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The documents show the interactions between the Canadian government and three minority religious groups -- Mennonites, Hutterites, and Doukhobors. The materials document the issues of communal landholding, special arrangements for the education of their children, exemption from military service, and modification in welfare-state matters. From these materials Janzen identified the underlying patterns in the government's responses.

Mennonites, Hutterites and Doukhobors are three minority protestant groups with origins in 16th Century Europe, that believed in separation from "the world" or general society. All three groups had a connection with Russia (former Soviet Union) and immigrated to Canada in the late 1800s-mid 1900s after securing some special privileges related to religion, education, and military exemptions from the Canadian government. These groups, sometime classified as Christian sects, settled in group settings in Western Canada, were agrarian based and believed in pacifism and non violence. Each group negotiated with the federal and provincial governments in order to practice their religion as they saw fit. The groups had some similar issues such as conscientious objection and alternative service during times of war. Other issues affected the groups differently. These included education, land settlement and use, and freedom from paying some taxes or contributing to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The documents included private and government correspondence, reports, articles, essays, and newspaper clippings; and, both primary and secondary documentation on all these issues. Almost all the materials are photocopies.

This collection contains primarily outgoing correspondence from William G. Detweiler regarding his pastoral, evangelical, and personal activites.  Perhaps the most interesting document in the collection is a sermon log (1931-1956) containing information on churches preached in and texts or subjects referenced.  Within the correspondence are his resignation letters from the Canton Mennonite Mission, letters to Calvary Hour listeners and congregation members regarding salvation and morality, a letter from Anna to the "home folks," and a few "Baby letters" written to the newest members of congregations and their parents.  Also in the collection are bulletins and flyers regarding Mennonite Sunday school conferences and programs.

The papers were in jumbled condition when they came to the MLA.  Some items were in a self-adhesive photo album dating possibly from the early 1970s.  These items were removed and the album discarded.  The papers are divided into several series: business papers, personal financial papers, community organizations, school papers, miscellaneous.  Unfortunately there is little correspondence.  The business papers are very fragmentary but could shed some light on Rapp’s business activities and on early Hesston businesses.  The personal financial papers are also fragmentary but offer a little information on the family’s business in Hesston and Tuleta.  The community organizations series relates to the beginnings of the Hesston Cemetery Association and the school that became Hesston College.  The school papers offer some insight into classroom life at Hesston College in its early years.  The miscellaneous series includes a Maple Grove Sunday School record book 1883-1886 and unidentified photos among its more interesting holdings.

An outgoing form letter updating friends and family on the Hallmans' mission work in Argentina.

This collection contains extensive correspondence between Voths and their relatives, Foreign Mission Board members, and fellow missionaries during the time period from 1910 to 1970s. Additional materials such as diaries and clippings give a good overview of mission work in China during the height of General Conference Mennonite Mission involvement in that country, 1910s to 1950. Additional correspondence and printed items touch on the search for mission fields in South America, Japan, and Taiwan, and some involvement with American Indian work among the Hopis.

A small set of personal papers created by a  Mennonite medical missionary couple in India at the turn of the 20th century.  Materials include William Page's diary (1899), outgoing correspondence by Alice and William Page, assorted travel documents (passports, tickets, etc.), clippings, and photographs.

Box 1: papers related to Hopefield-Eden?
Box 2: Western District Tidings issues, telephone line record (Moundridge area?) 1921-1963, more Hopefield-Eden material, Kaufman and Dirks family history, Western District Mennonite Men records
Box 3: Western District Historical Committee, Executive Committee, Council of Representatives 1977-1979
Box 4-6: subject files, writings, correspondence, family history
Box 7: Western District Mennonite Men 1957-1961
Box 8: Western District youth activities 1938-1942
Box 9: same as boxes 4-6, plus master's thesis 1942, and diaries (whose?)
box 10: miscellaneous files, family history materials, education files
box 11: (map folder) family history materials, diplomas

Appears to be mostly sermons, mostly post-1945. Some class notes from seminary or Bible school

box 1: sermons 1955-1967

box 2: sermons, Bible study notes, photos 1946-1955

Correspondence and subject files related to Swartley's research and involvement with local and national Mennonite committees, taskforces, and organizations.