This is a photo of the Anabaptist, Simon, standing in front of his shop about the year 1553. Catholic priests were carrying their images along the street. Everybody knelt at their approach. Only Simon remained standing because he felt it was wrong to give divine honor to these man-made images. He was arrested, confessed his faith freely and openly, and was burned alive. Many people were deeply impressed by Simon's courage and steadfastness. [HR 3]
This is a photo of a piece that was cut and worked by Catarina Siemens, 1790 as a "Weihnachtswunsch" (Christmas wish) for her parents. This picture is a reproduction from B. H. Mayer, Danzig. Collection "German Folk Art", Publishing House Boehlau. [HR 25]
This is a photo of a piece cut and written by a Peter Wiens in Petershagen, Grosswerder, 1813. It is a reproduction from B.H. Mayer, Danzig. Collection "German Folk Art", Publishing House Boehlau. [HR 25]
In the early 19th Century a Harder family brought with them to the steppes of Southern Russia a picture of which the above is a copy. This picture was handed from one generation to the other and finally brought to the Canadian prairie. In the early 1970s its owner was Nick Harder, Dundurn, Saskatchewan. No details are known about the picture. [HR 24]
This is a photo of Pastor Eduard Wuest, (1818-1859). He was not a Mennonite, but since he, through his friendship with elder Lenzman and his preaching, has had a very decisive influence on our brotherhood in Russia, he cannot be denied a place among our people. [HR 143]
This is a photo of Philip Wiebe, son-in-law to Johann Cornies. A noble character and progressive mind distinguished him. He continued to build on the foundation laid by Johann Cornies. During the time of the struggle between the land owners and the landless, he became the counselor and advisor of the landless. Although well-to-do, even rich, he defended the poor and sided with them. [HR 147]
Photographs collected from hundreds of refugees and immigrants by Rev. Gerhard Lohrenz (1899-1986) and used for publication in the book entitled "Heritage Remembered" (first edition, December 1974; second edition, September 1977) are contained in this collection. Lohrenz chose the collecting and publishing of this pictorial tour of the former Mennonite communities of Prussia and Russia as a Canadian Mennonite Centennial Project. The photographs show various Mennonite settlements and portray Mennonite life as they depict villages, mills, factories, homes, farms, churches, schools and much more.
This series consists of 12 photograph collections. Some were taken by Lohrenz, but the majority were collected by Lohrenz and others. The largest set of photos are the ones used for the publication of Heritage Remembered: A Pictorial Survey of Mennonites in Prussia and Russia, Revised and Enlarged Edition, (Winnipeg, MB: CMBC Publications, 1977) (Collection 44 and 45). Collections 79 and 81 contain negatives; Collection 98, 186 and 187 contains slides. Collection 299 contains photo from a Europe tour plus many other collected photo; Collection 504 are all photos pertaining to the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of USSR
This is a photo of Herman Janzen, the well known "land-surveyor". Born in 1829 in Danzig, he came to Russia in 1839. For a time he taught at the Halbstadt Superior School. [HR 49]
