Collection Title

Historical Committee

IV-18-14
Mennonite Board of Missions
Puerto Rico
Field Records, 1942-1962
3 Boxes (Prontos)

Historical Sketch, 1935-89

Mennonites began to serve in Puerto Rico as a result of a larger medical, social service, recreation, education and agricultural program begun by the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA). It had been established by the USA Relief Act of 1935. Extensive redistribution of land and construction of homes, schools and medical dispenseries 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).

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].

Note: For numerous published sources on Mennonites in Puerto Rico, such as books, reports, monographs, articles and periodicals, contact the Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen College, (574) 535-7148, or e-mail: mhl@goshen.edu, and their catalog is available on the web at http://www.goshen.edu/library/ElecRes.htm

Please also consult the Finding Aid on “Puerto Rico” which lists many more documents found in the archives.

Inventory

Box 1 (Pronto)

1/1       Agriculture Corr., 1943-1948
1/2       Agriculture Program Plan, 1950
1/3       Agriculture Program Reports, 1945-1958
1/4       Aibonito Mennonite Hospital, 1952-1954
1/5       Aibonita Mennonite Hospital – Subscriptions, 1954

1/6       Archbold Sales & Service Co., Corr., 1957-1962
1/7       Asociacion de Iglesias, 1953
1/8       Audits, 1950-1962

1/9       B - Correspondence, 1953-1955
1/10     Beachy, Moses, 1959
1/11     Beck, A.S. – Shoe Corp., 1950-1952
1/12     Bible Insitute, 1955-1962
1/13     Birky, Luke and Verna – Personnel, 1947-1955

1/14     Boys Camp, 1950-1954
1/15     Boys Camp, 1946-1949
1/16     Brandeberry, John and Leona – Personnel, 1948-1951
1/17     Brenneman, Dr. Paul & Grace – Personnel, 1948-1957
1/18     Brethren Service Project, Castaner – Corr., 1953-1954
1/19     Byler, Delmar – Personnel, 1951

1/20     Byler, Ruth – Personnel, 1950-1951
1/21     Brumbaugh Central Office/Director – Corr., 1947
1/22     Brumbaugh Central Office/Director – Corr., 1946
1/23     Brumbaugh Central Office/Director – Corr., 1945
1/24     Brumbaugh Central office/Director – Corr., 1943-1944
1/25     Brumbaugh Corr.: Director/Service Units, 1947-1948

1/26     Brumbaugh Corr.: Director/Service Units, 1942-1946
1/27     Brumbaugh Directors Minutes, 1946-1947
1/28     Brumbaugh Directors Minutes, 1945
1/29     Brumbaugh Directors Minutes, 1944
1/30     Brumbaugh Directors Minutes, 1943
1/31     Brumbaugh Reconstruction Units, Reports, 1944-1947

1/32     Budget, 1946-1962

1/33     C – Correspondence, 1954-1962
1/34     Casa de Salud, 1954-1955
1/35     Civilian Public service Reports – Demobilization, 1945-1947
1/36     Community Building Corr., 1946-1947
1/37     Community Building Corr., 1945
1/38     Community Building Corr., 1944

1/39     Community building Minutes, 1944-1945
1/40     Community Building Reports, 1947
1/41     Community Building Reports, 1944-1946
1/42     Constituency Corr., 1951-1952
1/43     Convencion de las Iglesias Menonitea – Corr., 1960-1962

1/44     Contracts and Agreements – Misc., 1950-1952
1/45     Contracts and Agreements, 1947-1948
1/46     Contracts and Agreements, 1945-1946
1/47     Contributions: New Hospital, 1954-1956
1/48     Contributions: Misc., 1952-1961

1/49     Contributions: San Juan/Mr. Dominguez, 1955
1/50     Cooperativa de Consumo “La Campana”, 1955
1/51     Cooperative – La Plata, 1951
1/52     Craft Corr., 1950-1952

1/53     D – Correspondence, 1953-1962
1/54     Departamento Del Trabajo/Director – Corr., 1950-1951
1/55     Derstine, William – Corr., 1954-1955

1/56     Detweiler, Harold F. – Corr., 1956-1963
1/57     Directors Office notes, 1948
1/58     Driver, John –Secretary Corr., 1958-1962
1/59     Driver, John –Secretary Corr., 1954-1957

1/60     Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions & Charities Corr., 1954
1/61     Educational Committee, 1953-1957
1/62     El Cielito Rental Agreements, 1955-1957
1/63     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. XII, 1955
1/64     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. XI, 1954
1/65     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. X, 1953

1/66     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. IX, 1952
1/67     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. VIII, 1951
1/68     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. VII, 1950
1/69     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. VI, 1949
1/70     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. V, 1948

