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Historical Committee


Hist. Mss. 1-365
Walter Quiring Collection, 1893 - 1983
Papers,
contained in 5 Boxes (long)

Inventory

Box 1

1/1 Brazil. "Witmarsum in Parana," correspondence regarding the formation of a new colony, Cancela, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. Dec. 8, 1950 - June 30, 1950. Fast, Thiessen, Pauls. Pp. 1-39.

1/2 Brazil. Minutes, reports, land title for Cancela, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. June 12, 1950 - June 30, 1951.
Pp. 40-66.

1/3 Brazil. "Zeitungsartikel," newspaper clippings, from Der Bote and Zionsbote, 1950 - 52. Pp. 67-129.

1/4 Paraguay. "Volkstumkampf in Fernheim," Johann  Postma. Pp. 130-63.

1/5 Paraguay. "Volkstumkampf in Fernheim," Johann Postma. Pp. 164-202.

1/6 Paraguay. A summary of "Volkstumkampf in Fernheim," Pp. 130-202, in English, by Jeanne Liechty, 1989.

1/7 Paraguay. "Das MCC und der Volkstumkampf in Fernheim," "Das Mennonitische Zentralkomitee als politisches Werkzeug," ("MCC as a political instrument")
Pp. 203-08.

1/8 Paraguay. "Verschiedenes," correspondence - Nikkel, Legiehn, Martins, 1947-51; statistics for Kolonie Friesland, 1937-52.
Pp. 209-26.

1/9 Paraguay. "Das Fernheimer Krankenhaus `Bethseda'," ("The Fernheim Hospital `Bethseda'"); a report of missions work with the Lengua Indians.
Pp. 227-41.

1/10 Brazil. A humorous story by Peter Pauls.
Pp. 242-42a.

1/11 Paraguay & Uraguay. Various minutes, reports, bulletins, 1948-52.
Pp. 243-61.

1/12 Paraguay. "Der Wellenreiter," a humorous newsletter for passengers on the SS Charles Monarch en route to Paraguay, May - July 1948.
Pp. 262-90.

Box 2

2/1 Brazil & Paraguay. "F_r jederman." List of members of Johanne Harder's family; loan repayment schedule, Brazil, 1951; a brief description of history and economy for each South American Mennonite colony; "Canelones," Paraguay, descriptive essay; Mennonitische Welt, letters; minutes discussing repayment of loans, 1941, Witmarsum, Brazil.
Pp. 291-340.

2/2 Brazil. "Die Wirtschaft," ("The Economy"), Witmarsum Cooperative, minutes of annual reports, 1937-40, 1942-50; Cooperative membership list, 1950; statistics for Gnadental, 1937, 1938; outline of Krauel's organization and history.
Pp. 341-473.

2/3 Brazil. "Die Schiffstransporte nach Witmarsum," a shiplist; letters from Heinrich Martins, 1938; Quiring's orginal outline for the entire collection.
Pp. 365a-73.

2/4 Brazil. Correspondence: Oct. 16, l939, to B. H.Unruh - the colony's situation re nationalization, religious education in the school, general economy; Feb. 3, l940, and June 8, 1940, from David Nikkel - prospects of further development of Waldheim with historical perspective.
Minutes: Aug. 5, 1945, Church meeting, (KFK, die Kommission f_r kirchliche Angelegenheit ["the Commission for church opportunities"]), Witmarsum; Oct. 27, 1945, settlers' meeting.
Various pages between 388-449.

2/5 Brazil. "Die Schulen," ("The Schools"). Minutes and letters addressing issue of receiving permission from the Brazilian government to teach German and religion in the colony schools, Sept. 5-7, 1938, March 13, 1939, Nov. 2, 1939 (a letter addressed to the vice president of Brazil), Sept. 21, 1946, Jan. 10, 1947. Also: May 23, 1940, a pledge not to listen to English news and propaganda; June 28, 1941, minutes discussing repayment of passage to Brazil.
Pp. 474-88.

