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New Treasures: Archives of the Mennonite Church
By Dennis Stoesz, Archivist
What follows is a sampling of personal papers and organizational records that have come into the archives during the last six months of 1997. They are listed alphabetically by the name of the collection.
Hage, Friedrich, 1794-1863. Papers, 1819-1891, 1975-1977, reflecting Hage's life in Germany and emigration to the United States in 1825-26. Friedrich Hage was married to Feronica Esch in 1818. Hage served as an Amish-Mennonite minister in Germany and as an Amish bishop in Holmes County, Ohio. Documents include verification on tenancy at four estates in Bavaria, 1819-1826; letter regarding possible emigration to Brazil, 1825; passport for Hage, wife, two children and a hired hand, 1825-26; receipt of passage from Hamburg to Philadelphia, June 29, 1826; and individual documents on Esch, Hage and Bontrager families, 1858-1891, 1975-1977. The 1744 Froschauer Bible, which contains Hage and Esch family records, formed a part of this collection, has been placed with the Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen College. The Bible was owned by Johannes Esch from 1786-1820, and was then purchased by Hage in 1820. Papers form one Legal File. Donor: Sue Bontrager, Middlebury, Indiana.
Hostetler, Lester, 1892-1989, and Charity (Steiner) Hostetler, 1895-1987. Photographs, circa 1890s-1920s; and plain coat and vest, 1921. Photographs are of the Steiner and Eby families, of the time Lester and Charity were at Goshen College, 1906-1916, and of their time at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek, Ohio. Plain coat and vest, 1921, belonged to Lester Hostetler, who was ordained at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church in 1915 and served as pastor there from 1918 to 1924. 2.5 linear feet. Donor: Alice Kreider, Goshen, Indiana.
Illinois Mennonite Conference, 1872- , Tiskilwa, Illinois. Records, 1954-1997, including the files of conference coordinator, Ivan Kauffmann, 1986-90; the working files of the executive committee, 1954-86; and cassette tape recordings of annual conferences, 1995-97. The records reflect the various activities and projects of the conference, including missions in Chicago and the Quad cities, leadership and ordination in the conference, youth ministry, the conference minister, the treasurer, the congregations, and the work of the nurture, finance, evangelism, peace and service commissions. 7.5 linear feet. Donor: Marilyn Eigsti, Administrative Assistant.
International Voluntary Service, 1953- , Washington, D.C. Records, 1952-1994, including minutes, reports, program files, photographs, tape recordings and videos of this organization which is funded by the United States Government and has roots in Brethren, Quaker and Mennonite constituencies. Includes minutes and reports of the Executive and Board of Directors, 1952-70, as collected by secretary William T. Snyder; program files (alumni files) of IVS's involvement in Ecuador and Bolivia, 1989-94; and audiovisual materials of IVS's work in Vietnam, 1959-72, and work in Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Honduras, Southern Africa, Sudan, Thailand, Yemen and Zaire, 1971-93. 10 linear feet. Donor: Anne Shirk, Program Development.
Kime, Earl Lee, 1919- , Mishawaka, Indiana. Family correspondence and papers, 1846-1892, from Carl W. Miller, 1818-1899, and Christiana (Aschinger) Miller, 1825-1901. They were married in 1849 in Germany and were Lutheran in faith. In 1852, they emigrated with two small boys to the United States, and eventually joined the Amish, who had befriended them in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Millers moved to Wayne County, Ohio, around 1856, and there joined Oak Grove Mennonite Church. In 1876, they moved to Elkhart County, Indiana, and they are buried in Clinton Frame Cemetery. The book, Carl and Christiana Miller Family, as written by Lillian L. Miller and Esther Mabel Yoder, 1997, was part of this collection, and is available at the Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen College. 6.5 linear inches. Donor: Earl L. Kime.
