Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1937-1945 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
7 cm textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Jacob W. Friesen (1893-1945) was the first child born to Rev. Wilhelm Friesen (1865-1936) and Katharina Braun. Jacob grew up in the Rosenheim district, north west of Rosenfeld, Manitoba. On October 15, 1914 he married Agatha Stoesz (1894-1968) and together they had thirteen children which they raised on a farm.
Jacob Friesen was elected to the ministry of the Sommerfeld Mennonite church on January 14, 1937 and ordained by bishop Peter A. Toews on March 26, 1937. In this capacity he was appointed to go with the young Mennonite men when they had to appear before a judge to claim their Conscientious Objector (CO) status during WWII. He also made frequent visits to the various CO camps across Canada, bringing news from home, offering spiritual guidance, and support. He was highly respected and one of the more active ministers in visiting the men who were away from home.
Rev. Friesen died suddenly of a heart attack in 1945. In his brief time as minister he preached 464 sermons, officiated at 60 weddings and 49 funerals.
Repository
Archival history
The three diaries were distributed among the family after Jacob Friesen's wife died. Tina had two of the diaries and Agatha received one. Cornelius J. Friesen of Altona borrowed the diaries from his sisters, copied them, and translated them. Conrad Stoesz contacted Cornelius J. Friesen and picked up the material that was deposited.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Cornelius J. Friesen (Altona, Manitoba)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This fonds consists of photocopies of a daily diary (and translation) that Jacob W. Friesen started in 1943, recording his many activities as a farmer and minister. Also included are sermons, a translation of sermons, and a record of Sommerfeld Mennonite Church ministers listing their ordination date. The excerpts from "Genealogy of Conrad Dwayne Stoesz" and "Rev. Jacob W. Friesen", by Melanie Friesen were added to the collection by the MHC staff.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Described by Conrad Stoesz May 9, 2001. Edited by Sharon H.H. Brown, December, 2002 and Conrad Stoesz August 29, 2007. Edited and uploaded to MAID by Alf Redekopp, May 2020.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Diary translation and Christmas sermon in Jake Peters Sommerfeld Mennonite Church research collection (Vol. 5267-43)
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Acc. No. 2001-050