© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated 8 March 2011)

 

  • Kroeker, Johann, 1892-1936

    Retrieval numbers: Photograph Collection 679

    Title: Johann Kroeker fonds
    Dates: 1914- 1930
    Extent: 8 photographs
    Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

    Historical note

    Johann Kroeker was born on October 1, 1892 to Peter Kroeker (1857-1938) and Maria Penner (1853-1932) in the village of Tiegenhagen, South Russia as the seventh of eight children. He was baptized in 1913 into the Mennonite church in the Terek colony by Franz Enns. Johann performed alternative service in 1914-1915 in the forestry service in the Asov region. During the tumultuous Russian Revolution (1918-1919), the family fled to the Kuban colony. In 1924, Johan, his parents, and some siblings immigrated to Canada. They first settled in Vineland, Ontario and then moved to Reesor, Ontario in 1925, where Johann's mother died. Along with his father and sister, Johann moved to farm in Black Creek, BC in 1936. After the death of his father, he continued to live with his sister. Johann suffered a stroke on February 11 and died February 13, 1956.

    Scope and content note

    This fonds consists of eight photographs primarily of the activities of Mennonite conscientious objectors in the forestry service in the Asov region of Imperial Russia around 1915 where Johann Kroeker served. The photos provide information on the activities, tools and environment in which the alternative to military service took place.

    Index terms

    Subject terms

  • Alternative Service -- Forestry -- Imperial Russia
  • Mennonites in Russia -- Forestry Service

    Creators

  • Kroeker, Johann, 1892-1936

    Adjunct descriptive data

    Finding aids

    Inventory description of individual photos.

    Notes

    Custodial history

    These photos were owned by Johann's nephew, Peter Kroeker until they were sent to Lawrence Klippenstein, who had done extensive research on alternative service in Russia. Klippenstein donated them to the archives in 2011.

    Arrangement

    Processed by Conrad Stoesz March 7, 2011

    Restrictions on access

    None to access

    Other notes

    Accession number 2011-003

    Photograph Inventory Description

    Collection Number:
    		679 Johan Kroeker alternative Service in Russia photos
    679:1 Unidentified young man in alternative service uniform. - [ca. 1915]. - 9 x 14 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of a young man wearing the alternative service uniform posing for a photo inside a photo

    		studio. He has no hat and has his arm on a high pedestal.
    679:2 Unidentified young man in alternative service uniform. - [ca. 1915]. - 9 x 14 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of a young man wearing the alternative service uniform posing for a photo inside a photo

    		studio. He is wearing a hat and has his arm on a tree (prop). There is Russian handwritting on the back.
    679:3 Unidentified young man in alternative service uniform. - [ca. 1915]. - 9 x 14 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of a young man wearing the alternative service uniform posing for a photo leaning against a

    		tree in the outdoors.
    679:4 Four young men in alternative service uniform. - [ca. 1915]. - 14 x 9 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of four young men dressed in alternative service uniforms standing outside a large brick "U"

    		shaped building posing for a photo. Other people can be seen in the background on the porch of the

    		building. A street runs in front of the building in the foreground. There are two [flag poles?] on the yard

    		which is surrounded by a fence.
    679:5 17 men working in a grassy clearing. - [ca. 1915]. - 14 x 9 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of seventeen men working in a grassy clearing surrpunded by trees. Some men appear to

    		be in alternative service uniforms. They are using rakes.
    679:6 Group of alternative service men in a wooded clearing. - [ca. 1915]. - 14 x 9 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of a groups of men in alternative service uniforms seated in a wooded clearing posing for a

    		photo. One man on the right stands holding a horse, which is hitched to a wagon. Train cars can be seen

    		in the background.
    679:7 Alternative service camp. - [ca. 1915]. - 14 x 9 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of 5 buildings for an [alternative service camp?] in Russia during the winter. Horses hitched

    		to logs on sleds stand in a row. Men can been seen standing against the building on the right. A fence is

    		in the foreground.
    679:8 Ressor, Ontario?. - [ca. 1915]. - 14 x 9 cm [b&w].

    		This photo is of a town either in Russia associated with the alternative service work done by Mennonites

    		or a town in Northern Ontario, such as Reesor where Johann’s mother died in 1932. Both were places

    		where Johann Kroeker lived for a period of time.