This fonds contains materials collected and created by I. G. Neufeld mostly pertaining to Mennonite history and issues relating to their experience in Canada in the first half of the 20th century. Materials consist primarily of correspondence and newspaper clippings on Mennonite themes such as settlement, participation in World War II, education, culture, and experience in Russia. There are also several maps and one photograph.
This fonds consists of sermons written or copied by Klassen that span both the Russian and Canadian experience. They are written long hand in Gothic German script. Most of the sermons are dated to the time of authorship and date and location delivered. Also included is a family history written by Klassen and a devotional book by Karl Gerok.
This fonds consists of a photocopy of a diary written by Bernhard Hamm which describes the journey to Canada, settling on the East Reserve and then moving to the West Reserve to the village of Neubergthal. A portion of the diary has been transcribed.
This fonds consists of a diary written by Peter Hamm describing the life of his parents and grandparents and documents births, marriages, and deaths of family members. Portions of this diary related to the journey from Bergthal Russia to the East Reserve, Manitoba were copied by his son Bernhard Hamm. Bernhard’s journal is in Mennonite Heritage Archives Volume 2047.2. Another family member whose materials are also at the Mennonite Heritage Archives (Volume 1748) is Peter’s first cousin, Andreas Hamm (1863-1936).
This collection of material consists of financial records from 1879-1880 and 1889-1890, two church or village registers and a fire insurance register. The first village register contains entries up to 1890 and the other up to 1925.
This fonds consists primarily of letters addressed to Jacob Buhr (1833-1908), Johann Buhr (1858-1942) and Jacob Buhr (1870-1951) received from close relatives in Russia. The earliest letters deal with questions of inheritance resulting from the death of Jacob Buhr's mother (who remained in Russia). Letters at the turn of the century give the reader a picture of conditions in the Mennonite colonies at that time. Letters from 1920-1929 addressed to Johann Buhr (1858-1942) and Jacob Buhr (1870-1951) deal with economic conditions in the Mennonite colonies in Russia after the Civil War and questions of emigration. Some letters from the 1970s are addressed to Helen Buhr from her father Jacob H. Buhr of Altona, Manitoba. Items of special interest include a list of wheat sales from 1883, a letter from P. & K. Friesen of Rosthern, Saskatchewan dated 1911 and a small family register kept by Johann Buhr (1858-1942). There is also a ledger begun by Johann Buhr in 1892 (Cash book) which contains family information.
This fonds includes the mayor's records for the civic administration of the village of Rosenort. There are reserve-wide directives that related to all 37 villages of the Reinländer Mennonite church. Also included are the financial records for each family such as the Brotschult, agreements with teachers and shepherds, the original by-law of the Municipality of Rhineland, school records, and the record of assistance given to widows.
This material shows the organization of the pioneering Reinländer Mennonite church that contributed to their success of establishing thriving communities on the open prairies. It documents the growth and development of the Rosenort area as well as the larger Mennonite community of the Manitoba Mennonite West Reserve.
This fonds consists primarily of material related to the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society including correspondence, reports and minutes (1958-1981). Much of this material concerns the 1974 Centennial celebrations for the anniversary of Mennonites arriving in Manitoba. Other significant materials include minutes of the Radio Committee of the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba (1956-1963) and records of the Mennonite Collegiate Graduate Society (1954-1950). In addition there are several single documents acquired by Ens which are related to Mennonite history. Finally, the collection includes audio reels of Ens' Low German radio program, which include talks on Mennonite history, travel reports, interviews, music and literature.
This collections consists mainly of the village books covering the period 1875-1936, with a few gaps. The records record financial affairs of the village such as the levies on village inhabitants. There are also a set of community announcements (1917-1918), contracts with village teachers and shepherds, property transactions and other miscellaneous papers(1881-1904).
This fonds consists of letters written to Gerhard Doerksen, written in Manitoba and in Kansas, a journal and accounting book, and a biography of Bishop Cornelius Regehr.
This fonds consists of some early handwritten Christmas and New Years Wishes, some artworks (sketches done in school in Russia) school documents, notebooks of sermons and loose sermons, presentations at events and conferences, some correspondence and family records. Most of the materials are handwritten originals. The collection also contains a table cloth and a samovar that were brought from Russia.
This fonds contains legal documents related to the acquisition of Jacob Thiessen's estate, the division of his estate after his death in 1906 and acquisition of land by his widow Aganetha in 1915. Included are originals, photocopies, and some translations of the Russian documents into English. The materials show the distribution of land, inheritance practices, and a sense of life style of Mennonite landowners.
This collection consists of correspondence received by Peter Hoeppner (1825-1907) after he immigrated to Canada. Writers from Russia include Isaac Dyck, Joahann Hildebrand, Kornelius Hildebrand, Bernhard Hoeppner, Peter Klassen, and Heinrich Penner. Letters from people in Canada include Aganetha Heppner, Cornelius Sawatzki, Peter Sawatzki, and Ludwig Witte. A few land assessment records are also included.
