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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 past year. They are listed alphabetically by the name of the collection.Clemens, Lois (Gunden), 1915- , Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Personal papers, 1883-1996, including correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, and artifacts. Lois Gunden received a BA from Goshen College in 1932, and went on to obtain an MA from George Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee, and a Ph.D. from Indiana University. She served as Professor of French and Spanish at Goshen College, 1939-1962, and then as part-time professor at Temple University. Throughout this time she also served in voluntary service at a number of different places. From 1941-44, she served as the directress of a refugee children's home in southern France under Mennonite Central Committee. She was held as a civilian prisoner of war in Germany from January 1943- March 1944. She then served as leader of two summer units at Ypsilanti State Hospital, Michigan, in 1944 and 1945. Later she served in Puerto Rico and Mexico. She was married to Ernest R. Clemens in 1958. In 1970, she presented a Conrad Grebel Lecture on the role of women in the church, which was published as a book Women Liberated. She made an educator's visit to Africa in 1982. 15 linear feet. Donor: Pauline (Clemens) and John Fisher, Goshen, Indiana.
Conrad, Orie M. (Martin), 1896-1982, Tangent, Oregon. Photograph album, 1918-19, depicting Conrad’s time as a conscientious objector at Camp Lewis, Washington, during World War I, and his attendance at Hesston College. Included is a long panoramic photograph of army personnel and CO’s at Camp Lewis taken on November 18, 1918. Conrad was baptized into the Methodist church as a boy, and when he was drafted he was placed in the regular army at Camp Lewis, Washington. He took a stand as a conscientious objector, and refused to train and put on a uniform. He paid dearly for it, and at one point nearly lost his life by hanging. An officer saved him and his tormentors were court-martialed. After the war, he attended Hesston College for a short-term, and returned to Oregon, where he joined the Mennonite Church, married Eda Zehr in 1920, and raised eight children. Collection also includes a slide set (86 slides) from the time Conrad helped rebuild homes in Haiti, under Mennonite Central Committee / Mennonite Disaster Service, after the devastating hurricane Inez hit Haiti in 1967. 3.3 linear inches. Donor: Verna (Conrad) Birky, a daughter, and Luke Birky, Goshen, Indiana.
First Mennonite Church, 1904- , Fort Wayne, Indiana. White enamel basin, used at least from 1930’s-1980’s, for washing feet. The foot-washing part of the service was usually done after the communion service, which was held twice a year. Foot-washing was discontinued in the church in the early 1980’s according to the recollections of the donor, who saved the basin, and who was a member of this church from about 1938-1985. Pastors who served this church through the years included B. B. King, Lloy Kniss, Newton Weber, Allen Ebersole, Rudy Borntrager, John R. Smucker, John King, Howard Dunlap, Mark Vincent, and John Leichty.The church was formerly known as the Fort Wayne Mission. 1 Artifact (Oversize). Donor: Trennis Yoder, Goshen, Indiana.
Hesston College, 1909- , Hesston, Kansas. Photographs, 1911-23, of the faculty and students at Hesston Academy and College. Included are formal group shots, 1911-12, 1914, 1918-19, 1921, 1922-23, 1922 (Academy) and 1923 (Academy). The photographs come via a daughter of Paul and Alta Mae (Eby) Erb. Paul was president of the 1914 class, and Alta Mae was the advisor. Paul Erb also taught at Hesston College from 1913-1941. The collection also includes two informal shots, one showing students in the 1910's (including Alta Mae Eby), and one of a 1914 Class reunion. 6 linear inches (photographs fit into one oversize box, 15" x 22" x 2"). Donor: Winifred (Erb) Paul, Scottdale, Pennsylvania.
Hostetler Miller, Lizzie (Eash), 1875-1959, Shipshewana, Indiana. Personal papers, 1912-52, including a financial ledger book used in the store, 1912 (including some scrapbook items, 1943-53); another scrapbook, 1923-1930’s and 1947; a financial ledger book, 1924-37; diaries, 1936-52; and two memo books, 1941-47. Scrapbooks contain obituaries, poems and articles cut out of magazines. Lizzie Eash was born and grew up in Lagrange County and was married in 1893 to Noah J. Hostetler, who had a general store and livery stable in Shipshewana. They had five children, including Goldie May, S. Jay (missionary to Ghana, West Africa), Jonathan J., Wilbur, and Lloyd N. After Hostetler’s death in 1933, she married Josiah J. Miller, in 1940. “She was a lifelong member of the Forks and Shore churches, where she was always willing to perform any service assigned to her. She prayed much for Christian missions in other states and foreign countries also.” [from the obituary] 5 linear inches. Donor: J. J. Hostetler, Goshen, Indiana.
Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference, 1917- , Audiovisuals, Goshen, Indiana. Five slide sets, 1973-1982, including scripts and taped recordings produced by the Conference. They include United in Mission, 1973, Our Conference at Work, 1975, Church Buildings and Pastors, Past and Present, 1970's, The Church Together, 1982, and Mission Commission Slide Set, 1982. John R. Smucker was involved in producing the first three sets, and as conference historian continued to update the slide set of the pastors and church buildings of the conference. Included with this deposit of audiovisuals are also taped recordings of the 1967 Indiana-Michigan conference held at North Leo Mennonite Church, and slides of the various Commissions of the Conference, 1970-72. 5 linear feet. Donor: Charlotte Long, administrative assistant, and John R. Smucker, Goshen, Indiana.
Mennonite Publishing House, 1908- , Foundation Series for Youth and Adults, 1977-83, Scottdale, Pennsylvania. Minutes, correspondence and writer outlines, 1977-83, as collected by Helmut Harder when he served as executive director of the Foundation Series Sunday School Curriculum for Youth and Adults. This was a joint publishing project of the Brethren in Christ Church (Pennsylvania), General Conference Mennonite Church (Kansas), Mennonite Church (Pennsylvania), and the Church of the Brethren (Illinois), with the Mennonite Brethren (California) being a cooperative user. 10 linear inches. Donor: Helmut Harder, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale, Inc., 1968- , Goshen, Indiana. Records, 1968-96, including mostly treasurer reports, bills and receipts, having to do with the organization of the sale. Records also contain annual reports, annual programs for the board of directors, correspondence, minutes, agreements, mailing lists, posters, newspaper clippings and publicity photographs. These records were passed down through the years from one treasurer to the next treasurer. 13.75 linear feet. Donor: Rex Hochstedler, treasurer, Goshen, Indiana.
Mission Interests Committee of the Amish Mennonite Church, 1952-61, Goshen, Indiana. Correspondence and articles, dating from 1956-61, which went into the publication of Witnessing, 1953-61. Some of the persons involved in publishing it were Harvey Graber, of Goshen, Indiana, and later of Red Lake, Ontario, who served as editor from 1953-59; Yost H. Miller, Millersburg, Ohio, who served as associate editor, 1958-59, and later as editor, 1959-61; Homer Nissley, Goshen, Indiana, who served as subscription manager, and later as associate editor, 1959-61; Mahlon Wagler, Partridge, Kansas, who served as secretary-treasurer; and Noah Nisly, Hutchinson, Kansas, who served for a time as subscription manager. The first chair of this committee was Andrew A. Miller, Millersburg, Ohio. 5 linear inches. Donor: Homer Nissley, South Bend, Indiana, via Steve Nolt, Goshen College.
Mennonite Historical Bulletin, January 2001