2/6 Brazil. "Zur Frage des Gesundheitswesens," ("About health care"), casual summary of hospital care given in l957.
Pp. 489-93.

2/7 Brazil. "Die Bem_hungen Witmarsums um die Wehrlosigkeit," ("Witmarsum's efforts concerning
nonresistance"). Minutes: July 21, 1947, discussing church and colony position on nonresistance; June 4, 1949, similar discussion with guests from United States; Letter: July 28, 1949, from MBG (Mennonite Brethren congregation) elder G. H. Rosenfeld to colony leader P. Pauls informing of MBG's decision to withdraw from and become independent of the colony to free sons from military service. Pp. 494-99.

2/8 Brazil. "Protokolle der Ansiedlung Witmarsum in Santa Catarina," ("General minutes of the Witmarsum settlement in Santa Catarina"), Feb. 18, 1948, Feb. 27, 1948, Nov. 24, 1950, June 2, 1951. Pp. 500-12.

2/9 Brazil. "Die Bem_hungen Witmarsums um die deutsche Staatsangeh÷rigkeit," ("Witmarsum's efforts concerning German citizenship"). Letters: Nov. 1938 to German consulate in Florianapolis, Brazil, from D. Nikkel, colony leader, requesting German citizenship for the Russian Mennonites in Hansas Hamonia, Brazil; Feb. 4, 1952, to ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, from P.
Pauls, colony leader, asking ambassador to help arrange the sale of the Witmarsum colony and with the eventual process of emigrating to West Germany.
Pp. 513-16.

2/10 Brazil. "Zur Frage der Aufspaltung der Ansiedlung Witmarsum in Stadt Catarina," ("Concerning the division of the Witmarsum settlement in St. Catarina"). Correspondence and minutes regarding tensions between G. H. Rosenfeld, elder of the MBG, and David Nikkel, colony leader, June 1947 - 51. Pp. 517-72 (374-86).

2/11 Brazil. "Das MCC Heim in Sao Paulo," ("The MCC home in Sao Paulo"). A list of employees: their marital status, wage, length of employment; Sept. 1, 1951.
Pp. 573- 76.

2/12 Brazil. "Das Darlehen Deutschlands an Witmarsum," ("Loans from West Germany to Witmarsum"); 3 letters, 1932, to Professor B. H. Unruh, concerning the transportation debts of the colonists.
Pp. 577-96.

2/13 Brazil. "Das Holl_ndische Taufgesinnten Emmigrantenbureau," a letter to a Dutch Mennonite concerning German citizenship, Feb. 22, 1939.
Pp. 597-98.

2/14 Brazil. "Bund der Mennonitengemeinden in Brasilien," ("The council of Mennonite congregations in Brazil"). Bylaws of the KFK, 1936.
Pp. 599-602.

2/15 Brazil. "Das Mennonitenkomittee." Minutes of the first meeting of the Mennonite committee in Brazil; its purpose, to represent the Mennonite interests both within and without of the country. Also one letter from P. Pauls to Wiebe, Nov. 20, 1949. Pp. 603-98.

2/16 Brazil. "Denkschriften," ("Memorandum"):
 -Letter to Quiring from A. J. Dyck, requesting return of minutes of the Mennonite Brethern congregation of Witmarsum, Sept. 4, 1959.
-"Die Mennoniten in Brasilien," Peter Klassen. "Witmarsum - Brasilien," P. Pauls, H. Harder, J. Warkentin, and others, Dec. 15, 1950.

-"Abwanderung von Auhagen," ("Emigration from Auhagen"), April 10, 1938, a letter to D. Nikkel, Witmarsum, from Dr. Unruh, Karlsruhe, FRG.
-"Rentabilit_ts - Berechnung von der S. A. Witmarsum," (financial report for the Witmarsum cooperative), P. Pauls, Jan. 16, 1952.
-Two letters to Dr. Kundt, FRG, chair of committee studying German settlements abroad, from H. Martins, Blumenau, describing the colony's economic situation, Jan. 20, 1952, Feb. 10, 1952.

