Series 5 - Research for Writing his Novel: My Harp is Turned to Mourning (1985) and for his collection of short stories, Kleindarp (2008)

This series consists of materials Al Reimer collected in preparation for his historical writing projects (articles, short stories, and especially his novel). Reimer researched into and relied on numerous books, journal and newspaper articles, first-hand personal accounts, and various other documents for background information. These sources, generated by other writers listed here, include articles from Der Bote, Der Botschafter, Friedenstimme, Familienkalender, Mennonitische Volkswarte, Mennonitisches Jahrbuch, Mennonitische Rundschau, Odessa Zeitung, Mennonitische Warte, MQR, Mennonite Life, and The Carillon; and books and articles by and about figures such as P.M. Friesen, B.H. Unruh, J.W. Reimer, H.H. Goosen, Adolf Reimer, Bernhard Harder, Walter Quiring, Peter Klassen 1930s, Frank H. Epp, Howard Fast 1947, Cornelius Krahn 1969, Cornelius C. Reimer 1949, John B. Toews 1969, GH 1969, and Peter Dyck, 1969. Other sources include journals and diaries such as those kept by Anna Berg (from 1916 to 1956), by Dietrich Gaeddert (from 1860 to 1876), and one by Heinrich A. Paetkau, Lowe Farm, 1958, about the WWI non-combatant medical service (alternative service) performed by the Sanitäter in Imperial Russia. Some photocopied copies were removed from these files, as these sources are available in archival and library holdings. Reimer’s preliminary notes were retained.
What has been retained are still numerous research materials: generally photocopied documents with Reimer’s notes in margins, many rough notes and drafts that Reimer generated, and much correspondence (often attached to source documents), all regarding his novel. Most files retain Reimer’s titles for his collections; his file-titles are indicated with quotation marks.
Location: volume 6664, files 9-30, and file 41 in volume 6663.