Collection X/066 - Mennonite Automobile Aid Records

Identity area

Reference code

US MCUSAA X/066

Title

Mennonite Automobile Aid Records

Date(s)

  • 1947-1998 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

3.70 Linear Feet; 1 records carton, 2 archives boxes, 1 half archives, and 1 oversize box box

Context area

Name of creator

Administrative history

Mennonite Automobile Aid (MAA) grew out of a recommendation of the Mennonite Mutual Aid Board of Directors made at the Mennonite General Conference in 1947.  In 1952, C. L. Graber, John L. Yoder, and Simon Gingerich were appointed to a committee to investigate the possibility of mutual aid for auto losses.

MAA was chartered in late 1954 as a Pennsylvania not-for-profit corporation.  The corporation offered only assistance with auto physical damage losses, not liability.  Two other Mennonite-related organizations, Goodville Mutual Casualty Company and Brotherly Aid Liability Plan,  provided liability coverage to most MAA policy holders.

For about 25 years, MAA enjoyed significant growth among Mennonite clients with little marketing.  Interest in investing in computer software in the early 1980s, however, led to a discernment process regarding MAA's relationship to other Mennonite-related providers of property and liability coverage and the extent of MAA's services.  In the late 1980s, MAA embraced a strategy of deliberate growth and professionalized its operations, rate determination formulas, and marketing. 

Legal and tax status difficulties plagued MAA as it attempted to expand its services and membership.  In the 1990s, MAA became one of several mutual aid corporation stockholders in the Mennonite Property / Casualty Group and the Anabaptist and Brethren Agency.  As the uncertain legal and tax status of MAA endangered its future, MAA attempted to work with Mennonite Indemnity, Inc. (MII) to develop an MII-operated auto property / casualty program.  Negotiations with MII ultimately broke down, and in 1998, MAA was dissolved.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

These records consist of five series:

(1) Reports, 1955-1992

(2) Meeting Minutes, 1954-1997

(3) Correspondence and Subject Files, 1947-1998

(4) Publications and Promotional Material, 1992, undated

(5) Mennonite Property / Casualty Group and Anabaptist and Brethren Agency Records, 1991-1998

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

By series.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are open to public research.

Conditions governing reproduction

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright not owned by the Mennonite Church USA Archives.

Language of material

  • English

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

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

ArchonInternalCollectionID:322

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

2010-12-21

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related people and organizations

Related places