© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg Manitoba (Last updated 27 January 2009)
Neufeld, George, 1916-1985
Retrieval numbers: Volume 4952; Photograph collection 528.
Title: George Neufeld (1916-1985) fonds
Dates: 1946-1948
Extent: 2 cm of textual records
Extent: 33 photographs : b & w
Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
George Neufeld (1916-1985) was born to Wilhelm and Anna (Epp) Neufeld in Molotschna, South Russia. The family moved to Canada in 1923, settling in Boissivain, Manitoba where the family farmed. They moved to Stony Mountain for one year and then moved to Leamington, Ontario. From 1942-1944 George Neufeld attended the MCI in Gretna, Manitoba completing Grade ten and eleven. From 1944-1945 he worked as a Conscientious Objector for the Red Cross in Leamington. After this he went overseas with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). He was first stationed in England at a boys home from 1945-1946. The next six months he was the supervisor at another boys home in France. From there he was stationed in Kiel, Germany working in a food distribution program. Neufeld returned to Winnipeg in the summer of 1947 where he attended teachers college. In 1948 he married Helene Sawatzky, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Sawatzky of Gnadental, Manitoba. They had three girls Anita, Caroline, and Madelyn. After teachers college he taught at Gnadental 1948-1950, Reinfeld 1950-1953, Winkler Jr. High 1953-1957, and Winnipeg 1957-1971. During his teaching career he attended night school to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree. He left teaching after a stroke in 1971. In 1975 he and his wife went back to Europe and visited places he had worked. In 1983 they moved to Westbank, BC.
This fonds the includes photocopies of three diaries and thirty three photographs covering the time Neufeld spent working with MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) in England, France, and Germany. The diaries record what Neufeld did but also his thoughts and feelings as he worked in war torn Europe.
Neufeld, George
Finding aid consists of a file list.
Photocopies of the diaries were acquired by the Heritage Centre and originals returned to the family. The immediate source of these materials was Helen Neufeld of Westbank, BC, widow of George Neufeld. She deposited the materials after she had two of Neufeld's co-workers in Europe, Fred Peters and John Fretz, identify some of the photographs. It is unclear who did the diary translations. Margaret Neufeld of Winnipeg(?) borrowed the materials to be translated.
Most of the diaries are in English and where it is in German there is usually an English translation with it.
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Described by Conrad Stoesz April 11, 2001. Updated by Alf Redekopp, 27 Jan. 2009.
Volume 4952
2. George Neufeld daily diary while in Europe with MCC. -- 1946.
3 . George Neufeld reflective journal while in Europe with MCC. -- 1946-1947. -- 85 leaves. --clipped to the appropriate page.
4 . George Neufeld reflective journal while in Europe with MCC, scattered translations of file number 4. -- [199?]. Note: A few pages are in German but most of them have been translated and paper
5 George Neufeld reflective journal while in Europe with MCC. -- 1946-1948. -- 49 leaves.
Photograph Collection 528
528: 1 Stopping for a picnic. -- [1946?]. -- 8 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of three people sitting on the side of the road in [England?] beside their vehical having a bite to eat. From left to right is ?, George Neufeld, Lucinda Martin (a registered nurse from Elmira, Ontario).
528: 2 People standing around MCC car. -- [1946?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of 3 people standing and one sitting around a car in [Germnay?] that has the words "Mennonite Relief Service USA and Canada" on the door. Far right is Lucina Martin.
528: 3 Meal time. -- [1946?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of a long table with boys sitting around it eating. This photo may be in a boys home in England where George Neufeld worked.
528: 4 George on the boat.. -- [1947?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of George Neufeld (centre) standing against the railing of a boat traveling either from North America or crossing the English channel.
528: 5 At Lake Windermere. -- [1946?]. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of three people standing on a dock at Lake Windemere [England?]. From left to right is Fred Peters, Lucina Martin, George Neufeld.
528: 6 George with English Van. -- [1946?]. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of George Neufeld, wearing a suit and tie, standing in front of a van, with a garden in the background.
528: 7 Lucina Martin with group of children. -- [1946?]. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of Lucinda Martin (front centre) sitting on the steps with a group of children at Taxal Edge, England.
528: 8 Loading of the Bremerhaven to South America. -- [1947?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of a group of [MCC?] aid workers posing for a photo at the loading of the ship, Bremerhaven, leaving for South America. From left to right, far back is Peter Dyck, Elfrieda Dyck. Main group: Orlo Goering (Kansas), Beatrice Buller, ?, Mary Hostetler, C.F. Klassen, Helen Goering, Jessie brown (Kansas), Elizabeth Brauer, George Neufeld.
528: 9 Boys at Taxal Edge, England. -- [1946?]. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of a group of boys standing outside posing for a photo at Taxal Edge, England. Back row: ?, George Neufeld, Vernon Toews (Steinbach, MB)
528: 10 Wedding couple. -- [1947?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of a Dutch bride and groom, in Germany, standing in front of a horse and carriage with a few people standing next to them. Far left is Charles Cocanower (Indiana), far right is Mary Byler (Ohio).
