© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated March 27, 2007)

  • Schellenberg, Bernhard J., 1879-1966


    Retrieval numbers: Volume 548-552; Photographs 398:1-8; Maps #1208-1210

    Title: Bernhard J. Schellenberg Fonds
    Dates: 1825-1957 , predominant 1900-1957
    Extent: 56 cm of textual material
    Extent: 6 photographs
    Extent: 3 maps
    Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

    Historical note

    Bernhard John Schellenberg was born on January 27, 1879 in Osterwick, South Russia. His parents were John P. and Sara Schellenberg. His mother was born Sara Friesen and was first married to Johann Andres, after whose death she married John Schellenberg. John and Sara had three children: Bernhard, his brother Abram and another son who died in childhood. Bernhard was trained as a teacher in Russia. He immigrated to Canada in 1923, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and a teaching certificate. He continued to work as a teacher in Canada and also played an important role as the first archivist for the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. He never married. Bernhard loved nature, the Bible and the study of languages. He was baptized in Russia and in Canada was a member of First Mennonite Church in Winnipeg; he also attended Sargent Mennonite Church later. He lived for a time at the seniors' home in Steinbach, Manitoba. In 1963, he was moved to St. Boniface hospital in Winnipeg and then transferred to the St. Boniface sanitorium in 1964, where he died on May 2, 1966.

    Scope and content note

    This fonds contains materials that Bernhard Schellenberg created, and materials that he collected in his role as conference archivist. It consists primarily of correspondence, notebooks, and papers. The notebooks and papers mostly concern Russian Mennonite history, biographies of Mennonite leaders, and Mennonite life and thought. There are also some artworks and some publications, also relating mostly to Mennonite history. The majority of the material is original and handwritten. Finally, the collection includes several maps and photographs.

    Index terms

    Subject terms

  • Bernhard J. Schellenberg Fonds

    Creators

  • Schellenberg, Bernhard J., 1879-1966

    Adjunct descriptive data

    Finding aids

    Inventory file list available

    Notes

    Language

    Mostly German (approximately 75%) with some Russian , English and French.

    Arrangement

    Description completed by Joanne Moyer in March 2007.

    Restrictions on access

    None to access

    Other notes

    Some material is water damaged.