1/71     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. IV, 1947
1/72     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. III, 1946
1/73     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. II, 1945-1946
1/74     El Heraldo de la Plata Publication, Vol. I, 1944-1945
1/75     El Heraldo Evangelico, 1959-1960

1/76     El Hogar Del Nino, 1952-1957
1/77     El Pregonero Publication, 1955
1/78     Employees Policy and Regulations, 1945-1953
1/79     Equipment: Athletic, 1945-1949
1/80     Equipment: MCC Property Inventory, 1947-1950
                   (transfer to MRC)

1/81     Equipment: Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration, 1943-1952
1/82     Escuela Betania
1/83     Evangelizing Committee, 1950-1955

Minutes and Reports

1/84     Executive Committee, 1961-1962
1/85     Executive Committee, 1958-1960

1/86     Executive Committee, 1957
1/87     Executive Committee, 1956
1/88     Executive Committee, 1955
1/89     Executive Committee, 1954
1/90     Executive Committee, 1953

1/91     Executive Committee, 1952
1/92     Executive Committee, 1951
1/93     Executive Committee, 1947-1950

1/94     Executive Committee, Secretary Corr., 1952-1956
1/95     Executive Committee, Secretary Corr., 1947-1951

1/96     F – Fandrich, Richard –Personnel, 1954
1/97     Farm Program: Misc., 1956-1958

1/98     Fondo Del Seguro, 1957-1958

1/99     G – Correspondence, 1951-1962
1/100   Good, Maynard – Personnel, 1951
1/101   Good, Willard and Evelyn – Personnel, 1947-1950
1/102   Government of Puerto Rico/Directors – Corr., 1951-1953
1/103   Government of Puerto Rico and Federal Government - Corr., 1950

1/104   Government of Puerto Rico/Directors - Corr., 1949
1/105   Government of Puerto Rico/Directors – Corr., 1948
1/106   Government of Puerto Rico/Directors – Corr., 1943-1947
1/107   Government of Virgin Islands, Corr., 1952-1953

1/108   Greaser, Lawrence, 1954-1962
1/109   Groh, David – Corr., 1956-1959

1/110   H – Correspondence, 1953-1962
1/111   Helmuth, David, 1961-1962
1/112   Hershberger, Tillman – Personnel, 1951-1953
1/113   Hershey, Lester – Corr., 1956-1962
1/114   Hershey, Lester – Personnel, 1949-1962

1/115   Hochstetler, Dean Lamar – Personnel, 1951
1/116   Hodgkins, Janes – Personnel, 1955
1/117   Holsinger, Justus & Salome – Personnel, 1948-1949
1/118   Hoover, Paul – Corr. 1954
1/119   Hurricane Plans and Policies, 1950-1951

1/120   I – Correspondence, 1949-1960
1/121   Kauffmann, Pearl – Personnel, 1947-1951
1/122   Kaufman, Alvin – Personnel, 1948

1/123   Language School Board, 1955-1956
1/124   La Plata Annual Reports, 1948-1955
1/125   La Plata Clinic, 1960-1961
1/126   La Plata – Maps, Charts, etc., 1946

1/127   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Building Campaign, 1954-1955
1/128   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Building Campaign, 1951-1954
1/129   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Building Contractor, 1955
1/130   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Construction Fund Transaction, 1955
1/131   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Construction Papers, Misc., 1955

1/132   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Policies, 1948
1/133   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Reports, 1956
1/134   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Solicitation Corr., 1954-1955
1/135   La Plata Mennonite Hospital, Solicitation Corr., En. C.d. Toro, 1955
1/136   La Plata Mennonite Project, 1956
1/137   La Plata Mennonite project, 1954-1956
1/138   La Plata Mennonite Project, Budget, 1947-1956
1/139   La Plata Mennonite Project, Budget (Proposed), 1944-1946
1/140   La Plata Mennonite Project, Business Manager Corr., 1952-1953

1/141   La Plata Mennonite Project, Business Manager Corr., 1950-1951
1/142   La Plata Mennonite Project, Business Manager Corr., 1948-1949
1/143   La Plata Mennonite Project, Business Manager Corr., 1945-1946
1/144   La Plata Mennonite Project, Contracts and Agreements, 1949-1966
1/145   La Plata Mennonite Project, Corr., 1956-1958

1/146   La Plata Mennonite Project, Corr., 1953-1958
1/147   La Plata Mennonite project, Director Corr., 1955
1/148   La Plata Mennonite Project, Director Corr., 1953
1/149   La Plata Mennonite Project, Director Corr., 1951-1952
1/150   La Plata Mennonite Project, Director Corr., 1949-1950

Box 2 (Pronto)