-Letter from P. Pauls to H. Martins regarding correspondence with Dr. Kundt, Jan.13, 1952.
-Partial typescript by D. Nikkel, regarding debt repayments, need for a closed community, interference by outsiders, Feb. 2, 1940, Gnadental, (duplicates Pp. 722-27).
-"Einleitende Bemerkungen..," ("Preliminary remarks...") to
the conference of town and church councils, May 4, 1946, Waldheim.
-"Denkschrift...zur Kl_rung des Konfliktes..," a statement to the Mennonite Brethern congregation of Alto Rio Krauel, explaining the conflict between David Nikkel, community leader of Witmarsum, and Elder Gerhard H. Rosenfeld, March 1947.

-"Aufzeichnungen..," a history of the Krauel settlement, 1936-1947, by Elder Gerhard Rosenfeld.
-"Wir sch_men und beugen uns," ("We are ashamed, and humble ourselves"), the failure of the South American Mennonite Ministers' Conference, Curitiba, Brazil, Heinrich Martins, Feb. 7-11, 1951.
-"Wir bedauern und trauern und hoffen!" ("We regret, grieve, and hope!"), for the South American Mennonite Ministers' Conference, Curitiba, Brazil, Heinrich Martins, Feb. 7-11, 1951.
-"Entwurf der Statuten der beschr_nkten agrar Genossen-schaft," ("Rough draft of the statutes of the limited agrarian cooperative"). Foundation, purpose, duration, location.
-"Entstehung der Neusiedlung in Rio Grande do Sul..." ("Origin of the new settlement in Rio Grande do Sul..."), group leader Jakob Epp, Sept. 1950.
Pp. 609-98.

2/17 Brazil. "Geschichte der Siedlungleitung," ("History of the colony's leadership"), for Elder J. J.
Thiessen, Saskatoon, Canada.
-Letter to the General Conference of the Mennonite Church, U.S., requesting a loan, from D. Koop, Jan. 3, 1950.
-Letter to Thiessen, describing the history of the beginnings of resettlement in South Brazil, from D. Koop, March 1, 1950.
-Letter to Thiessen, presenting reasons, needs, for new settlement, from P. Pauls, Feb. 24, 1951.
-"Gemeindespruch," congregational decision regarding the formation of "New" Witmarsum, P. Pauls, March 27, 1951.
-Letter to Thiessen, confirming receipt of money, from P. Pauls, April 3, 1951.
-Letter to Thiessen, confirming purchase of land, from P. Pauls, June 15, 1951.
Pp. 699-716.

2/18 Brazil. "Professor B.H. Unruh, Karlsruhe, und Witmarsum in Sta. Catarina."
Letters and reports to B.H. Unruh from:
-Rosenfeld, July 21, 1937;
-Martins, Oct. 6, 1938;
-Report #2, "Rueckkehr ins Reich," ("Return to the Reich"), Oct. 16, 1938;
-Report #3, reporting political situation as uncomfortable, Dec. 10, 1938;
-Nikkel, Nov. 16, 1939;
-Nikkel, 5 pages of a 7 page document (duplicates of 647-50) regarding debt repayment, interference by outsiders, need for a closed community;
-Martins, travel debts, ship, and passenger lists, Dec. 15, 1940;
-Letter from Unruh to Janzen, May 2, 1939.
Pp 717- 44.

