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Centre for MB Studies news
CMBS on the Move
After several delays Concord College has moved to the new site of the Canadian Mennonite University, the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies is finally able to occupy new space in the former library and administrative offices section of the building. Hundreds of boxes of documents, books and other materials were first moved from the basement location to the main floor. The shelving was then dismantled, moved and reassembled in the new location. Finally, materials were reshelved with provision for new accessions where required.
In addition to the many hours of work by staff persons, a number of volunteers helped at various times. The move was very time-consuming, but it also provided a good opportunity to reorganize the materials and integrate collections that had become separated because of a lack of space. In a number of instances decisions had to be made about whether or not to keep materials that were of doubtful historical value. As a result of this process and the expanded facilities, the Centre should have sufficient space for quite a number of years in the future. Service to the public should also be improved because of the proximity to the main Conference offices and better accessibility.
The Centre welcomes visitors to see the new facility as well as to utilize the rich resources available. Access to the Centre is at the main reception desk of the Canadian Conference offices on the second floor.
Johan F. Kroeker File at CMBS
Recently the Canadian Mennonite (June 26, 2000) and The Mennonite (June 20, 2000) carried an article on Johan F. and Susana Schowalter Kroeker, two of the first General Conference missionaries to India. The article reported on how Tina Block Ediger had discovered the grandchild of the Kroekers, Albert Friesen, who with his wife Elizabeth and their children had settled near Reinland, Manitoba in 1997. Albert’s mother, Lilli Friesen Kroeker, a daughter of Johan and Susana, had first migrated to Germany from Russia in 1979. Lilli died there in 1987.
Coincidentally, Alf Redekopp, after reading the story, happened upon the Kroeker file at CMBS. The file came to CMBS after Lilli wrote to the Mennonitische Rundschau in 1986. With her letter she had enclosed several photographs, postcards, etc. The letter gives some information about the family, including the names and birthdates of the Kroeker children. It also gives an excerpt of a 1932 letter which Johann Kroeker wrote to his family from prison.
In addition to these materials, a letter which Johann Kroeker wrote to the editor of the Mennonitische Rundschau published on October 24, 1923 (p. 8), was discovered. This letter was written from Pavlodar, Siberia and appealed to North American Mennonites for help to come to the United States. The letter indicates that the family consists of six persons, and the names and ages of the four children are indicated. Strangely, there is some discrepancy between these and the names and birthdates which Lilli gives in her 1986 letter to the MR.
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Canadian Council of Archives Grants
When the Winkler Bible School was closed several years ago, a large collection of documents, photographs and other materials were received by the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. Conrad Stoesz has begun processing a collection of approximately 5000 photographs and slides. The work consists of background research, culling, identifying, arranging and describing these items. This project was made possible by financial assistance ($5555.00) from the Government of Canada through the National Archives of Canada and the Canadian Council of Archives.
Financial assistance was also received from the same source for several other projects. The largest was a grant of $5000.00 to help purchase additional shelving as part of the larger relocation project of the Centre. Finally, a grant of $429.95 was received under the Preservation Management Program for archival supplies. The Centre is grateful for these contributions which enable it to carry on its work more effectively.
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Last modified October 30, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Heritage Centre and the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
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