Historical Committee

IX-19-20
Mennonite Central Committee, 1920-
European Relief Units and Reunions
Records, 1945-1951; 1979-2003
1 Box (Long Gray)

    These three sets of MCC unit documents and reunions was cataloged by Dennis Stoesz in 2006.  (Accession #7214, 1 Box Long Gray, March 7, 2006 / des).  Source of materials noted with the particular files.

    1.  Reconstruction and Transport Unit, France, 1946-48;
and Reunions 1979-2003
    2.  Poland Unit (1946-49) Reunion, 1992
    3.  Italy Unit (1945-51) Reunion, 1994

1. Reconstruction and Transport Unit, Geisburg, France, 1946-48, and Reunions 1979-2003
    Please note that a book has been published on this unit entitled "RTUF: Mennonite Central Committee Reconstruction and Transport Unit - France, 1946-1948. Stories of Peace in the Aftermath of War," 1997, Goshen, Indiana, 134 pages.  Editors, John S. Oyer, Arthur A. Smucker and Harold L. Weaver.

1/1    Documents, 1946-48, 1986, in German, French and English.  Includes newspaper clippings, 1946-48; and reports from reunion of former MCC workers at Geisburg in 1986.  Includes write up of the "Geisberg Mennonite Congregation after World War II and the MCC," by Hans Hege, July 25-29, 1986.  (deposited by Art Smucker, Goshen, Indiana, 2004)

1/2    Guest Book, December 1946 - August 31, 1948.  Includes reunions, 1979-2003.  (deposited by Dale Stutzman, Goshen, Indiana, in 2006)

1/3    Letters from Reunions, 1986-2004.  (deposited by Dale Stutzman, Goshen, Indiana, in 2006)

1/4    "Report on MCC work in France, 1942-47," by George Roger Eduard, 9 pages.  Eduard worked for MCC in various capacities in France, including working with children's homes. (deposited by Harold C. Liechty, Archbold, Ohio via Russ Liechty, in 2004)

2. Poland Unit (1946-49) Reunion, 1992
        These cassette tapes were deposited by Cliff and Lois Kenagy, Albany, Oregon, in 1993.  

1/5        Poland Unit Reunion, 1992, of MCC workers, Hesston, Kansas, October 31, 1992.  Included 14 persons

    Tape 1:   MCC Beginnings, late 1946ff, by Wilson Hunsberger
           Last Months of the Unit (spring 1949), by Alton Horst
    Tape 2:   Refugee Work in Post-War Poland, by Menno Fast
            My Escape from Poland (1948), by Edna Schroeder Thiessen
    Tape 3:   Edna Thiessen's story (concluded)
            Stories of Unit Translators, Steve Radomski and Joe (Blow) Laskowski
        

3. Italy Unit (1945-51) Reunion, 1994
        Materials deposited into the archives by Paul O. King, Fresno, Ohio, in 1998, via Boyd Nelson.

1/6        Italy Unit Reunion, 1994, held September 28 and 29, 1994, Elkhart, Indiana.  Includes mailing list of 42 persons, and reports from 21 persons of their experience serving under Mennonite Central Committee there.  Booklet, 40 pages, prepared for the reunion by Paul O. King.  Included is a report of the reunion that appeared in the Mennonite Weekly Review, October 1994.

            This unit was first assinged to work with refugee camps in southern Italy under United Nations relief agency.  Then the unit shifted to aid programs in northern Italy among the Waldensians.  The unit later moved to Naples to meet some of the needs of children on the street.

Mennonite Central Committee
Mennonites - France
Mennonites - Italy
Mennonites - Poland


March 7, 2006 / Dennis Stoesz
File: "IX-19-20 European Relief Units and Reunions.doc"
Mennonite Church USA Archives-Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526