2/1       La Plata Mennonite Project, Director Corr., 1947-1948
2/2       La Plata Mennonite Project, Director Corr., 1945-1946
2/3       La Plata Mennonite Project, Director Corr., 1943-1944
2/4       La Plata Mennonite Project, Financial Reports, 1956-1957
2/5       La Plata Mennonite Project, Financial Reports, 1953-1955

2/6       La Plata Mennonite Project, Financial Reports, 1950-1952
2/7       La Plata Mennonite Project, Financial Reports, 1946-1949
2/8       La Plata Mennonite Project, Policies-Staff Meeting Minutes, 1943
2/9       La Plata Staff Minutes, 1944-1949
2/10     La Plata Staff and Unit Minutes, 1950-1952

2/11     La Plata Mennonite Project, Unit Minutes, 1952-1955
2/12     La Plata Mennonite Project, Worker’s Handbooks, 1949-1952
2/13     La Plata Pictures
2/14     Lauver, Paul, Personnel, 1958
2/15     Leatherman, Orpha, Personnel, 1947-51

2/16     Lehman, John, Correspondence, 1952-62
2/17     Lehman, John, Personnel, 1956-59
2/18     Liechty, Simon, Mennonite Mission-Treas., 1958-62
2/19     Litwiller, Floyd & Lona, Personnel, 1952-54
2/20     Lugbill, Ralph, Personnel, 1953

2/21     Luz Y Verdad – Spanish Broadcast Messenger, 1954-55
2/22     M – Correspondence, 1953-62
2/23     Mann, John, Personnel, 1952-54
2/24     Martens, Harry, Personnel, 1945-46
2/25     Martin, Allen & Ruth – Correspondence, 1961

2/26     Massanari, Dr. Walter, Personnel, 1950
2/27     MBMC Resolutions, 1947
2/28     MCC-MBMC Conjoint Meeting Minutes, 1928
2/29     Medical Director Correspondence, 1944-51
2/30     Medical Reports, 1948

2/31     Medical Reports, 1945-46
2/32     Medical Reports Disbursement Vouchers, 1947-48
2/33     Mennonite Broadcasts, Inc., 1954-60
2/34     Mennonite Central Committee, Business Manager Corres., 1947-58
2/35     Mennonite Central Committee, Business Manager Corres., 1943-44

2/36     Mennonite Central Committee, Director Corres., 1949-52
2/37     Mennonite Central Committee, Director Corres, 1947-48
2/38     Mennonite Central Committee, Director Corres, 1946
2/39     Mennonite Central Committee, Director Corres, 1945
2/40     Mennonite Central Committee, Director Corres, 1943-44

2/41     Mennonite Mission in Puerto Rico, 1947-52
2/42     Mennonite Publishing House, Director, 1951-62
2/43     Mennonite Relief Committee, 1953, July-Dec.
2/44     Mennonite Relief Committee, 1953, Jan.-June
2/45     Mennonite Relief Committee, 1952, Aug.-Dec.

2/46     Mennonite Relief Committee, 1952, Jan.-July
2/47     Mennonite Relief Committee, 1951
2/48     Mennonite Relief Committee, 1949-50
2/49     Miller, Gerald & Carrol, Personnel, 1948-50
2/50     Miller, John Melvin, Personnel, 1951-53

2/51     Miller, Mabel, Personnel, 1951
2/52     Miller, Perry & Judy, Personnel, 1947-50
2/53     Minimum Wage Board
2/54     Missionary Council, Minutes/Reports, 1952-54
2/55     Missionary Council, Minutes/Reports, 1946-51

2/56     Moyer’s Chicks, Inc – 1954-61
2/57     Nachtigall, Wilbur & Grace, Personnel, 1953-55
2/58     Nafziger, Mervin, 1960-62
2/59     National Service Board/Director, Correspondence, 1944-51
2/60     Naumann, Enos & Katherine, Personnel, 1957

2/61     Neff, Herbert N.D., Correspondence, 1955-57
2/62     Nelson, Boyd/Lehman, John, Correspeondence, 1955, July-Dec.
2/63     Nelson, Boyd/Lehman, John, Correspondence, 1955, Jan.-June
2/64     Nissley, Addona, 1961-62
2/65     Nissley, Addona, Personnel, 1948-50

2/66     Nurse Aide Training School, 1949
2/67     Nussbaum, Ruth, Personnel, 1949-51
2/68     P – Correspondence, 1953-57
2/69     Parks and Recreation, 1951-62
2/70     Peachey, Ezra, Personnel, 1948-51

