This fond consists of nine series. They include: -1) Linguistics; -2) Russian / Prussian Mennonite history; -3) World War Two history; -4) Education; -5) Anabaptist history (with a sub series on catechisms); -6) Theology; -7) Genealogy; -8) Russian history; -9) Philosophy and History. These series contain handwritten notes, manuscripts by the author, card indexes, photocopies, pictures, micro media, and a few original documents. The numerous photocopies and micro media are of books and articles, some of which are extremely rare. It is difficult to determine when the copies or notes were made: therefore, the creation date of the files are often [19-], meaning between 1900-1999. In many cases, the correspondence and manuscripts are the only way to date his research. In some cases, the date of publication is not known and an estimate was made.
The basic records of the CMM are the reports to and minutes of its annual delegate conferences. From 1947-1957 these were distributed in mimeographed form; thereafter, they have been published in annual yearbooks. The correspondence and minutes of the executive committee are scattered throughout the collection and are relatively complete only since about 1956. In 1979 the files from the Executive office were deposited on a yearly basis. The largest amount of material comes from the Mennonite Radio Mission, later renamed Faith and Life Communications, the first major staffed project of the conference. The Conference established a central treasury in 1959, and the financial records are complete from that point on.
Included with the CMM fonds are the records of the auxiliary organizations such as the Manitoba Mennonite Youth Organization and the Manitoba Women in Mission. The youth organization's activities and its records pre-date the Conference by about seven years.
These records have been described on the basis of the conference structure during the 1970s and 1980s.
The fonds is organized into nine (9) series as follows: -1. Executive Committee -2. Finance Committee -3. Anna Ens CMM History Project -4. Mission Committee -5. Education Committee -6. Manitoba Women in Mission -7. Manitoba Mennonite Youth Organization -8. Camps with Meaning -9. Mennonite Radio Mission / Faith and Life Communications
The CMBC fonds consists of the administrative records from the offices of the business manager, president, registrar and admissions. A sampling of materials consists of special programs such as lectures, recitals or other musical events. The records of the Alumni Association have also been included in this fonds.
These records could be useful for a study of education among the Mennonites, for studies of the Bible school movement and for a variety of other educational themes. For people interested in the impact of educational institutions on the intellectual orientation of a "community" these files could help to illuminate the process.
This fonds consists of the following 14 series: -1) H.H. Wall (Business Manager's) files. – 1945-1959. -2) Office and Academic files. – 1947-1973. -3) P.R. Harder (Business Manager) files. – 1959-1973. -4) Rudy Regehr (Registrar) files. – 1946-1981. -5) Henry Poettcker (President) files. – 1947-1978. -6) CMBC Publications. – 1973-1979. -7) CMBC Bookstore records. – 1972-1980. -8) Henry Poettcker (President) files. --1950-1986. -9) Rudy Regehr & Ron Loeppky (Registrar/Business Managers) files. -- 1951-1990. -10) George K. Epp (President) files. -- 1966-1987. -11) Admissions Office files. -- 1971-1994. -12) Photograph Collections -13) Alumni Association . – 1952-1986. -14) Board and Faculty minutes and reports. – 1962-1966, 1978-2000. -15) Sound recordings -16) Waldemar Janzen's Near East Study Tour file. -- 1981.
This fonds consists of eleven series reflecting the life of a Mennonite minister, teacher and administrator who spent most of his life working with the church and its institutions and programs. The series are: -1. Pastoral work, 1937-1975 -2. Mennonite conferences, 1939-1973 -3. CMBC, 1945-1972 -4. Teaching notes and student assignments, 1945-1973 -5. Schools attended and student work, 1930-1972 -6. Topical files, 1938-1974 -7. Personal files, 1918-1974 -8. Elsie's personal files, 1918-1995 -9. Bethel Mennonite Church (Winnipeg), 1939-1974 -10. Sermon collection, 1939-1974 -11. Photograph collection, 189-?, 1926-1975.
