Historical Committee

Hist Mss 1-675
Gladys C. Widmer, 1915-2006, Collection
Papers, 1945-2006
10 Boxes (4 Large, 4 Gray, 1 Green, 1 Oversize)
[Boxes 3 and 4 are Restricted]

    Gladys Widmer spent 40 years in Puerto Rico with church planting, 1951-1981, and these files reflect her historical papers as well as her ongoing contacts with persons.

Files listed by Dennis Stoesz, Archivist, November 5, 1990, and updated August 21, 2000, and August 16, 2004.  List of specifically marked files for Rafael Falcon’s research, February 22, 1991.  Addition of Boxes 7-10 made in April 2007 from personal papers deposited by nieces Kate Shantz and Lois Widmer in 2007.

Box 1 (Large) [Open for research]

Writings and Compilations

1/1    Biography
1/2    90th Surprise Birthday Celebration 12/7/2005 (includes a CD of photos)
1/3    Photos
1/4    Articles written by Gladys from Puerto Rico & U.S.
1/5    Guia Biblica compiled by Gladys
1/6    Studies, Songbooks
1/7    Mission Study materials, 1945-1951

Puerto Rico Clippings, Articles, Reports, etc.

1/8    Clippings re Puerto Rico
1/9    Clippings continued
1/10    Puerto Rico Executive Committee  1951-54
1/11    Puerto Rico Missions Reunion, Aug. 7, 8, 2004
1/12    Puerto Rico, General

1/13    50th Anniversary of Mennonite work in Puerto Rico, 8/20-22/1993
1/14    Women's Meetings Reunion
1/15    Hospital Menonita, Aibonito, Puerto Rico, 2005
1/16    Betania Academia, 1986-2006
1/17    Summit Hills - Academia, 1990-1993

1/18    Bulletine Iglesias Puerto Rico
1/19    Boletin Information Convención, 2000-2002
1/20    Alcance Menonita:  Newsletter (Church), 1985-1993

Box 2 (Large) [Open for research]

2/1    Desde La Oficina, 1981-1983
2/2    Puerto Rico Menn. Church Convention Planning, 1981-82
2/3    Actas de la Convención de P. Rico  1900's
2/4    Convención  1980's
2/5    Convención  1990-1991 and 1992

2/6    Form Letters, Duplicates, Carbon Copies, Etc.  Bits of Autobiography
2/7    Relating to Hispanics in Goshen
2/8    Correspondence Puerto Rico
2/9    Brooklyn Correspondence
2/10    Photos

2/11    Asalto and Robbery  12/27/1980
2/12    Coamo, Puerto Rico
2/13    Bayamon, P.R.
2/14    Ponce, P.R.

Gladys Widmer  U.S.A - New York-Quad Cities, Florida, Goshen, etc.

2/15    Beginnings  1957 --Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, New York
2/16    Quad-Cities  - Muscatine  1960's---on
2/17    Ana, Hilda, Torres & Ray Pacheco , Brooklyn, N.Y. 1954-1996
2/18    Conferencia Femenil in North America
2/19    Bridges Networking  Primeros Retiros U.S.
2/20    Hispanic Networking Connections, 1990's

2/21    Misc.  U.S.A. Hispanic, General
2/22    Network, Bridges - Connections
2/23    Florida  - General
2/24    Spanish "Networking" in Florida  1982-1992
2/25    Seguidores de Cristo, Sarasoto, Florida

2/26    Tampa  1987-1982  (never materialized)
2/27    Encuentro Convención Hispana
2/28    Horizonte

Box 3 (Large) [Restricted]

3/1    Accession Record
3/2    Reports to BMB
3/3    Quint-Cities  -  Davenport, IA., Moline, IL.
3/4    Muscatine, Iowa
3/5    Manhattan

3/6    Bronx, New York
3/7    Brooklyn, New York  1970 ---
3/8    Brooklyn, New York  1960's ----
3/9    Brooklyn, New York  1957-1959
3/10    Ponce I, Villa del Carmen  Puerto Rico

3/11    Ponce II  Noreste  Puerto Rico
3/12    Bayamon, Puerto Rico  1966-1972
3/13    Coamo  -  Coame Arriba
3/14    Language Study, Rabanal Betania  1951-54
3/15    Mennonite Biblical Seminary  1973  (2nd semester)

