Title: Otto Klassen fonds
Dates: 1970-1999
Extent: 25 film reels : 5 hr., 47 min.
Extent: 29 videocassettes : ca. 21hr. 35 min.
Extent: 5 cm of textual records
Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
Otto Klassen was born April 7, 1927 in Schoeneberg, Ukraine to Bernhard Klassen and Katharina Derksen. He came to Germany in 1944. In 1947 he moved to Paraguay, settling in the Volendam Mennonite settlement. He married Kaethe Bergen in Paraguay in 1949. The family immigrated to Canada in 1955 and settled in Winnipeg where Otto established his own company, O. Klassen Masonry Ltd.
Otto Klassen received his first camera in 1944 and was also involved with filmmaking at that time. It was in Canada after 1955 that Klassen was inspired by Walt Disney, that he decided to pursue his filmmaking interest. He purchased his first professional 16 mm camera in 1967. He received much advise and encouragement from chief film editor of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) at that time.
Otto Klassen has become well known as a professional cameraman and independent film producer. His documentary films and videos are about Mennonite history, life, events and celebrations.
This fonds includes digital masters, optical and negative tracks, broadcast VHS and Beta master videocassettes, release prints in 16 mm film and VHS video format. The moving images contain some colour and some black and white scenes. Otto Klassen's productions are the result of extensive research in archives, both in Canada and Germany. These productions represent the first time that the story of the Mennonite people in Prussia, Russia, Canada, Mexico, and Paraguay have been told through moving images. Several productions were released in multiple languages -- English, German, Low German and Spanish. At least 11 separate titles or series are represented in this fonds. They are:
- The Great Trek 1939-1945
- Prairie Pioneers: The Mennonites of Manitoba
- Mennonites Conquer the Vistula Delta
- Mennonite Monument
- 75 years Mennonites in Mexico
- 50 year Freedom Jubilee: Praise God for Canada
- Women of Courage: Stories of Sadness & Stories of Suvival
- Gespräch: Delgatenreise 1921
- Im Dienst Der Liebe (KM 81)
- Frajoa Enn De Oost-resaew, "Three Short Plays"
- 125th Anniversary of Mennonites in Manitoba: 1874-1999
Finding aid consists of series descriptions and a file list.
The material in this fonds was created by Otto Klassen and most of it was donated to the archives by Klassen. One donation was made by MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) and other materials have come in sporadically.
English, High German, Low German, and Spanish.
Described by Alf Redekopp December 2002.
No restrictions to access.
Some restrictions to copying.
Otto Klassen of Winnipeg
Mennonite Centre Committee (Manitoba)
Films
Vol 31 Film "Im Dienst
der Liebe" Km 81 (
Vol 32 Film "Im Dienst
der Liebe" km 81. -- [1990?]. -- Note: Donated by MCC. Accession No: 01-008
Vol 44 The Great Trek
1939-1943/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels of film A & B negative and
optical track (English version) Show 1 Reel 1. Accession No: 02-161
Vol 45 The Great Trek
1939-1943/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels of film A & B negative and
optical track (English version) Show 1 Reel 2. Accession No: 02-161
Vol 46 The Great Trek
1943-1945/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels A&B negative and optical
tracks: Show # 2 Reel # 1 (English). Accession No: 02-161
Vol 47 The Great Trek
1943-1945/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 4 reels A&B negative and optical
tracks: Show # 1 Reel # 2 (English). Accession No: 02-161
Vol 48 The Great Trek
(1939-1943)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 8 reels A&B negative and optical
tracks: Intro to Show # 1 & 2. Accession No: 02-161
Vol 49 The Great Trek (1939-1943)/
Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels A&B negative and optical tracks: End of
Part II. Accession No: 02-161
Vol 50 The Great Trek Part I/
Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16 mm positive film and magnetic sound track (to make
video master). Accession No: 02-161
Vol 51 The Great Trek Part II/
Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16 mm positive film and magnetic sound track (to make
video master). Accession No: 02-161
Vol 52 Der Große Trek (1.
Teil)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16mm film (release print for viewing). Accession
No: 02-161.
Vol 53 Der Große Trek (2.
Teil)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16mm film (release print for viewing). Accession
No: 02-161
Vol 54 The Great Trek Part I/
Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16 mm film (release print for viewing). Accession No:
02-161
Videocassettes
Vol 129 125th Anniversary of
Mennonites in
Vol 147 The Great Trek,
1939-1943 Part
Vol 148 The Great Trek,
1939-1943 Part II. -- [199-]. -- 39 min. -- VHS. Accession No: 00-014. – Note:
duplicate in Volume 243.