Mennonite Camping Association, 1960- . Records, 1975-1996, of this inter-Mennonite fellowship of camps, which reflect the work of the Board of Directors through this time period. The records include board minutes, MCA Newsletter, incorporation papers, statements on philosophy and objectives and on curriculum development, financial reports, and reports from biennial conventions. The association holds biennial meetings, with regional meetings held in alternate years. The Presidents who have served two year terms starting in 1976 are: William Weaver, Terry Burkhalter, Orv Gingerich, Oswald Goering, Paul Beiler, J. Alton Horst, Leroy Mast, Dana Sommers, Robert M. Bender, Tim Lehman and Mary Jane Eby. Earlier Eldina Miller Nussbaum had served as treasurer, 1951-76, and Virgil Brenneman as Executive Secretary, 1968-77. 2 linear feet. Donor: Mary Jane Eby, President, Siletz, Oregon, via Howard E. Krehbiel, Bluffton, Ohio.
Mennonite Church, Hymnal Project, 1982-1992, Mary K. Oyer. Records, 1982-1989, as collected and retained by Mary K. Oyer, including minutes, correspondence, a comparison of hymn tunes and texts from the different traditions, a list of hymns considered for the Hymnal: A Worship Book (1992), and the preparation and publication of Hymnal Sampler (1989). Oyer was chair of this hymnal project from 1984-86, and project manager, 1987-89. She also was editor of the Hymnal Sampler, 1989. The hymnal was published in 1992 as a joint project of the Church of the Brethren, General Conference Mennonite Church, and Mennonite Church, with contributions from Churches of God and Mennonite Brethren. 2.4 linear feet. Donor: Mary K. Oyer, Goshen, Indiana.
Michiana Anabaptist Historians, 1992-. Records, 1991-1997, including minutes, newsletters, reports, constitutions, membership lists, cassette tapes, and published articles of this historical group based in northern Indiana and southern Michigan (Michiana). Meetings are held in spring and fall of each year. Began as a group of congregational historians meeting together in 1991, and became an official organization in 1992. Presidents have included Russell Krabill and John F. Murray. Donors: Al Albrecht, Secretary, and Dennis Stoesz, Member.
Rohrer, Warren, 1927-1995, "Study from Menno Simons" 1961. Woodcut of Menno Simons, 1961, that Rohrer was commissioned by Eastern Mennonite University to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Simons. Rohrer indicated that his natural tendency in cutting the woodcut portrait was to respect the rough cuttings of the tools as they served to create an effect, somewhat expressionistic, which would have paralleled so well a degree of fanaticism revealed in Menno's early life. However, he ultimately chose to deal with Menno Simons as the humble and simple man that he became, with particular emphasis given to the eyes. Owen Gingerich, who was interested in art and who had served on the same cattle boat with Rohrer in 1946, bought the print for fifteen dollars in 1961. Only forty prints were made. One Print, 61. x 45.6 cm, 3 / 20 Second Edition. Donor: Owen Gingerich, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Wyse, Joe S. and Myrtle, Stryker, Ohio. Photographs and Papers, 1948-50, of Wyse's work in Holland and in Kiel, Germany, under the auspices of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Includes snapshots, memorabilia, post cards, and thank-you photograph albums and paintings made by the persons receiving relief. Collection also includes ration stamps, 1945, and slides of trips made by the Wyse's, ca. 1958-62. The arm patch worn by MCC Relief Workers was part of this collection, and it has been placed with the Mennonite Central Committee's museum collection here at the Archives. 7 linear inches. Donor: Children of Joe S. and Myrtle Wyse, via Vera Schmucker, Goshen, Indiana.
Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, 1845- , Goshen, Indiana. Photographs, circa 1900s, of interior and exterior of the 1861 meetinghouse. Photograph of exterior of the 1861 meetinghouse was taken before 1912, when the church relocated to a new brick building across the road. Date of interior photograph is unknown - the Wisler Mennonite group continue to use this church today. 1 file. Donor: Marvin Newcomer, Goshen, Indiana.
Dennis Stoesz has served as archivist since 1989.
Mennonite Historical Bulletin, January 1998