© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated April 20, 2007)
Retrieval numbers: Volume 1160, 1649-1654
Title: Isaak Reimer Fonds
Dates: 1967-1978
Extent: 33 cm of textual material
Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre ArchivesHistorical note
Isaak Johann Reimer was born on October 24, 1898 in Einlage (Kitchkas) Ukraine. He was born the youngest son of 12 children to Johann J. and Elisabeth (Ens) Reimer. He attended the Kommerzschule (school of commerce) in Alexandrowsk, and was married to Olga Winter on November 7, 1921 (or 1922). They had two sons: Peter and Cornelius. Isaak taught school in various communities, including Einlage, Kronstal, Schönwiese, and New Chortitz. Between January 1930 and August 1941, he worked as the head bookkeeper in a factory and sawmill in Dneprostroj. In 1943, the family fled westward with the German army, but were overtaken by the Russians in Poland. Olga was taken to Siberia, in the Irkutsk Region near the Chinese border, and Isaak was taken north to the coal mines in the Ural Mountains. They endured 10 years of forced labour. Then they were reunited and with the assistance of relatives, were able to move to Canada in 1966. Their sons had immigrated to Canada earlier. They settled in Saskatoon, but had difficulty finding employment due to language barriers. Isaak therefore applied himself to recording his memoirs and the family history. He also enjoyed collecting stamps. Olga died in 1983, and Isaak died of a heart attack on August 22, 1987.
Scope and content note
This fonds consists of two sets of manuscripts of Isaak's writings. The first manuscript contains his memoirs from his life in exile in Russia, and the second is a history of the Mennonite colonies in Russia. The manuscripts are primarily handwritten.
Index terms
Subject terms
Creators
Adjunct descriptive data
Finding aids
Inventory file list available
Related material in other repositories
Mennonite Heritage Society of Saskatchewan at Bethany Manor in Saskatoon: translation into English of Reimer's memoir by Esther Patkau, entitled, "Under the Shadow of the Almighty: Eleven Years in Exile 1945-1956, Workuta – Siberia."
Related material in this repository
Canadian Mennonite University Library: Bergen, Heinrich, editor. 2006. Verbannung Unschuldig nach Sibirien ins Verderben, 1935-1955. Regina.
Notes
Custodial History
This material was acquired from Isaak Reimer of Saskatoon on March 26, 1979. (Acc. No.79-117)
Language
Primarily German with some Russian
Arrangement
Description completed by Joanne Moyer in March 2007.
Restrictions on access
None to access
Volume 1160
Volume 1649
1a. Notebook: “Register der Binder von den Mennoniten in Rußland Material gesammelt von Is. Reimer. -- 1979.
(A table of contents for the 15 binders -- 2751 pages and the author's statement about their use.)
Volume 1650
- Reformatore, p.1
- Geschichtliches e/es Mennonitentums im allgemeinen und der Mennoniten in Rußland, p. 24
Original handwritten text in German, 196-.
- Altkolonie Vorgeschichte, p. 140
- Die Einwanderung und Ansiedlung der Mennoniten der alten Kolonie, p. 146
- Die Kirchliche Angelegenheit der Mennoniten der Altkolonie, p. 160
- Das Schulwesen, p. 232
- Burgerliche Verwaltung, p. 285
- Landwirtschaft, p. 296
- Die Viehzucht, p. 316
- Handel, p. 338
- Industrie Altkolonie, p. 348
- Altkolonie: Dies und Das, p. 381
- Medizienische Betreusung(?) in der Alt. Kolonie, p. 387
Original handwritten text in German and Russian, 196-.
- Revolution: Altkolonie 1917-1922, p. 409
- Altkolonie: Die Typhus-Epidemie, 1919-1920-1921, p. 458
- Die Weiße(?) Armee, p. 483
- Die Auswanderung und der Verband Burger(?) Holländischer Herkanft(?), p. 502
- Der Dienst in der Roten Armee, p. 578
- Religion in Sowjetrußland in den Jahren 1923-1928-1930, p. 522
- Das Schulwesen 1923-1929, p. 527
- Die Neue Oekonomische Politik und die Kalehosen(?) 1923-1930, p. 541
- Der Terror in den Jahren 1930-1941 Altkolonie, p. 547
- Alt. Kolonie Deutsche Besatzungszeit VIII-1941-X-1943, p. 583
Original handwritten text in German, 196-.
Volume 1651
- Nachkziegszeit(?) d. h. nach 1945, 682
Original handwritten text in German, 197-.
- Mennoniten in Rußland nach 1945, p. 835
Original handwritten and typewritten text in German, 197-.
Volume 1652
Original handwritten text in German, 197-.
- Mennoniten in andere Länder aufier Rußland, p. 1288
Original handwritten text in German, 17-?.
- Tochterkolonien, p. 1325
- Der Untergang der Mennonitischen Kolonien im Europaischen Rußland, p. 1389
- Die Molotschnaer Kolonien, p. 1437
- Die Siedlung am Trakt, 1457
- Altkolonie: Chortitzer Walast-Ekaterinoslawer Faurennement(?) umfoßt 16 (fruhen 18) Dörfer, p. 1557
- Die Molotschnaer Ansiedlung Fereite Mutterkolonie, p. 1610
- Die Kirchendiener Aelteste und Prediger Diakone, Deugeute und Kirchenrat mitglieder, p. 1665
Original handwritten text in German, 197-?.
Volume 1653
Original handwritten text in German, 197-?.
- 1941-1945: Der Fereite Weldbrief, p. 1957
Original handwritten text in German, 197-?.
Volume 1654 [empty box]
[MISSING] [XIV. Verzeichnis der mennonitischen Siedlungen und der Geburtsorte der Mennoniten nach der Vertreibung pp.1-60)