Hist. Mss. 4-385

Mennonites in Puerto Rico, 1943-1960, Slide Collection - Tom Lehman

Mennonites served in Puerto Rico under Civilian Public Service, 1943-47, at Aibonito (CPS Camp # 43) under Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, Pennsylvania, and later under Mennonite Board of Missions, Elkhart, Indiana, 1947-60, and beyond, when program was turned over to that board in 1947.

Slides collected from 23 individuals and couples, scanned and posted on Internet by Tom Lehman, Elkhart, Indiana. Lehman grew up in Puerto Rico, where his parents, John and Margaret Lehman served as missionaries. Earlier they had served in Ethiopia. Collection includes some slides from Ethiopia.

One can see selected slides on line on the Internet the following site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlehman/

Collection also includes original slides (and documents) deposited into the archives by some of the 23 individuals and couples, whose slides had been scanned by Lehman.

Slides and Papers, 1943-60

12 Boxes (3 Gray, 9 Green)

Table of Contents

Scope and Content Page 1

Series Listing Page 2

Historical Sketch, Mennonites in Puerto Rico, 1935-89 Page 2

Administrative Information Page 3

Inventory of Scanned Slides:

Organized Alphabetically by Name of 23 Collections Page 4

Original Slide Collections (Eight) Page 7

Name and Subject Tracings (Archives Card Catalog) Page 10

Scope and Content

Here are excerpts from Tom Lehman's description of this project, and the impact it has had - from his unpublished article "An Accidental Archivist," March 24, 2007.

"The beginning

It started, as most things do, with my parents. During World War 2, my father served in CPS. After the war, he volunteered to serve with MCC in Ethiopia. Later, our family went to Puerto Rico for two terms of service, from 1952-56 and 1959-61.

Like many mission workers, my father had a camera and took pictures--in those days slides. ... Several years ago I got the idea of scanning the slides and sharing them with my nieces and nephews--the next generation, who hadn't grown up seeing the slides. ... At first, things went according to plan. I scanned my parents' slides, made a CD with the slide images for each of the grandchildren, and mailed them off. Serendipitously I had learned of Internet photo sharing sites, and decided to put some of the slides on line. I set up a free account on Flickr and uploaded perhaps 100 of the Ethiopia and Puerto Rico slides. That's when things started to happen. Lots of people were viewing the slides. I started getting emails from people telling me how much they appreciated the slides.

The impact

I started putting slides on line with the idea that they were interesting to look at, and people would enjoy seeing them. That's true, of course, but not the whole story. I've been convinced the slides are important historical documents. A professor in Puerto Rico who is writing an illustrated history of Puerto Rico wants to use some of the images. A Puerto Rican children's textbook publisher is planning on using some of the images in a textbook being published this summer. The Puerto Rican archive to which I've given copies of the images is planning to publish a book based on the images. The archive has assigned an archivist to catalog the images and create a database to facilitate their use by researchers. A Puerto Rican professor has told me he uses the images in his research and has alerted colleagues to their existence. These slides from the 1940s and 1950s document a world and way of life in transition. The old and new are both in evidence--often on the same slide."

Source: "An Accidental Archivist," by Tom Lehman, March 24, 2007

Series Listing

Scanned Slides Organized by Name of 23 Individual Collections

Slide #'s 0001 - 4722; #;s 10,000 - 12,478 Box 1 (Gray)

Index / Description of Slides(CD / Hard copy) Box 2-3 (Gray)

Individual Slide Collections (Original slides) Boxes 4-12 (Green)

Historical Sketch, Mennonites in Puerto Rico, 1935-89

Mennonites began to serve in Puerto Rico in 1943 as a result of a larger medical, social service, recreation, education and agricultural program begun by the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA). This program had been established by the USA Relief Act of 1935. Extensive redistribution of land and construction of homes, schools and medical dispensaries took place from 1935-42. When money was no longer available to finance the programs, the PRRA made community center property available to the Brethren, Mennonites and Friends (Quakers).

Historical Sketch, Mennonites in Puerto Rico, 1935-89 (Continued)

The Church of the Brethren began work in 1942 at Castaner, and in 1943 invited Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to provide medical and social service work in La Plata valley. This became known as Civilian Public Service Camp #43, and the workers were conscientious objectors who were doing alternative service during World War II. By 1944 the Mennonites had built a hospital at La Plata, and later a hospital opened at Aibonito (1957). In 1943 there were six MCC workers in Puerto Rico, of which two had been sent through Mennonite Board of Missions (MBM). In 1944 MCC personnel had expanded to 42 persons, of which 17 had been sent through MBM. In 1950, MCC transferred their administration to MBM’s Relief Committee.