2/19 Brazil. "Das MCC und Witmarsum in Sta. Catarina."
-Letter to O.O. Miller, MCC, from Nikkel, about debt repayment, 1940 (?);
-Protokollauszug (excerpt from minutes) canceling the "Bote" subscription because of its anti-Hitler stance, Nov. 16, 1940;
-Letter to MCC, from Hiebert, Nikkel, affirming colony ties with larger Mennonite circle, April 17, 1947;
-Letter (and duplicate) to MCC from Nikkel, Rosenfeld and Nikkel made peace, April 30, 1947;
-Letter to O.O. Miller, MCC, from Nikkel, questions and concerns of the Mennonites in Brazil, Oct. 6, 1947;
-Letter to P.C. Hiebert from Nikkel, financial support for retired leader Jakob Schellenberg, July 10, 1948;
-Letter to Nikkel from Hiebert, response, July 26, 1948;
-Letter to Pauls from Martins, MCC questioning necessity of keeping settlements "closed," Sept. 26, 1949.
Pp 745-60.

2/20 Brazil. "Siedlungsleiter David Nikkel ins eigener Sache," four documents concerning the election of P.Pauls replacing Nikkel as settlement leader in 1949.
-"Vertieidigungsschrift," by Nikkel, Jan. 10,1946;
-Nikkel, Oct.2, 1946;
-Nikkel, Dec. 13, 1948;
-Eulogy of Nikkel by Pauls, 1948.
Pp 761-68.

2/21 Brazil. "Die Ansiedlung Bage (Laurieno da
Silva)," ("The settlement Bage").
-Covenant of the settlers of the new colony, Bage;
-Short history of Bage's development, P. Pauls, Jan. 14,
1950;
-Letter to Toews from Peter Enns, Jan. 15, 1950;
-Minutes of colony meeting, Feb. 6, 1950;
-Colony report, September 1951;
-Letter to Der Bote, 1951.
Pp. 769-80.

2/22 Brazil. "Die Bem_hungen der Mennonitengemeinde Witmarsum um eine _bersiedlung nach Rio Grande do Sul" ("The efforts of the Witmarsum Mennonite congregation concerning emigration to Rio Grande do Sul").
-Various correspondence and minutes from colony leaders concerning the new settlement; a group from Curitiba, led by H. Berg, and a group from Witmarsum, led by P. Pauls, investigate the possibility of colonizing together; Jan. 20, 1948 through Dec. 16, 1951.
-Resolves of the Mennonite Settlement Committee for Brazil, Jan. 20, 1940;
-"Witmarsum-Brasilien," a 9-page summary of Witmarsum's history, including formation of the separate settlement of Bage when MBG's split-off led by G. Rosenfeld in July, 1949; written by P. Pauls and approved by board of directors, G. Ewert, G. Janzen, and committee members H. Harder, J. Warkentin, A Kroeker, H. Penner, Phillips.
Pp. 781-872a.

2/23 Brazil. "Ein Land Der Zukunft; Der Staat Parana," von Hugo Kirchgaessner. A 35-page document
describing Parana, its plants, animals, etc. This document informs Germans and North Americans of the possibilities of this land, and it encourages informed immigration.
Pp. 873-909.

Box 3

Contains photocopied duplicates of Box 1.

Bex 4

Contains photocopied duplicates of Box 3.

Box 5
Witmarsum am Kraul, Brazil

(Box 5 begins a new numbering system, starting with 1)

5/1 "Witmarsum am Krauel," an outline of the manuscript contained in Box 5. Pp. 1-4.

5/2 "Und doch wieder Wandschaft," ("And once again, migration"), Pp. 5-10.

5/3 "Die Massenflucht der Russlanddeutschen - 1929," ("The stampede of the German Russians"); "Die Kieler Gruppe," (The Kiel group), Pp. 11-25.

5/4 "Im Kampf um den Pflugacker," ("The struggle for farmland"), Pp. 26-37.

5/5 "Lebendige Urwald," ("The living virgin forest"),
Pp. 38-46.

5/6 "Tischg_ste des Reiches," ("Guests of the German empire"), Pp. 47-52.

5/7 "Die Holl_ndische Patenschaft," ("The Dutch protection society"), Pp. 53-59.

