Donner, and ending with his own financial records as a mill owner in Manitoba and Saskatchewan., which have details of life in Canada. There are legal documents such as land, mortgage and income tax documents. Of special interest are portions of a blue print for the mill that Johann Wall built and operated in Blumenort, Manitoba. This fonds is described in six series: -1) Penmanship and school work (Volume 642:1-4,6,7-8.) -2) Business and financial records (Volume 1086:2,3; 1706:3-36) -3) Material copied by Johann Wall (Volume 1706:8-11,37) -4) Correspondence (Volume 1706:12) -5) Jacob Wall diary (Volume 1086:5, 5a, 7) -6) Helena Wall financial records (Volume 642:5; 1706:1-2)
This fonds contains materials that Bernhard Schellenberg created, and materials that he collected in his role as conference archivist. It consists primarily of correspondence, notebooks, and papers. The notebooks and papers mostly concern Russian Mennonite history, biographies of Mennonite leaders, and Mennonite life and thought. There are also some artworks and some publications, also relating mostly to Mennonite history. The majority of the material is original and handwritten. Finally, the collection includes several maps and photographs.
This fonds consists of sermons delivered by Peter Regier (1851-1925), some of which were from the sermons of Peter Regier (1825-1897), his father, and other ministers. Of special significance is a family diary from Prussia covering the years 1851 to 1893. The fonds has files containing other documents and family research materials such as a 1994 photo of the family reunion as well as a 1978 interview of Peter Regier's daughter conducted by Lawrence Klippestein about early life in Canada. The fonds also contains materials related to Peter Regier's role in the wider Mennonite church community such the 1902 photo of the founding of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, minutes of the Tiefengrund Mennonite Church Christian Endeavor meetings from 1908 to 1911 and an early constitution of the Rosenorter Mennonite Church of Saskatchewan.