The Mennonite Hospital in Puerto Rico began in 1944 and by 1950 came under the long-time administration of the Mennonite Board of Missions (MBM). MBM had operated several hospitals throughout its history dating back to 1898, and from the 1940s-1980s, had its own Health and Welfare department. MBM continued its operation of the Mennonite hospital in Puerto Rico at least through the 1960 and 1970s and maintained contact with the hospital at least until 1987.

The Puerto Rico Mennonite Conference began in 1955, and in 2001 was made up of 10 congregations. For example, the Iglesia Menonita Betania at Pulguillas was organized in 1946 and the Iglesia Menonita La Plata (earlier Calvario) began in 1947.

Sources: “La Plata”, “Puerto Rico”, “Puerto Rico Mennonite Church (MC)”, “Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA)”, Mennonite Encyclopedia (1959); and Annual Report, 1944, and Annual Report, 1945, Mennonite Board of Missions, Elkhart, Indiana].

Administrative Information

These digitally scanned slides were donated to the archives by Tom Lehman, South Bend, Indiana, in 2007. Through Lehman's contact with persons who served in Puerto Rico, several individuals also donated their original slides to the Archives - this includes the following slide collections: Carl Epp, H. Clair Amstutz, Clayton Gingerich, Paul Leatherman, John Brandeberry, Dr. Delbert V. Preheim, Paul Lauver and Robert L. Yoder. (Accession #7308, 3 Gray and 9 Green Boxes, November 30, 2007 / des).

Inventory

Box 1 (Gray)

Collections of Scanned Slides in Alphabetical Order by Name of Person

Name of collections is by name of individual or couple who took the slides - total of 23 collections

All slides are of Puerto Rico, unless otherwise indicated.

Scanned slides are numbered #0001 - 4722; #10,000 - 11,511

1/1 Introduction to collection, and Tom Lehman's project, including research on Mennonites in Puerto Rico, 1943-60.

1/2 Amstutz, H. Clair and Florence (Badertscher) (08). Served in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, in the Hospital, October 1944 - August 1947, under Mennonite Central Committee. CD #16-19. Slides #1999-2400. Code: hcaprc. Original slides donated to the archives by family. See Box #5 Green.

1/3 Birky, Luke and Verna. Served in Puerto Rico, 1947-53 (03). CD #3-4. Slides #223-604. Code: lvbc

1/4 Brandeberry, John (16). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, 1948-51. CD # 35-39. Slides #10,515-10,882. Code: jbprc. Original slides and some Puerto Rico reports and artifacts donated to archives by Julia Weaver, daughter, Denver, Colorado. See Box #8 (Green)

1/5 Collins, Ron (06). Served in Puerto Rico, 1991-96. CD #10-11. Slides #1349-1492, #1567-1610. Code: rcprc

1/6 Driver, John and Bonita (02). Served in Puerto Rico, 1945-48, and again from 1951-65. CD #1 (CD #1 includes Lehman's scanned slides, and CD is found Box 1, File 2). Slides #143-222 Code: jbdc

1/7 Epp, Carl (07). Served in Puerto Rico, September 1943 - March 1946. CD #15. Slides #1950-1998. Code: ceprc. Original slides donated to archives by Carl Epp in 2007. See Box #4 Green

1/8 Gingerich, Clayton (09). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, July 1946 - January 1948. CD # 20-22. Slides #2401-2480 (CD #1); #10,000 - 11,175 (CD #2-3). Code: cgprc. Original slides donated to archives by Clayton Gingerich in 2007. See Box #6 Green.

1/9 Gingrich, Paul (12). Served in Ethiopia, ca. 1950s-60s. CD #12-14. Ethiopia Slides #1892-1949; #3592-3822. Code: pgec

Box 1 (Gray) (Continued)

1/10 Good, Maynard (10). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, June 1949 - January 1951. CD # 25. Slides #2663-2779. Code: mgprc

1/11 Greaser, Lawrence H.(04). Served in Puerto Rico, January 1946 - January 1947, and gain 1953-65. CD # 7. Slides #746-803, #892-951, #1329-1348. Code: lgprc

1/12 Hochstetler, Dean (21). Served in Puerto Rico, 1949-52. CD # 44-48. Slides #11,498 - 11,972; #12,134. Code: dhprc.

1/13 Holsinger, Justus (13). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico July 1943 - April 1946, and again, September 1948 - June 1952. CD # 23-24. Slides #2481-2662. Code: jshprc

1/14 Hower, R. J. and Florence (05). Joyce served in Puerto Rico, January 1946 - August 1947, and R. J. and Florence served in Puerto Rico, 1957-60. CD #8-9. Slides #1092-1328. Code: rjfhprc

1/15 Lauver, Paul (15). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, 1945-1957. CD# 31-34. Slides #10,176-10,514. Code: pllprc. Original slides donated to the archives by Lauver in 2997. See Box #10 Green.