Vol 149 50 Year Freedom
Jubilee, Praise God for
Vol 154 Frajoa Enn De
Oost-resaew, "Three Short Plays"/Otto Klassen
Vol 196 "Im Dienst Der
Liebe" (KM 81), Master. -- 1990. -- time 40:00. -- Beta. -- Note: Donated
by MCC. Accession No: 01-008.
Vol 197 "Im Dienst Der
Liebe" (KM 81), Edited Master. -- 1990. -- time 40:00. -- Beta. -- Note:
Donated by MCC. Accession No: 01-008.
Vol 198 Altkolonier
Mennoniten, Wandern von Kanada nach Mexiko, 1 of 3. -- 1997. -- VHS. 29
minutes. -- Note: In Low German. Accession No: 01-010.
Vol 199 Pioniere in Mexiko,
Kanadische Mennoniten kolonisieren in Mexiko, 2 of 3. -- 1997. VHS. -- 54
minutes. -- Note: In Low German. Accession No: 01-010.
Vol 200 75 Jährige
Jubiläumsfeier der Mennoniten in Mexiko 1922-1997, 3 of 3. -- 1998. -- VHS. --
59 minutes. -- Note in Low German. Accession No: 01-010.
Vol 201 Old Colony Mennonites
emigrate from
Vol 202 Pioneers in
Vol 203 75th Anniversary
Celebration of the Mennonites in
Vol 242 The Great Trek
1939-1943 Part 1/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 37 minutes. -- English. -- VHS.
Accession No: 02-161. – Note: there is a duplicate in Volume 147.
Vol 243 The Great Trek
1939-1943 Part 2/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 39 minutes. -- English. -- VHS.
Accession No: 02-161. – Note: there is a
duplicate in Volume 148.
Vol 244 The Great Trek
1939-1943 Part 1+2 timecode for shot list/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- VHS. Accession
No: 02-161.
Vol 245 The Great Trek/ Otto
Klassen. -- 1996. -- 76 minuets. -- Betacam SP master, Print and Mag X-Fer,.
Used to make video English Version. Accession No: 02-161.
Vol 246 Old Colony Mennonites
Emigrate from
Vol 247
Altkolonier Mennoniten Wandern von Kanada nach
Vol 248
Ooltkoloniea Mennoniten Waundren von Kanada no Mexiko
(Part 1)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 30 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony
BCT-30Ma. -- Low German. Accession No: 02-161.
Vol 249 Los Menonitas Emigran
de Canada a
Vol. 250 Pioneers in
Vol 251 Pioniere in Mexiko:
Kanadische Mennoniten kolonisieren in Mexiko (Part 2)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997.
-- 54 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-60MLa. -- High German. Accession
No: 02-161.
Vol 252 Pioneare en Mexiko:
Kanaudische Mennoniten Kolonisearen en Mexiko (Part 2)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997.
-- 56 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-60MLa. -- Low German. Accession
No: 02-161.
Vol 253 Pioneros en
Vol 254 75th Anniversary
Celebration of the Mennonites in
Vol 255 75 Jährige
Jubiläumsfeier der Mennoniten in Mexiko 1922-1997 (Part 3)/ Otto Klassen. --
1998. -- 59 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT- 60 Mla. -- High German. Accession
No: 02-161.
Vol 256 Gespräsh
"Delegatenreise 1921"/ Otto Klassen. -- 1998. -- 1 broadcast
videocassette. -- 35 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT - 60MLa. – High
German. Accession No: 02-161.
Vol 257 Mennoniten Bezwingen
Das Weichseldelta/ Otto Klassen. -- 1994. -- 15 minutes. -- VHS. -- Low German.
Accession No: 02-161.
Vol 258 Mennonites Conquer the
Vol 259 Mennonites Conquer the
Vol 260 Prairie Pioneers: The
Mennonites of
Vol 261 Women of Courage:
Stories of Sadness & Stories of Survival/ Otto Klassen. -- 1999. -- 24
minutes. -- VHS. Accession No: 02-161.
Vol 262 Women of Courage:
Stories of Sadness & Stories of Survival/ Otto Klassen. -- 1999. -- 24
minutes. -- Betacam SP Master, Sony BCT-60MLa. Accession No: 02-161.
Vol 263
Vol 264 50 Year Freedom
Jubilee: praise God for
Vol 265 Im Dienst Der Liebe (Km 81)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 40 min. -- VHS.
Digital
Textual (Acc. No. 02-161)
Volume 5029