2/71     Personnel Correspondence: Director/Unit Members, 1949-51
2/72     Personnel Correspondence: Director/Unit Members, 1948
2/73     Personnel Correspondence: Director/Unit Members, 1947
2/74     Personnel Correspondence: Director/Unit Members, 1945-46
2/75     Personnel Correspondence – Elkhart Office, 1956-60

2/76     Personnel Correspondence – Elkhart Office, 1955
2/77     Personnel Correspondence – Elkhart Office, 1954
2/78     Personnel Correspondence – Elkhart Office, 1950-53
2/79     Personnel Correspondence – MCC, 1944-48
2/80     Personnel: MCC – Brumbaugh Unit, Assigned Between 1943-1948

2/81     Personnel Materials: Puerto Rican Nationals, 1952-57
2/82     Personnel: Misc. 1947-58
2/83     Personnel: Unit Member Listings, 1949-49
2/84     Pons, Victor M., 1959
2/85     Programs: Miscellaneous, 1953-61

2/86     Property Improvement Reports, 1949
2/87     Public Health, 1955
2/88     Publicity Correspondence, 1952-55
2/89     Publicity – Published articles, 1943-1953
2/90     Puerto Rico Mission Service, Treasurer’s Report, 1958-63

2/91     Puerto Rico Mission Service, Treasurer’s Reports, 1948-57
2/92     Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration
2/93     Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration/Director Corres., 1945-48
2/94     Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration/Director Correspondence, 1944
2/95     Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration/Director Correspondence, 1943

2/96     Puerto Rico Water Resources Authority, 1954-61
2/97     R – Correspondence, 1954
2/98     Reports” Miscellaneous, 1950-61
2/99     Rio La Plata – Correspondence, 1943-55
2/100   Rio La Plata newsletter – Vol. 12, 1955

2/101   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 11, 1954
2/102   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 10, 1953
2/103   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 9, 1952
2/104   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 8, 1951
2/105   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 7, 1950

2/106   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 6, 1949
2/107   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 5, 1948
2/108   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 4, 1946-47
2/109   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 3, 1945-46
2/110   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 2, 1944-45

2/111   Rio La Plata Newsletter, Vol. 1, 1943-44
2/112   S – Correspondence, 1953-62
2/113   Sales Tax Refunds, 1951
2/114   Santiago, Lydia Esther, Personnel, 1948-51
2/115   Santiago, Victor, Correspondence, 1956-57

2/116   Schneider, Robert E. JR., Correspondence, 1960-62
2/117   Scholarships, 1953-60
2/118   Selective Service System, 1952-54
2/119   Sewing Project, Correspondence, 1947-54
2/120   Sewing Project, Inventory & Reports, 1947-52
2/121   Shantz, Marjorie, Personnel, 1958
2/122   Shoup, Arlene, Personnel, 1948-52

2/123   Snyder, Doris, Personnel, 1958
2/124   Snyder, Judge A. Cecil – Correspondence, 1955
2/125   Snyder, James Arthur, Personnel, 1951-58

2/126   Snyder, Royal & Ophia, 1944-62
2/127   Social Security – 1951-57
2/128   Social Security – Unemployment Insurance, 1957-58
2/129   South Porto Sugar, 1956
2/130   Special Reports: Work in General, 1947-56

2/131   Summer Bible School Reports, 1946-53
2/132   Swartzendruber, Fred & Dolcie, Personnel, 1948-51
2/133   Swartzendruber, Wayne & Margie, 1950
2/134   Swartzendruber, William & Thelma, Personnel, 1954
2/135   T – Correspondence, 1954-62

2/136   Tax Exemption, 1947-55
2/137   Troyer, Howard & Geneva, 1958
2/138   Ulrich Foundation, 1956-58
2/139   Ulrich Foundation Foundation Echo, 1955
2/140   Ulrich Foundation Minutes, 1953-54

2/141   Unit Study Committee, 1952
2/142   Voluntary Service policies, 1953-59
2/143   Widmer, Gladys, Personnel, 1951
2/144   Y – Correspondence, 1955-59
2/145   Yoder, John Howard, Correspondence, 1959-61

2/146   Yoder, Dr. Richard & Rosalie, Personnel, 1955
2/147   Yoder, Robert Lee, Personnel, 1954
2/148   Yoder, Ruth, Personnel, 1951-53
2/149   Yoder, Vernon, 1954-55
2/150   Zook, Stanley, Personnel, 1952-54

Pronto 3 (Pronto)

3/1       Ledger Book, March 31, 1955 - March 31, 1960. Includes divisions such as:
                    Administration; Agriculture; Bible Institute; Community Service; Evangelism; Maintenance; Building Fund.

August 19, 2004 / Inventory by Nelda Nussbaum
February 4, 2009 / Posted by Isaac Smith
Mennonite Church USA Archives-Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526

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