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The collection has two distinct groups of materials. The larger group is the papers of Cornelius Frey. These papers contain a wide variety of materials, but the most significant is the extensive correspondence. There are letters from many of the leading Mennonites of his time, such as missionaries H. R. Voth and J. B. Frey (Cornelius’ brother), Oklahoma leader Michael Klaassen, and even a few European Mennonites such as Christian Neff. Among the other important materials are Bethanian Church records, a large group of pamphlets and printed matter, and some political materials. These political items are election records and census materials for West Branch Township, Marion County, for the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. These records provide a bit of first-hand evidence for the extent of Mennonite interest and involvement in politics at this time. The collection also contains quite a bit of personal materials such as diaries, financial records, and school materials. An interesting item in the school materials is the minutes of the Grünfeld Literary and Song Society for 1890. The papers of A. J. Frey, the other group of materials in this collection, consist almost entirely of genealogical materials. Frey collected all kinds of records and reminiscences in his genealogical research. These materials would be extremely important to the family histories of persons connected with the Alexanderwohl and Tabor churches. Also in A. J. Frey’s materials is a volume of Mennonite Aid Plan minutes, 1897-1960. Appendix: The materials in this addition to the collection are generally similar to the first part of the collection, consisting most importantly of correspondence, genealogy records, and Coy, Oklahoma, historical records. In addition, the appendix contains a small amount of correspondence and other material of family members other than Arthur J. or Cornelius Frey. They are: John Becker (1870-1968) and Eva Frey Becker (1880-1960), Eva sister of Cornelius Benjamin C. Frey (1895-1960), son of Cornelius Eva Balzer (Henry) Frey (1873-1936), sister-in-law of Cornelius Helena Schmidt (Cornelius) Frey (1870-1934), wife of Cornelius John B. Frey (1882-1942) and Sarah Unruh Frey (1885-1967), John brother of Cornelius Maria Wedel (Benjamin) Frey (1843-1934), mother of Cornelius Sara Elizabeth Frey (Paul G.) Schmidt (1898-1974), daughter of Cornelius Maria Ann Frey (McLoren) Temple (1906-), daughter of Cornelius

Hopi language learning materials including manuscript dictionary, typescript conversational phrases and Hopi songs. Also some printed items related to Hopi missions.

System of arrangement: The materials are divided into ten categories: 1) personal and family history; 2) Northern Cheyenne; 3) Southern Cheyenne; 4) Hopi; 5) Native Ministries Canada); 6) MILC; 7) Subject Files; 8) Research, Writing, and Translating; 9) Audio Tapes; and 10) Books. Many of the materials in these series were intact when transferred to the MLA and left in the original order, but some papers were separated into numerous sections and donated to the MLA at different times. These later were reorganized alphabetically.

The collection contains a very small amount of personal material related to the Wenger’s family life, including only a few letters and a little genealogical material. A few family photographs survive and include some vacation pictures and a few photos related to their time at Bethel College, where they met. Otherwise the collection documents their mission and translating work in some detail. Perhaps most unique are the audio tapes, many of Cheyenne speakers or music, some of which have been digitized onto CDs. While the collection has some copies of official correspondence and reports, more extensive documentation of the Wenger’s mission work can be found in the GCMC mission board files in the MLA.