This fonds consists of six series: Peter & Mary Koop correspondence, Manuscripts & Books, Verses, Poems & Songs, Koop family history materials, Heidi Koop materials, Photograph Collection, Map Collection.
The materials in this fonds consists of materials related to the life of Jacob Hoemsen and to the Heidebrecht family. The Homsen materials included letters to and from family members in Russia after WWI, documents, diary, and photos related to Hoemsen's experiences during various wars including the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, and a book of memoirs edited by his daughter Margaret Silver. This fonds is unique as gives details of the various conflicts of the early 20th Century in Russia and how a Mennonite moved from doing alternative service to serving the Russian and German war efforts and actively participating in the Mennonite Selbstschutz (self defense unit).
The Heidebrecht family materials consists of a manuscript by Margaret Silver that, with the help of old letters, reconstructs the life of the Heidebecht family as it struggled to survive in Russia under Stalin and the Soviet governments. Also included are photos and documents to his wife Maria Heidebrecht's experience as a student in Russia. This material is helpful in understanding the experiences of the Mennonites after World War one, the collectivization of the farms, Stalin's purges, labour camps, famine, deportation and exile, great trek to Germany, repatriation to the U.S.S.R., and life in Russia up to the modern era.
This fonds contains a series of journals begun in Russia in 1908 and continued in Canada after 1923. Parts were written while the writer was still living in Nikolaifeld, then Arkadak, and finally in Hanley, Saskatchewan. There are transcriptions and translations with the materials which were completed by the MHC volunteer staff Jake Friesen in 2008.
These records can be divided into three eras -- the first migration wave (1922-1930), Pre World War II and War years (1930-1946), and finally, the 2nd migration movement (1947-1964). The records during the first period focus on the Mennonites who left Russia and settled in various communities in Canada through the assistance of the Board. The records of the second period focus more on the need to send relief aid to Russia during a period when immigration to Canada was no longer possible. The records of this period also deal with the questions of war, military service, conscientious objection to war and alternative service. The records of the third period -- a period when the leadership of the Board is under chairman J.J. Thiessen -- focus on help to refugees out of war torn Europe, including re-settlement in South America.
"Strangers in a Foreign Land" by Nicholai Goossen. This story appeared as a series of articles in the Mennonitische Rundschau. Originals of the articles as well as photocopies and an English translation are included. - (1 file) Box 421
This fonds contains three diaries the first from 1945 until 1987 which appears to have been recopied. The first diary gives memoirs and accounts of Penner’s time in India including personal stories, politics, weather, and major news events. The first diary also includes loose pages in the back from 1981 and 1993, other loose pages are included with no specified year. The second diary spans from 1988 until 1990, and the third from 1990-1992. These two diaries are from Penner’s retirement in Winnipeg, Manitoba and include memoirs, personal experiences, news, and medical topics such as AIDS. Penner’s bible has prayers and notes throughout, in the back there is a short timeline of her first trip to India. In addition, This fonds contains a letter written by Penner to her adoptive relative Doreen Loewen in 1956 while she was in India, recounting her work in the hospital and teaching Sunday school. Finally, also included are Penner's business card and two pins; one of these pins is a nursing pin, and the other contains a photo of her late parents.
This fonds contains reports and correspondence from Helena's various assignments with the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) and WHO (World Health Organization), as well as University reports and assignments, correspondence from her hears in Montreal, and other notes and documents. Also included are several newspaper clippings or articles, a small collection of photographs, and many interesting documents such as diplomas, certificates and travel identification.
This fonds contains documents pertaining to the life of William Hespeler, such as confirmation of attending the Polytechnic Institute in Karlsruhe (1847-1849), of deferment from military service in 1850, of immigration to Canada, and of naturalization as a British subject. The fonds includes the items taken to Russia in 1872 (i.e. responses from Ottawa to the Russian Mennonite inquiries about priveledges been sought such as exemption from military service). The fonds also contains various items with the autographs of individuals such as Otto von Bismark, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia, and the British monarch, Queen Victoria. The documents pertain to Hespeler's service to Canada or Germany.
