Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1956-1966 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
12 cm of textual records; 10 photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Menno House opened in 1956 in a rented house at 551 Dovercourt Road in Toronto. It was formed by a group of young Mennonite men - university students and recent graduates who felt the need to establish a supportive organization while studying or working in the city. The twelve residents governed themselves through a Menno House Association; three interested churchmen acted as trustees. When more space was needed, a house was purchased at 479 Palmerston Blvd. In order to purchase the house, Menno House Realty Limited was formed and subsequently rented the new house to the Menno House Association. The Palmerston house had 15 residents, and five associated members lived nearby.
The group became involved in youth leadership at Toronto United Mennonite Church. Young Mennonite women attended events, though the residence remained open only to men. One resident estimated that "hundreds of people" lived at Menno House during its lifetime; in addition to the core group, some came for short-term courses or the MCC "Students-in-Industry" summer work-study program.
Repository
Archival history
Donated to the Archives in 2023 by Alfred and Erna Neufeldt
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Contains reports, histories, constitutions, correspondence, applications, financial records, a guest book, and photographs that together illustrate the formal and informal history of Menno House.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
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Notes area
Note
File list:
- Reports and histories
Note: Includes a "Report on Recent Trip to Mennonite Students at University" by Roy Vogt and Adolf Ens, [196?]- Constitutions
- Correspondence, [19--], 1956-1963, 1965-1966
- Duties
- Applications (residents)
- Applications (did not become residents)
Note: Also includes a list of applications for 1960 - Guest book, likely from open house events, Nov 1959-Jan 1962
- Financial records
Receipt and deposit book, Nov 1958-1963
Account book, Apr 1959-Feb 1961 - Photographs
Note
See also MCC (Ontario): XIV-3.1.3.1/1 Box 1 - Misc - Pre-MCC (Ontario) "Menno House."
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Description control area
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Archivist's note
Original archival description created 2023 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.