3/16    New York - 1958  Biblical Seminary, N.Y. University, Iowa City, 1960 - Spanish Study
3/17    MBM - Elkhart, Indiana  (Secretary to J. D. Graber)
3/18    Publicity Materials MBM - 1945-1951
3/19    Teaching-Wyman, Iowa  1942-1945
3/20    Goshen College  1936-1937  &  1939-1942

Box 4 (Large) [Restricted]

4/1    Marjorie Shantz
4/2    Correspondence, Hispanic, General
4/3    Correspondence Continued - 2000 - N.Y.  exp. Brooklyn
4/4    Correspondence Continued - 2000 - P. Rico
4/5    Correspondence and Connections in latter 90's

4/6    Correspondence  1993-95
4/7    Correspondence  1992
4/8    Correspondence  1990-1991
4/9    Correspondence  1988, 1989  (In Florida)
4/10    Retirement - 1981

4/11    Letters Received while living in Florida, 1985 - 1992
4/12    Correspondence in Florida  1985 - 1987
4/13    Correspondence  1984
4/14    Correspondence  1981, 1983
4/15    Correspondence  1951-1981
4/16    Plaque given Gladys Widmer 6/27/1981

Box 5 (Oversize) [Open for research]

Poster, Hospital Geneal Menonita, 1944-1984, La Plata, Puerto Rico.  Includes picture of stretcher ambulance that was used to carry patients from their homes to the hospital – Gladys remembers this ambulance well, and remembers a pregnant woman being carried to the hospital to give birth to her child.

Box 6 (Gray) [Open for research]

6/1    Convención 1993
6/1    Convención 1997
6/1    Convención 2001
6/1    Convención 2003, 55th Asambles
6/1    Convención 2006

Box 7 (Green)

Slides, 1951-81 (in five slide boxes)

7/1    Gladys Widmer serving in Puerto Rico, 1951-1981.  Slides found in Slide Box.  Beginning of three churches, 1) Coamo, 2) Bayamon, and 3) Ponce.  Ponce II was discontinued.  List of slides found in Appendix.

7/2    Gladys Widmer serving Hispanics in United States at intervals.  Slides found in Slide Box.

7/3    Puerto Rico scenery.  Includes photograph of the artifact "Embroidered map of Puerto Rico, by Aida Ortiz" and slide of scenery - "I painted this scene, 1990."

7/4    Puerto Rico scenery.

7/5    Ilustraciones (Slides).  Slides used by Gladys Widmer for Bible lessons and in her teaching.  Slides found in Slide Box

Box 8 (Gray)

Photograph Albums: Puerto Rico, 1951-2006 (also Honduras and Columbia) (arranged in chronological order)

8/1    Pulguillas y Rabanal, 1951.  "Comienzo Beginning, Pulguillas y Rabanal, 1951, Puerto Rico.  Vino Gladys Widmer."
8/2    Coamo, 1953.  "Comienzo Beginning, Coamo, 1953, Puerto Rico."
8/3    Bayamon, 1966.  "Comienzo Beginning, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, 1966."
8/4    Ponce I, 1974.  "Comienzo Beginning, Ponce I, Puerto Rico, 1974."
8/5    Ponce II, 1974. "Comienzo Beginning, Ponce II, Puerto Rico, 1974."

8/6    Mennonite Churches, 1953-85.  "Mennonite Churches, 1953-85," Puerto Rico, including Hospital, La Plata, etc., and also Honduras and Colombia.
8/7    Anglos, 1953-2003.  "Anglos serving in Puerto Rico, 1953-2003."
8/8    "Life and Beauty of Puerto Rico"
8/9    Some additional loose photos, 2004-06


Box 9 (Gray)

Photograph Albums, United States, 1957-93 (in chronological order)

9/1    Brooklyn, New York. 1957.  "Comienzo Beginning, Brooklyn, New York, 1957."
9/2    Muscatine, Iowa, 1957.  "Comienzo Beginning, Muscatine, Iowa, 1957."
9/3    Manhattan, New York, 1958.  "Comienzo Beginning, Manhattan, New York, 1958."
9/4    Quin-Cities, Iowa and Illinois, 1958.  "Comienzo Beginning, Quin-Cities, Iowa and Illinois, 1958."

