Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1786-2006 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
3.20 Linear Feet; 6 archives boxes and 1 half archives box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Mennonite congregation at Balk, Friesland, was an independent congregation until 1844, when they joined the Allgemeene Doopsgezinde Societeit. The Giethoorn and Aalsmeer Mennonite congregations were on friendly terms with this congregation, with ministers preaching at Balk from time to time. In 1853 part of the congregation went to America, to escape military service in Friesland. Several families, totalling fifty-two persons, emigrated to United States between May 9, 1853 and April 26, 1854. This included nineteen (19) members of the Balk Mennonite Church. Two ministers came with the group, Ruurd Johannes (R. J.) Smid and R. J. Symensma. Haitje Hanjes Visser stayed in Holland as the only preacher of the Balk Mennonite Church, which consisted of 14 memebers.
R. J. Smid (Smith), born in 1813, pastored a small Mennonite church at Woudsend, Friesland. He married Grietje Jacobs Symensma, also known as Margaret J. Smid, in 1840, and the emigrated together in 1853 or 1854. R. J. Smid pastored the Dutch settlement in Indiana until his death in 1893.
R. J. Smid had three siblings: Obe Johannes Smid (1802-1850), a blacksmith and preacher to the Balk Mennonite congregation from 1828 forward; Akke Johannes Smid (1807-1833), and Jakobjen Johannes Smid (1810-1843).
In 1889 the Salem Mennonite Church was built. Half of its membership consisted of Dutch persons originating from the Netherlands, and the other half consisted of the German-speaking persons originating from the Christophel meeting place. The bishop of the Yellow Creek district of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference had oversight over this congregation.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The bulk of the materials in this collection consist of sermons, poems, songs, and catechisms, a church register, and other religious writings documenting Mennonite church and community life in Balk, Friesland (The Netherlands) during the first part of nineteenth century, 1786-1850. The papers also include sermons, poems, correspondence, and other miscellaneous records pertaining to Balk Mennonite life in New Paris, Indiana.
Most materials are in Dutch. Available English translations are noted in the detailed collection description.
The collection is organized into series, most of which are groups of documents associated with the Smid Family siblings and the wife of R. J. Smid. Series include:
(1) Background Articles and Information on Balk Mennonites, 1948-2006
(2) Early Materials, 1786, undated
(3) Obe Johannes Smid, 1815-1849
(4) Akke Johannes Smid, 1820-1828
(5) Jacobjen Johannes Smid, 1822-1836
(6) Ruurd Johannes Smid (R. J. Smith), 1822-1893
(7) Grietje Jacobs Symensma (Margaret J. Smid), 1845-1895
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Many.
System of arrangement
By series
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These materials are open for 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
- Dutch
- 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
Notes area
Note
Other Information:
Genealogical material from Ruth Darkwood was previously cataloged as the HM1-440SC Ruth Darkwood collection, Acc. 3363.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
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Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
2012-03-28
Language(s)
- English