Meet some of our researchers who visit the Mennonite Historical Archives in person or remotely!
Roland Funk
July 22, 2023 – Roland was raised in Paraguay and came to the Mennonite Heritage Archives for some family research. Here he was successful finding information about his ancestors who immigrated to Manitoba in the 1870s and where they lived.
Arnold Neufeldt-Fast
June 1, 2023 – “I want to thank Conrad Stoesz for welcoming me to the Mennonite Heritage Archives this week. My mission was to photograph materials written by Russian Mennonite leader Benjamin H. Unruh in Germany to David Toews (Chair of the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization), from the 1920s to the beginning of World II. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of that material, which I plan to work through systematically in the year ahead.
I also had opportunity to begin with a first reel of the Odessaer Zeitung from the 1890s, which is full of letters and reports related to the Mennonite settlements.
The conversation with Conrad was rich, and he quickly pointed me to other materials which I did not know existed–and sadly had no time to pursue.
I spent spent two half days in the archive, and had the pleasure to meet “renowned” researcher Glen Penner and two other volunteers. I was invited for coffee time, with muffins and clementines, with two other staff members, Graeme and Sarah, and volunteers. In that circle, unexpectedly, a little known story of Mennonite Land Scout Johann Bartsch and his violin arose: Conrad pulls out a full text of the incident I had not seen, which recounts in detail how Bartsch was told by church leaders to destroy the instrument. Sarah found and brought out a painting of the event by Henry Paul, which she had recently catalogued! We all had a piece of the puzzle, and connected it to recent story in the Canadian Mennonite! I was saddened to hear how limited the funding for the archive has become–at a time when interest in church and family history is high, and the opportunities for scanning and posting online is unprecedented. Help is needed! With German language programs closed at CMU and other universities, and a sharp decline in student enrollments in history generally, the abilities of the Mennonite community to access, translate and assess these materials will decline (maybe AI will help!). But now there is much opportunity, and I am grateful to Conrad and team for a very productive and enjoyable few days in the archives.” –Arnold Neufeldt-Fast
Randy Klassen
On June 1, 2023, Randy Klassen, Indigenous Neighbours Coordinator for MCC Saskatchewan, was one of the researchers in our reading room. He was “looking into some details of the Reiseschuld [travel debt] payments, family members and others, to get an initial sense of the stories behind the numbers. Also some professional interest in the Reiseschuld records, looking at this debt from a colonial perspective at how it entangled Mennonites with the CPR’s work of displacement and settlement on the prairies.”
Josh Fast
Canadian Mennonite University student, Josh Fast, is conducting research for a paper on the relationship of Mennonites and the Indigenous peoples of Pauingassi. The students in Josh’s class were asked to use primary sources in their research. The Mennonite Heritage Archives has provided Josh with access to the Mennonite Pioneer Mission and Native Ministries collections.
The Mennonite Heritage Archives have been very useful in my studies of Mennonite-Pauingassi relations. Their variety of primary sources has helped me gain a deeper understanding of both Mennonite and Indigenous history.
Josh Fast, Canadian Mennonite University student
February 10, 2020
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Westwood Collegiate
The archives made history more real.
Sophie Burns, grade 11 student
October 23, 2019
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
On October 23, 2019 a group of grade eleven and twelve students joined us at the Mennonite Heritage Archives for a chance to learn about what an archives is. Archivist Conrad Stoesz told stories and showed the students diaries, historical documents, and our large song book. The group also had a chance to engage with MHC Gallery‘s Voices of Conscience: Peace Witness in the Great War exhibition (showing September 20 to November 9, 2019).
Archives are about preserving individual and cultural stories.
Michayla Carlson, grade 12 student
October 23, 2019
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
A spectacular glimpse into the importance of archival work. [The time at the Mennonite Heritage Archives] gave us a great understanding how complicated archival work can be and really made me remember why I enjoy history so much.
Blake Edwards, grade 11 student
October 23, 2019
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The students and staff that were on the field trip had a blast and have gained a new appreciation and understanding of archival work.
Kelly Hiebert, teacher
October 23, 2019
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Harold Thiessen
Harold Thiessen of Toronto, Ontario is researching his Thiessen family and their experiences in Ukraine 1920-1950. Emigration, forced labour, arrests, execution, escape, starting over, and family reunification are themes he is following in the archival records.
The Archives have been instrumental in my search for more information on my family history especially the records of [community leader] J.J. Thiessen who was the brother of my grandfather, and the Russian Mennonite story in general.
Harold Thiessen
October 4, 2019
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ernest Braun
Ernest Braun is a former English teacher who now researches and writes about the Mennonite experience on the former Mennonite East Reserve (current day Steinbach area). He is a co-author of the Historical Atlas of the East Reserve and editor of Jake Thiessen’s Mennonite Low German Dictionary, revised edition. In 2014 he was awarded the The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion for “prolonged, meritorious service in the preservation and promotion of the province’s rich history and heritage.”
When I am here I am at home.
Ernest Braun
September 17, 2019
Niverville, Manitoba, Canada
Sharon and Irv Goertzen
Sharon Goertzen and her partner, Irv, are doing research on Sharon’s Adrian family. They have been searching for references of the Adrian family in the Mennonitische Rundschau. The MHA has bound copies of the Mennonitische Rundschau and a number of volumes on microfilm.
The Archives has a whole collection of records which is really helpful and accessible. It’s a neat place to be able to come and find things that you had no idea were here!
Sharon Goertzen
July 26, 2019
Morden, Manitoba, Canada
MHA full time volunteer Glenn Penner also spent some time with the Goertzens answering questions about genealogy and provided information of the time period being researched.
I don’t know how we would do this research without the Archives! It is very helpful; preserves evidence and documentation that we would not find without the archives.
Irv Goertzen
July 26, 2019
Morden, Manitoba, Canada
Dr. Doreen Klassen
Memorial University’s Associate Professor of Social Cultural Studies, Dr. Doreen Klassen is visiting the MHA to do some research. Doreen is an ethnomusicologist who has interests in the politics of public art (wall mural production in Winnipeg, Manitoba), Mennonite identity and expressive behaviour, the politics of Mennonite religious music and vernacular Low German song, and much more.
July 25, 2019
Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada
Bernhard Thiessen
Bernhard Thiessen of Berlin, Germany and former pastor of the Hamburg-Altona Mennonite Church, has been busy conducting research at the Mennonite Heritage Archives this July. Bernhard is the presenter for the public lecture held at the Archives on July 24 entitled “Being a Faithful ‘Church in Socialism’: Mennonites in the German Democratic Republic and their Canadian Connections.” To learn more about Bernhard’s research visit his website www.mennoniten-ddr.de
It’s amazing to come so far from Berlin, Germany to Winnipeg, Canada to find important documents which were written in my home town. Thanks for keeping them in archives!
Bernhard Thiessen
July 23, 2019
Berlin, Germany
Bruce Wiebe
Bruce Wiebe is a researcher interested in Mennonites who lived in the Mennonite West Reserve, financial institutions such as the Waisenamt, and the establishment of Hutterite communities in Manitoba. He is a frequent visitor and contributor to the Mennonite Heritage Archives.
July 12, 2019
Winkler, Manitoba, Canada
Dr. Hans Werner
Hans Werner is a retired history professor who worked at the University of Winnipeg.
The MH Archives is a critical resource for historians and the research they produce for telling the Mennonite story.
Dr. Hans Werner
July 11, 2019
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada