The richest materials among these photographs are the140 color slides depicing Thut's volunteer work in England with German prisoners of war after World War II and his subsequent travel in the Western United States to Civilian Public Service (CPS) camps. These labeled and well-composed slides include images of Thut's living and working conditions in England, art work made by German POWs, and scenes of CPS work in Montana, South Dakota, and California. Also of note is a slide of Peter and Elfrieda Dyck's wedding gifts.
Click on "Online Images / Records" to see an inventory of the slides.
Other materials among Thut's photographs include a number of poorly-labeled black and white photographic prints of Goshen College in the early 1920s. Notable scenes include a May Day celebration and the construction of the college gymnasium. Also included is his passport obtained in 1944.
This small set of papers focuses primarily on Weirich's Civilian Public Service (CPS) work building flood control structures in Iowa and serving as a smoke jumper. Materials include an album of photographs and documents, collected articles on smoke jumpers, and newsletters and ephemera from Camp 18 (Denison, Iowa) and Camp 103 (Missoula, Montana). Also included are 26 photographs of First Mennonite Church (Middlebury, Indiana) in the 1950s and 1960s. Subjects include members of the church's baseball team circa 1950.
Papers of a Harold Wik, a Mennonite service worker who volunteered with Civilian Public Service, Mennonite Central Committee and missionary to China and Malaya (West Malaysia), and his son Philip Wik. Documents include correspondence, photographs, two Wik family histories, and a Wik family anthology. The family histories and anthologies integrate historical family documents or photocopies thereof into the text.
This collection documents Newcomer's experiences in Civilian Public Service camps as a conscientious objector during World War II. Materials include ration books, camp rosters, photographs, miscellaneous correspondence, and a memoir of his experiences.
The collection also documents Newcomer's interest in the history of Mennonites in northern Indiana, specifically the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church. They include photographs, estate sale bills, and photocopied documents related to Yellow Creek members who were conscientious objectors during World War I.
Photographs taken and collected by Joseph Vale during his trip to Greece aboard the Plymouth Victory in 1947 with the "seagoing cowboys." Also, photographs taken and collected by Joseph Vale documenting subsequent reunions of the Plymouth Victory "cowboys" and wives.
Two Second World War veterans who later became peace activists, Siegfried Bartel and Fred Snyder, met for the first time in November 1993. Bartel had been an officer in the German army and Snyder was an Allied radar mechanic. The two met at dinner at John and Carrie Harder' home after Bartel spoke for a week at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, sharing his faith journey to Christian pacifism. Left to right: Addae Morgan (who was living with the Harders), Fred Snyder, Siegfried Bartel, Lorraine Snyder (Fred's wife), John Harder.
A set of research materials assembled by Gordon Oyer to write an article on the history Civilian Public Service in Illinois, including CPS Camp #115, Subunit #30. CPS volunteers at this camp were "guinea pigs" for medical experiments studying the physiological effects of heat and tropical conditions. Camp #115 was a cooperative agency administered the Mennonites, Brethren, and Friends under the direction of the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Subunit #30 was administered by Mennonite Central Committee.
Materials in this collection include the diaries of two CPS volunteer participants in these experiments: Duane Hougham (Methodist) and George Nachtigall (Mennonite Brethren). Nachtigall's diary is a photocopy of the original. Also included are letters with CPS volunteers stationed in Illinois, clippings, and a copy of Oyer's article.
This is a photo of the trees planted during WWII by conscientious objectors north of Campbell River, Vancouver Island. In the foreground, with backs to the camera are (left to right): Jake Wiebe of Black Creek, B.C.; Rudy Regehr of CMBC, Winnipeg; and Frank Dyck of Winnipeg.
Photo is of a log cabin on the grounds of the Twilight Resort in Montreal River Harbour, Ontario. The cabin housed Mennonite Alternative Service men during World War II. Carved into one of the logs are the names of Alternative Service workers Wilmer Wagler (Shakespeare, Ontario), Emerson Wagler (Shakespeare, Ontario), Moses G. Martin and Joe Martin (Wallenstein, Ontario). The man identified as Moses G. Martin could possibly be Morris Martin or Mahlon Martin; no Moses G. Martin is found in the Alternative Service lists.
Used in CM 14-38-2. 14 of the 16 men, Coaldale Cos, stand in the forest in Jasper National Park at a reunion. Photo dated Aug. '66. See CM for all names & where they are from.
Two photos very similar to one used in Bull., SSCM, May 31, 1963, p.4. Group discussion on WWII alternative service, led by panel at front: E.J.. Swalm, J. B. Martin, H.H. Epp, Cornelius Baerg, Enos Bearinger, Pete Neufeld, Fred Cressman. Negs for these 2 photos and 7 negs show additional views of the group.
Most of the papers are photocopies from the National Archives and Library of Congress related to Teichroew’s thesis or dissertation (never completed) about Mennonites in World War I. There is some later material also, World War 2 related.
5 men at a Canadian camp for Conscientious Objectors (Alternative Service) during WW II. At right 2 sit on some crates, one holding a dog. At left one man receives a haircut, another looks on. Place not identified, no date given.
This small set of records consists primarily of completed questinonaires regarding Mennonite congregational contact with drafted Mennonite men (Mennonite Church in World War II, Project #3). Also includes examples of pastoral letters sent to drafted men (a number of them from Waldo Mennonite Church (Flanigan, Ill.) and minutes and other records created by the Virginia Mennonite Conference CPS Support Team.
