June 1919, the Canadian government banned Mennonites from entering Canada. In speaking to the proposed legislation, John Wesley Edwards said “Whether they be called Mennonites, Hutterites, or any kind of ‘ites,’ we do not want them to come to Canada… if they are willing to allow others to do their Read More

Not too long ago we received an email request from a longtime Mennonite Pioneer Mission worker who had been stationed in northern Manitoba. He was trying to find a 1968 letter written to the Conference of Mennonites in Canada (CMC) by Chief Leveque of Little Grand Rapids Reserve and was wondering if we could help him out. Sure enough, we were able to locate the letter in the CMC collection (volume 358, file 8).

The Mennonite Heritage Archives occasionally receives special donations of important historical documents and artifacts. On Friday, February 19, 2016 MHA received a donation from Gerhard Dyck that contains a wealth of information that includes a variety of Russian papers and legal documents, a passport, and some photos from the early 1900s. What was especially significant was the donation of a gold signet ring that belonged to Gerhard’s great-grandfather Peter Schroeder, who was a member of the Duma (the Russian Parliament).

Another story of Mennonite aeronautic innovation has recently been discovered in a donation to the Mennonite Heritage Archives. In 1931, three Steinbach three men took the initiative to design and build an airplane in the automotive garage where they worked.

Who knew the Mennonite Heritage Archives has more than just Mennonite history in English and German? After spending a few weeks at the archives, I have begun to learn there is no telling what you might find preserved in the Heritage Centre vault.