Fonds PP - Jacob B. Reimer fonds

Identity area

Reference code

CA MHC PP

Title

Jacob B. Reimer fonds

Date(s)

  • 1920-1985 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

47 cm of textual records

Context area

Name of creator

(1916-1985)

Biographical history

Jacob B. Reimer was born on September 13, 1916, in Silberfeld, a village between Gretna and Altona, Manitoba, the third son of Jacob F. and Katharina (Braun) Reimer’s ten children. He attended the school at Silberfeld for 4 years. In 1927, he and his parents were part of the group that immigrated from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to Paraguay to establish the Menno Colony in the Chaco. His schooling ended when he was 14. In 1941, he was baptized, and on September 30, 1941, he married Aganetha Wiebe, who was born on March 18, 1918, in Steinbach, Manitoba. They had three daughters and one son, and adopted a second son; all studied in Canada; four live in Canada, while one remained in Paraguay. Reimer was elected as a member of the administration of the Menno Colony in 1945, as business manager of the Menno Colony cooperative, and was elected mayor (Oberschultz) in 1950, a position he held until 1967 and from 1974 to 1975. Active in community development, including schools, higher education, industry, settlement, and health services, he brought about many reforms, working closely with elder Martin C. Friesen. Reimer also served as chair of the Indian Settlement Board, an organization aimed at improving the lot of the indigenous peoples living in the Chaco. In the 1960s and ‘70s, he and his wife relocated to Canada several times, returning to Menno Colony after being invited back to continue his work with the colony administration board in 1970, ’73, and ’77. He died suddenly on February 4, 1985, at the age of 68, and was laid to rest in Loma Plata.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Materials were donated by Reimer's daughter Mary Friesen in 2014.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This fonds contains detailed records pertaining to Jacob B. Reimer’s life and work in Paraguay, his correspondence with a variety of noteworthy contacts regarding that work in community-leadership roles and his trips to Germany and Canada for further erudition; it includes his personal correspondence, historical documents, and anomalous material.

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Accruals

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Language of material

  • English
  • German
  • Spanish

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Notes area

Note

Description by Helene Warkentin May 14, 2015.

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