1/16 Leatherman, Paul (11). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, December 1945 - November 1948. CD # 26-28. Slides #2979-3438. Code: plprc. Original slides donated to archives by Paul Leatherman in 2007. See Box #7 Green.

1/17 Lehman, Carl (14). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, September 1943 - December 1945. CD # 29. Slides #3439-3496. Code: clprc (Erwin Schrag's slides are also on same CD)

1/18 Lehman, E. (23). DVD # 50. Slides #12,135-12,478. Code: -__ [do not yet have spreadsheet for description of these slides]

1/19 Lehman, John and Margaret (01). Served in Puerto Rico, 1952-56 and again 1959-61. Served in Nazaret, Ethiopia, July 1948 - July 1950. CD #1-2. CD#1 - Slides #001-142 (CD includes Driver scanned slides). CD #2 - Ethiopia Slides (scanned January - February 2006). Code: jmlc

1/20 Mishler, Dorsa (20). Served in Nazaret, Ethiopia, 1946-48. CD #5-6. Ethiopia Slides #605-745. Ethiopia and CPS Slides #804-891. Ethiopia Slides #1645-1710. Code: dmmc

Box 1 (Gray) (Continued)

1/21 Nachtigall, Wilbur (19). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, June 1943 - July 1945, and at Palo Hincado, 1949-54. CD # 40-41. Slides #10,883-10,976. Code: wnprc. Wsa at La Plata, Puerto Rico, June 1943 - July 1947; and Palo Hincado, 1949-54.

1/22 Preheim, Delbert V., Dr., and Mary Ann (Goering) Preheim, (17). Served in the Mennonite Hospital, La Plata, Puerto Rico, September 1943 - April 1946. Two slides are from 1968, one which shows the original hospital (which was being used as a chicken hatchery in 1968), and the then current 1968 hospital. CD # 42-43. Slides #10,977-11,1107. Code: dpprc. Original slides donated to archives by Omi Preheim Church in 2007. See Box #9 Green

1/23 Schrag, Erwin (17). Served in La Plata, Puerto Rico, July 1943 - February 1946. CD # 29-30. Slides #3496-3591. Code: espr (Carl Lehman's slides are also on same CD)

1/24 Widmer, Gladys. Served in Puerto Rico, 1951-81. Slides #4286-4722 (Introduction is 4286-4289). Code: gwpr. [CD of scanned slides not yet deposited into archives] [Note: Original slides are found in the Gladys Widmer Collection at the archives].

1/25 Yoder, Robert L (22). DVD # 49. Slides #11,973 - 12,133. Code: ryprc. Puerto Rico, early 1950s. Also original Puerto Rico slides (Pre-Accession #2007-085)

Box 2 (Gray)

2/1 "An Accidental Archivist," by Tom Lehman, March 24, 2007, 4 pages, unpublished report on the beginning and impact of this scanning project, 2006-07

Index / Description to Slides (CD / Hard copy)

2/2 Index / Description (CD) of Scanned Slides on Excel Spreadsheet (on a CD) (as of September 8, 2007). Scanned Slides #0001 - 4722; #10,000 - 12,134 (arranged in numerical order)

2/3 Index / Description (Hard copy) of Scanned Slides, #0001 - 3152 (does not include 3153-4722). Hard copy printed from Excel spreadsheet.

2/4 Index / Description (Hard copy) of Scanned Slides #10,000 - 11,511 (does not include #11,512 - 12,134). Hard copy printed from Excel spreadsheet.

Box 3 (Gray): [Room for additional scanned CDs]

Original Slide Collections (Eight)

Box 4 (Green)

Carl Epp Slide Collection (07) - served in Puerto Rico, Sept. 1943 - March 1946

Original slides donated to archives by Carl Epp, Henderson, Nebraska, in 2007. Additional 16 slides donated November 16, 2007.

Slides in Slide Box # 1: Slides numbered #1950-1998. Scanned slides found on CD #15 as found in Box 1, File 7. Slides #1950-1998. Code: ceprc

Slides in Slides Box # 2: 16 slides (includes description).

Box 5 (Green)

H. Clair Amstutz Slide Collection (08)- served in Puerto Rico, Oct. 1944 - Aug. 1947

Original slides donated to archives by Mary Gilbert, a daughter, Goshen, Indiana, in 2007.

Slides in Wooden Box #1

Slides in Wooden Box #2

Slides in Wooden Box #3

Scanned slides are found on CD #16-19, as found in Box 1, File 2. Slides #1999-2400. Code: hcaprc.

