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New Treasures in the
Archives of the Mennonite Church
By Dennis Stoesz
What follows is a sampling of personal papers and organizational records that have come into the archives during 1995. They are listed alphabetically by the name of the collection.
Anderson, Lawrence C. Papers, 1963-91, including correspondence, research files, lecture notes, unpublished and published articles, and copies of some primary source materials which focus on Anderson's interest and research on Hutterites, Amish and Mennonites. He was a Professor of Geography at Mankato State College, Minnesota. Collection also includes files on the geography of religion and various utopian and collective settlements. 6.5 linear feet. Donor: Lawrence C. Anderson.
Gross, Paul S., Hutterite Sermon Collection. Hutterite sermons and Vorreden (introductory sermons) which virtually all date from the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Hutterites lived in Moravia (Chech Republic) and Slovakia (Hungary). Sermons are organized by the passage of scripture used, Matthew through Revelation, and then Genesis through Sirach. A few of them have been identified by their use: wedding, funeral, Easter, Christmas, and church rules and discipline (1651). The sermons are handwritten in the "Gothic" script, and are in the German language. The collection includes 584 sermons and 267 Vorreden, copied by many individuals including those copied by Elias Walter, Standoff Colony, Alberta between 1899 and 1917. These sermons form the largest sammlung of Hutterite sermons found at one place, and are the result of Gross's efforts through the years. 6.8 linear feet. Donor: Paul S. Gross and the Spokane Hutterite Colony, Washington.
Kauffman, Kathy A., Oral History Project. Tapes, 1993-94, focussing on the experience of eight women on faculty at Goshen College, spanning sixty years, 1927-87: Mary Eleanor Bender, Viola Good (1907-1993), Mary Katherine Nafziger, Mary Oyer, Mary Royer, Edna Shantz, Lois Winey and Olive Wyse. Interviews by Kauffman include questions about early growing up years, education, work history and experience at Goshen College. Transcripts included. 13 cassette tapes, 5 linear inches. Donor: Kathy A. Kauffman, Goshen, Indiana.
Lehman, Stella (Sharp) and Joseph L. Correspondence, 1918-34, mostly from Stella (Sharp) Lehman, Kenmare, North Dakota, to her parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. David S. Lehman, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Collection includes some correspondence from Joseph L. Lehman (1898-1928); a typical dress clothes worn by him as a boy; and Byerly's Spelling Book used by Christian Sharp, John Zook and Stella Sharp. Stella married Joseph on October 27, 1920, and they had seven children before Joseph's died in 1928. 5 linear inches. Donor: Genevieve (Lehman) Buckwalter, Goshen, Indiana, on behalf of the family.
Mennonite Central Committee, 1920- , Akron, Pennsylvania. Records, 1954-94, including Information Services files, 1954-84; Washington Office files, 1968-88; Reference books and files, 1960-94; and Peace booklets and pamphlets, 1956-84. The paper copies of the central correspondence and report files for 1984 are not included here, since they are currently being microfilmed. 5 linear feet. Donor: Irene Leaman, Records, Library and Archives Manager.
Mennonite Health Association, 1952-94, Goshen, Indiana. Records, 1980-94, including minutes and reports of annual meetings, correspondence from program files, photographs, displays and artifacts, which reflect this Association's role of providing a resource and network for Mennonites involved in the health field as professionals and volunteers, and as part of various agencies and institutions. Directors for this time period were H. Ernest Bennett, 1980-90, Paul N. Kraybill, 1990-93, and Dean Preheim-Bartel, 1993-94. In 1994, this work was taken over by Mennonite Health Services, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 20 linear feet. Donor: Rachel Eby and Dean Preheim-Bartel, Goshen, Indiana.
Miller, Andrew A., 1918-1992. Papers, 1948-55, including correspondence, writings and publications, that reflect Miller's involvement in the Amish mission movement in Holmes County, Ohio. Publications for those years included Amish Christian Fellowship Bulletin, Christian Fellowship Review and Witnessing, 1952-55. Also some materials on Goodwill Book Exchange, 1951-54; Maple Grove Mission church, 1955-63; sermons from Gospel Broadcasts, 1962-64; photographs, 1955; and an account book, 1935-39. 15 linear inches. Donor: Levi Miller, Scottdale, Pennsylvania.
Salem Mennonite Church, 1889- , New Paris, Indiana. Church records which include business meetings, 1918-75; Young People's meetings, 1947-76; Faith and Practice Committee, 1950-54; Sewing Circle, 1956-65; News Letters, 1961-68; and a Church Directory, 1972. This church began in 1889 when the "Dutch" and "German" Mennonites built a joint meetingplace, and called it Salem. A history of the church was compiled by Marie Yoder in 1947-48, and in 1989 Salem held its 100th anniversary. 15 linear inches. Donor: Wayne Weaver, Goshen, Indiana.
Showalter, Elizabeth A. Papers, 1925-91, reflecting Showalter's life as a student, writer, administrator, editor and teacher. The materials up to and including 1959 consist of a scrapbook from Eastern Mennonite School and College, 1925-34; her 1934 thesis on "Bird Study as a Hobby," which launched her writing career and was published in Youth Christian Companion in 1935; two scrapbooks of Showalter's published articles, 1937-80; correspondence, 1949-59, and diary, 1948-51, from her work at Mennonite Publishing House as editor and writer of Words of Cheer, and of Summer Bible School and Sunday School curriculum. After 1959, the correspondence, diaries, and scrapbooks reflect Showalter's involvement as a teacher in Nigeria, 1960 and 1966-67; her ongoing communication with missionaries and students in Africa, 1960-75; as an administrator with Books Abroad in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, 1961-69; as a teacher at Goshen College, 1961-63, and Eastern Mennonite College, 1967-69; as a writer and editor with Laubach Literacy, 1964-66; and as a student at Syracuse University, 1962-65. In 1969 Showalter retired to Harrisonburg, Virginia, and started a Books Abroad program there, 1970-91. 4.5 linear feet. Donor: Elizabeth A. Showalter.
Southwest Mennonite Conference, 1948-1994, Downey, California. Records including conference reports and correspondence, 1975-91; program files, 1986-93; Ministerial Committee, 1988-91; Council of Anabaptists in Los Angeles, 1991-94; and Financial records, 1988-94. In 1994 this conference joined with the a portion of General Conference's Pacific District to become the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference. Donor: Irene Mendoza, Executive Assistant, and Jeff Wright, Conference Coordinator.
Mennonite Historical Bulletin, January, 1996
Last updated 7 September 1999