528: 11 Touring in France. -- [1947?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of a group of people sitting in the back of an English Ford turing at part of France. From left to right is Madeline Garber (Illinois), Mary Byler (Ohio), Evelyn Egli (Colorado), Mary Miller (Kansas), Beulah Roth (Oregon), Elsie Bechtel (Ohio?), B.F. Hartzler (college professor at Goshen College), Alma Lehman, Clara Lehman, Gertrude Gassman.
528: 12 Ship Personel. -- [1947?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of six ship personnel.
528: 13 People talking. -- [1947?]. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of a group of people standing outside and talking. Far left is Beatrice Buller, centre is George Neufeld.
528: 14 Post Card from Mary Ellen Shoup. -- [1947?]. -- 14 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is a post card written to George Neufeld by Mary Ellen Shoup who, in the photo, is reading to a group of children at Chalet aux Fleurs, or House of Flowers in France.
528: 15 Wedding invitation. -- 1946. -- 15 x 10 cm [b&w]. This photo is a wedding inviation ot the wedding of Veronika Meister and Adolf Kölle in Germany.
528: 16 Chalet aux Fleurs, House of Flowers childrens home in France.. -- Spring 1947. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of an unidentified woman standing on the walk with blooming trees around her in Kiel, Germany.
528: 17 Birthday card. -- 1947. -- 9 x 14 cm [col.]. This photo is of a birthday card featuring a young boy with flowers and presents standing in front of a train. This card was sent to George neufeld from Alma and Klara Lehmann.
528: 18 Passengers on a ship. -- [1947?]. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of passengers seated on benches on the deck of a ship [crossing the English Channel?].
528: 19 Two women having tea. -- 1947. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of two women sitting around a nicely decorated table having tea in Kiel, Germany.
528: 20 Taxal Edge Whaley Bridge Stockport, England. -- [1946?]. -- 13 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of Taxal Edge, boys home, Whaley Bridge, Stockport, England. The building is surrounded by hedges and trees. The photo is taken in the winter and has four boys waving in the bottom right hand side of the photo.
528: 21 MCC Warehouse in Luebeck, Germany. -- Summer 1947. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of Irene Bishop (Pennsylvania) standing with some children by the MCC Ford van that is parked in front of the MCC warehouse which was in a cement, above ground, air-raid shelter in Luebeck, Germany (British zone).
528: 22 MCC Unit house in West Kiel, Germany. -- Summer 1947. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of the MCC unit house in West Kiel (on Rendsburger Strasse) British Zone, Germany.
528: 23 S.S. Vollendam at Bremerhafen, Germany. -- Feb. 1, 1947. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of the S.S. Vollendam dockside in Bremerhafen, Germany (see p. 307 "Up from the Rubble".
528: 24 Boarding the S.S. Volendam. -- Feb. 1, 1947. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of Mennonite refugees boarding the S.S. Volendam in Bremerhafen, Germany. Last person going up the walk is Cornelius J. Dyck.
528: 25 Fred Peters and 3 Swiss relief ladies. -- Spring 1947. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of Fred Peters and three ladies standing at Eckernförde, north of Kiel, Germany. [Is first left Lucinda Martin?]
528: 26 George Neufeld carrying in provisions. -- January 1947. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of George Neufeld carrying a big bag on his shoulders, walking up to the MCC unit house on Schulensee Street in Kiel Germany.
528: 27 MCC Transportation. -- January 1947. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of Lowell Troyer standing next to a fleet of five Volkswagens, parked outside the MCC unit house in Kiel, Germany. These cars were the MCC cars used in Germany.
528: 28 George Neufeld at Wray Castle, England. -- Summer 1946. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of George Neufeld standing outside Wray Castle in north west Engalnd.
528: 29 Postwaite Church. -- Summer 1946. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of the Postwaite Church in the Lake district of England.
528: 30 Greenfield, England. -- Summer 1946. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of rolling landscape, a dog and buildings on the left side in Greenfield, in the Lake district of North-West England.
528: 31 Standing outside a lush yard. -- Summer 1946. -- 9 x 6 cm [b&w]. This photo is of 3 people standing outside a stone house, Dove Cottage, and a lush yard.
528: 32 2 boys at the Taxal Edge boys home. -- Spring 1946. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of two boys standing in front of a hedge posing for a photo. They are from the Taxal Edge Convalescent Boys home Whaley Bridge, near Stockport England, where George Neufeld worked with MCC for a year.
528: 33 Brian Nolan. -- Spring 1946. -- 6 x 9 cm [b&w]. This photo is of Brian Nolan, one of the boys whom George Neufeld worked with while at Taxal Edge Boys home in England.