Box 6 (Green)

Clayton Gingerich Slide Collection (09)-served in Puerto Rico, July 1946-Jan 1948

Original slides donated to archives by Clayton Gingerich, Kalona, Iowa, in 2007.

Slides in Slide Box #1

Slides in Slide Box #2

Scanned slides are found on CD # 20-22, as found in Box 1, File 8. CD #20: Slides #2401-2480. CD #21-22: Slides #10,000 - 11,175. Code: cgprc.

Box 7 (Green)

Paul Leatherman Slide Collection (11) -served in Puerto Rico, Dec 1945-Nov 1948

Original slides donated to archives by Paul Leatherman, Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2007.

Slides in Slide Box #1

Scanned slides are found on CD # 26-28, as found in Box 1, File 16. Slides #2979-3438. Code: plprc

Box 8 (Green)

John Brandeberry Slide and Artifact Collection (16)-served in Puerto Rico, 1948-1951 Original slides and artifacts donated to archives by Julia Weaver, Denver, Colorado, in 2007.

Slides include:

Slides in Slide Box #1

Slides in Slide Box #2

Slides in Slide Box #3

Slides in Slide Box #4

Slides in Slide Box #5

Scanned slides are found on CD # 35-39, as found in Box 1, File 4. Slides #0,515-10,882. Code: jbprc

Documents and Artifacts include:

Reports on La Plata Mennonite Project, 1948-50 [See also Puerto Rico Mennonite Conference Collection for full set]

Three arm patches "Mennonite Central Committee" worn by MCC workers

Two lapel pins showing the "Mennonite Central Committee logo" - pins used by MCC workers

Box 9 (Green)

Dr. Delbert V. and Mary Ann (Goering) Preheim Slide Collection (17) - served in the Mennonite Hospital, La Plata, Puerto Rico, September 1943 - April 1946 Original slides donated to archives by Omi Preheim Church, Billings Heights, Montana, in 2007.

Slides in Kodak Slide Carousel Box #1

Slides in Slide Box #2

Slides in Slide Box #3

Includes two slides are from 1968, one which shows the original hospital (which was being used as a chicken hatchery in 1968), and the then current 1968 hospital

Scanned slides are found on CD # 35-39, as found in Box 1, File 22. Slides #10,977-11,1107. Code: dpprc

Box 10 (Green)

Paul Lauver Slide Collection (15) -served in Puerto Rico, 1945 - 1957

Original slides donated to archives by Paul Lauver, Howe, Indiana, in 2007.

Slides in Slide Box #1

Scanned slides are found on CD# 31-34, as found in Box 1, File 15. Slides #10,176-10,514. Code: pllprc.

Boxes 11-12 (Green)

Robert L. Yoder Slide Collection (22) -served in Puerto Rico, 1950s

Original slides donated to archives by Robert L. Yoder, Goshen, Indiana, in 2007.

Box 11 (Green)

Slides in Kodak Slide Carousel Box #1: Puerto Rico Unit Pictures

Box 12 (Green)

Slides in Kodak Slide Carousel Box #2: Farm, Sanitation, Hospital, Church work

Scanned slides are found on DVD # 49, as found in Box 1, File 25. Slides #11,973 - 12,133. Code: ryprc

November 30, 2007 / Inventory and Historical Sketch provided by Dennis Stoesz

July 17, 2007 / Preliminary inventory by Dennis Stoesz

File: "HM4-385 Puerto Rico Slides - Tom Lehman.doc"

Mennonite Church USA Archives-Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526

Name and Subject Tracings

(As placed in Archives Card Catalog)

Amstutz, H. Clair and Florence (Badertscher)

Birky, Luke and Verna

Brandeberry, John

Civilian Public Service

Collins, Ron

Driver, John and Bonita

Epp, Carl

Ethiopia - Mennonites in

Gingerich, Clayton

Gingrich, Paul

Good, Maynard

Greaser, Lawrence H.

Hochstetler, Dean

Holsinger, Justus

Hower, R. J. and Florence

Lauver, Paul

Leatherman, Paul

Lehman, Carl

Lehman, E.

Lehman, John and Margaret

Lehman, Tom

Mennonite Board of Missions

Mennonite Central Committee

Mennonites in Puerto Rico

Mishler, Dorsa

Nachtigall, Wilbur

Preheim, Delbert V., Dr., and Mary Ann (Goering) Preheim

Puerto Rico - Mennonites in

Schrag, Erwin

Widmer, Gladys

Yoder, Robert L

June 10, 2008 / Updated by Dennis Stoesz

November 29, 2007 / Inventory and Historical Sketch provided by Dennis Stoesz

July 17, 2007 / Preliminary inventory by Dennis Stoesz

File: "HM4-385 Puerto Rico Slides - Master.doc"

Mennonite Church USA Archives-Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526