9/5    Bronx, New York, 1964.  "Comienzo Beginning, Bronx, New York, 1964."
9/6    Worker's Retreat, 1964.  "Primer Retiro de Obreros Campamento Mennohaven, Tiskilwa, Illinois, 1964.  1st Worker's Retreat."
9/7    Florida, 1972, 1983-92.  "Florida, 1972, 1983-84, Lived 1985-1992."
9/8    Florida, 1983-93.  "Networking in Florida, 1983-93."


Box 10 (Gray)

Photograph Album, Mennonite World Conference, France, 1984

10/1    France, Switzerland, Israel, 1984.  "Mennonite World Conference, France, and also Alps and Holy Land, 1984."


Box 11 (Oversize)

Paintings, by Gladys C. Widmer

11/1    Painting of flower, Puerto Rico, "5" x 7", signed "G. Widmer."  (found in original #2007-08 - Box 7)

11/2    Painting of tree, Puerto Rico, 12" x 16"(found in original #2007-08 - Box 7)

11/3    Painting of valley and hill, Puerto Rico, 12" x 16", about 1990, and signed "G. Widmer"(found in original #2007-08 - Box 7)  Photograph of this scene is found among Gladys' slides in Box 7.

Box 12 (Gray)

Artifacts

12/1    Three original handsewn table napkins: 1) pink with tree and horse and rider, 2) red with ox and cart and person leading, and 3) green with tree and boat house and boat. (found in original #2007-08 - Box 15)

12/2    One original handsewn bun warmer: horse and rider, made in La Plata, Puerto Rico, 1940s-1950s. (found in original #2007-08 - Box 15)

12/3    One original handsewn Puerto Rico map, with blue border, as embroidered by Aida Ortiz.  Includes San Juan, Rabanal, La Plata, Cayey, Aibonito, Paol Hincado, Cuchilla, Pulguillas, Coamo, Ponce, Castaner, Mayaguez and San Germain.  Various illustrations including woman carrying basket, house, two cowboys roasting pig over fire, woman washing by river, two oxen with cart, horse and rider, boat house, mountains and their elevation, etc. (found in original #2007-08 - Box 15)

12/4    Plaque - Iglesia Menonita de Coamo. Given to Gladys Widmer March 21, 2004 by congregation.  (found in original #2007-08 - Box 1)

12/5    Bible, LaSanta Bibia, 1960.  Owned by Gladys Widmer.  (found in original #2007-08 - Box 14)

Box 13 (Gray)

Personal papers, 1947-1995

13/1    Biographical data, written by others, since retirement.  Includes article on Ray and Anna Pacheco in Christian Living, 1995.  (found in original #2007-08 - Box 1)

13/2    Photograph of Widmer inside frame, with inscription "Gladys, assigned to Puerto Rico, 1951.  (found in original #2007-08 - Box 1)

13/3    Licenses and Certificates.  Includes teaching certificate, 1957, Puerto Rico. (found in original #2007-08 - Box 3)

13/4    Teaching aid used by Gladys Widmer.  This is in the shape of a cross - with instructional words on each section - for example, "Solo de Jesus La Sangre."   Cross and additional materials found inside a pocket marked "Contar."  Seems typical of creative teaching aids used by Widmer.  (found in original #2007-08 - Box 4)

13/5    Song books. Booklet, Canciones de Navidad, Puerto Rico (1967), and Cantares de Navidad (Music by María Luisa Muñoz) (found in original #2007-08 - Box 5)

13/6    Printed booklets, Pulgarcito., 1946; Puerto Rico in Pictures and Poetry, 1947; I am Puerto Rico (1952).  (found in original #2007-08 - Box 8)


April 23, 2007 / Boxes 8-13 added by Dennis Stoesz - most of these materials had been loaned to Jose Ortiz, February 2007, for an exhibit to commemorate Gladys C. Widmer by the Puerto Rico Mennonite Conference, March 16-17, 2007, that was held in Puerto Rico.
March 22, 2007 / Box 7 added by Dennis Stoesz
December 21, 2006 / Files numbered and listed by Nelda Nussbaum
June 1, 2004 / Updated by Helen Hostetler
File: “HM1-675 Gladys Widmer.doc”
Mennonite Church USA Archives-Goshen, 1700 S Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526

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