5/8 "Der Wald- und Rodungsbauer," ("The forest and clearing farmers"), Pp. 60-73.

5/9 "Des Urwaldbauern Feinde," ("The forest enemies"),
Pp. 74-81.

5/10 "Klima und Krankenheitserscheinung," ("The climate and related health problems"), Pp. 82-92.

5/11 "Fabrikative Einrichtungen und Absatz," ("Organization and sales"), Pp. 93-116.

5/12 "Selbstzucht oder Verfall," ("Self-discipline or ruin"), Pp. 117-30.

5/13 "Geistiges Leben und Brauchtum," ("Religious education of the children"), Pp. 131-44.

5/14 "Kirchliche Zersplitterung - das Grund_bel," ("Church division, the cause"), Pp. 145-64.

5/15 "Durchbruch des Volkstums," ("Breakthrough of [German] nationalism"), Pp. 165-79.

5/16 "Auhagen," ("The colony, Auhagen"), Pp. 180-85.

5/17 "Die Stadtrandsiedlung Curityba," ("The settlement on the outskirts of Curityba"), Pp. 186-209.

5/18 "Unsere Reise nach Brasilien in Mennonitische Bl_tter," ("Our trip to Brazil, in Mennonitische Bl_tter), 1931, by Johannes Janzen, Pp. 210-21.

5/19 Pleas for assistance for refugees, B.H. Unruh,
Pp. 222-25.

5/20 "Witmarsum; Stadtplatz und Ansiedlung," ("Witmarsum; city and settlement"), incomplete, one page only, Pp. 226.

5/21 Miscellaneous notes and documentation: "Gnadental VIII 3a;" "Wasserh_ltnisse;" Pp. 227-41.

5/22 Typed notes; customs, celebrations, traditions, etc. Pp. 242-76.

5/23 "Wir erleben Holland," ("We experience Holland"), various hand-written notes, Pp. 277-87.

5/24 Various hand-written notes, typed manuscript sections; partially cross-referenced. Pp. 288-98.

5/25 "Stellung zur Br_cke," (Position concerning the Br_cke, a private leaflet written by Peter Klassen,
Witmarsum). Minutes, one letter, July 15, 1937, from Holland congregation to David Nickel. Pp. 299-310.

5/26 "Conditions of Sale" form, blank, for Stadt St. Catharina, Brazil. Also miscellaneous hand-written notes.
Pp. 311-16.

5/27 "Die Hanseatische Kolonien in St. Santa Catharina
- Hansa und Hammonia," ("The Hanseatic colonies in SantaCatharina - Hansa and Hammonia"), Pp. 317-26.

5/28 Various hand-written notes, Pp. 327-53.

5/29 Excerpts from "Christlicher Gemeinde Kalendar: unsere neuste Ansiedlung - Brasilien," ("Christian Community Calendar: our newest settlement - Brazil), photocopied pages from the book. Pp. 354-85.

5/30 Various typed pages, hand-written notes, partially cross-referenced. Pp. 386-450.

5/31 Various pages, all photocopies, all duplicates; do not continue the numbering system.



Postscript. This collection entered the Mennonite Historical Archives with a numbering system consisting of numbers written on the upper right hand corner of each page. Unfortunately, this system does not always follow chronological order, nor does it consitently place related pages together. Therefore I attempted a partial cross-indexing of this collection, using photocopies both to maintain the original numbering sequence, as well as to facilitate chronological ordering and unity of content. In
places where pages were shifted to allow for chronology, photocopies were inserted to follow the original numbering system. Where I felt additional explanation was needed, notes were added.


April 30, 2004 / Reformatted by Kathryn Yoder
August 6, 2001 / Update by Monica Zimmerman
Previously typed into computer and posted on web
January 10, 1990 / Processed by Jeanne Liechty
File "Hm1-365.doc"
Mennonite Church USA Archives - Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526

 

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