    • Inventory File List

    Volume 548
    1. Miscellaneous correspondence in German, English and Russian, 5 folders:
      - Miscellaneous correspondence, 1914
      - Miscellaneous correspondence, 1920-1929
      - Miscellaneous correspondence, 1930-1939
      - Miscellaneous correspondence, 1940-1949
      - Miscellaneous correspondence, 1950-1955
      1A. Miscellaneous correspondence in German, English and Russian, 19--?
      1B. Articles, papers and notes written by B. Schellenberg and others, in English and German, ca. 1951
    2. Correspondence from D. H. Epp (Der Bote) in German, 1927-1951.
    3. Correspondence from Arnold Dyck in German, 1925-1938.
    4. Correspondence from Heinrich Goerz in German, 1930-1952.
    5. Correspondence from Jacob H. and Elisabet Janzen in German, 1931-1951.
    6. Correspondence from Jacob Cornelius Toews in German, 1948-1951.
    Volume 549
    1. Correspondence from Jake Letkemann in English, 19--.
    2. Notebook: notes on Russian Mennonite History in German, ca. 1936-1955.
    3. Notebook: “Selbst/Biography” written by Jacob Cornelius Toews and correspondence, in German, ca. 1950.
    4. Notebook: notes on various topics in German and Russian, 19--.
    5. Notebook: “Die Tereker Ansiedlung,” by C. P. Toews, and correspondence, 1936.
    6. Notebook: “Zachariasfeld,” and correspondence from D. Zacharias, ca. 1946.
    7. Notebook: P. M. Friesen and various topics in German, 19--.
    8. Notebook: various topics in German and English, ca. 1933.
    9. Notebook: notes from Gerhard P. Froese in German, 19--.
    10. Notebook: notes on biography of Aeltester David Toews in German and English, 19--.
    11. Notebook: biography of David Toews in German, 19--.
    12. Excerpt from notebook: various topics in German, 19--.
    13. Notebooks (5): biography of David Toews in German, 19--.
    14. “Heimat,” by H. Goerz in German, 944.
    15. Pamphlet: “Der Eid,” by A. Warkentin in German, 19--?
    16. Sermon on 1 Peter 1:22-23 by Heinrich Wiebe in German, 1867-1875?.
    17. Three papers by Schellenberg about Russia in German, 19--?.
    18. Pamphlet: “Wort und Werk: Ein Grußwort an die Freunde der Großstadt-Mission,” by B. Harder, 1948.
    19. Minutes from Vertreterversammlung meeting in Rosthern, 1929.
    20. “Protokoll der 6 Provinzialen Vertreterversammlung der Mennoniten Manitobas im Bethause zu Gruenthal, 29-30 Juni, 1933.” Note: file moved to Volume 552.
    21. Minutes: Mennonitische Ortskomitee in Winnipeg in German, 193-.
    22. Pamphlet: “Jahresbericht des Zentralen Mennonitischen Hilfskomitees von Westcanada für 1944.”
    23. Pamphlet: “Statuten des Altenheims der Bergthaler Gemeinde in Manitoba,” 1918.
    24. Pamphlet: “Die Entstehung u. Entwickelung des mennonitischen Krankenhouses Concordia, zu Winnipeg, Manitoba,” 1931.
    25. Pamphlet: “Regeln und Bestimmungen des Mennonitischen Unterstuetsungs-Verein, Mountain Lake, Minnesota,” 1925.
    26. “Mennonitischer Verein fuer Handel in Kanada,” 19--.
    27. Various papers about Mennonites in German, 19--.
    28. Pamphlet: “Eine Siedlungsmöglichkeit nördlich von Pitt Meadows in Britisch Columbien,” 19--.
    29. Papers about Paraguayan Mennonite Colonies in German, 1937-1946.
    30. Document: Russian propaganda by Franz Voth, 1935?.
    31. Newspaper clipping from the Deutscher Kollektivist, 1932.
    32. Program and minutes from Mennonite Church Manitoba meetings, 1952. Note: file moved to Volume 552.
    Volume 550
    1. Notebook: notes on religion and history in German and Russian, 19--.
    2. Notebook: archival notes in German, ca. 193-?.
    3. Notebook: systematic notes in German and Russian, 19--.
    4. Notebook: systematic notes continued from file 41 in German, 19--.
    5. Paper: “Brief of the Manitoba Educational Association Committee on Articulation of High School and University, 1941.
    6. Notebook containing notes from Literature class, 19--.
    7. Notebook: notes in German, 19--.
    8. Notebook: various topics including Russian Mennonite History and immigration, in German and English, 19--.
    9. Notebook: possibly notes from religion class, in German, 19--.
    10. Notebook: systematic notes on Mennonitentum, in German and Russian, 19--.
    11. Notebook: systematic notes on a book in German and Russian, ca. 1911.
    12. Notebook: systematic notes in German and Russian, 19--.
    13. Notebook: mostly notes on a book about the White Army in German and English, 19--.
    14. Notebook containing sermons by B. Schellenberg and notes on sermons heard in German and English, ca. 1953-1957.
    15. Notebook: notes on Russian Mennonite history, the archives and various other topics in German, ca. 1948.
    16. Notebook: miscellaneous notes in German, 19--.
    17. Notebook excerpt: notes on literature in German, 19--.
    18. Notebook: notes on the Mennonite archives in Canada and history, in German, 193-?.
    19. Notebook: includes historical sketches on Mennonite life in Russia, drafts of letters, and notes on CMBC activities, in German, ca. 1948-1955.
    20. Notebook: notes on various topics in German, ca. 1927-1937.
    21. Notebook: notes on “Evangeline,” by Henry Longfellow in English, 19--.
    22. Notebook: notes on Russian history from 1900-1918 in German, after 1947.
    23. Periodical: Licht und Leben, 1925.
    24. Periodical: Der Johannesbote, 1925.
    25. Periodical: “First Mennonite Newsletter,” in English and German, 1955.
    Volume 551
    1. Artwork: a decorated piece of paper received as a Christmas present with notes in German, 1891.
    2. Documents: “Dienstvertrag” and “Tausch Verschreibung” by Jacob Giesbrecht, 1825.
    3. Notes on Chortitza, Russia, in German, 1927?.
    4. Wedding invitation concerning Jakob and Helena Schmitt, Reinland, handwritten in German, 1902.
    5. Photographs: three photos of men and one of a woman. Note: photographs removed to photograph collection 398:2-5.
    6. Booklet containing material from 1826 with a note in German from P. Kornelson, 1931.
    7. Paper: “Aus der Selbstbiography unseres Vaters und Grosvaters Heinrich Unruh weiland Predigers und altesten der Halbstädter Gemeinde Süd-Ruszland,” by H. Goerz, 19--.
    8. Biography: “Fortzetzung der Aufzeichnungen unseres Vaters und Groszvaters Heinrich Unruh Muntau, Süd-Ruszland,” by Heinrich Unruh (2 copies), 19--.
    9. Biography of Aeltester Isaak Dyck by F. F. Epp, in German, 19--.
    10. Genealogy: Kornelius H. Epp, by Anna R. Epp, in German, 1935.
    11. Paper about Hermann Bergmann, possibly an obituary, and a letter from A. P. Bergmann, in German, 1947. Includes transcribed copy completed in 1974.
    12. Paper about A. A. Neufeld by H. Goerz in German, 19--.
    13. Biography of Kornelius Toews in German, 19--.
    14. Notebook: continuation of biography of David Toews, in German, 19--.
    15. Notebook: miscellaneous notes including Russian history and letters, in German and Russian, ca. 1931-1932.
    16. Notebook: notes on books and psychology lectures in English, 19--.
    17. Notebook: mostly notes on Russian history in German, English and Russian, 19--.
    18. Notebook: notes on various topics including Latin and French grammar, in Russian, French and German, 19--.
    19. Lektionsheft: Sunday School lessons published by Mennonite Brethren Publishing House, in German and English, 1945.
    20. Notebook: concerning Mennonites in Russia, David Toews biography, and notes on CMBC, ca. 1949.
    21. Notebook: notes on philosophy in German and Russian, 19--.
    22. Map: Karte der Chortitzer Wolost. Removed to map collection, #1208.
    23. Maps of Mennonite colonies in south Russia. Note: maps culled from collection due to redundancy.
    24. Rosental Maps: a letter from Peter Kroeger regarding two maps that have been removed to the map collection (#1209-1210): Rosental, Mennonitendorf in Sudrussland bei Chortitza, drawn by David Peters and revised and expanded by Peter Kroeger, 1952.
    25. Paper: “Das Dorf Hertzenberg u. s--? Entstehung,” by J. J. Friesen, ca. 1938.
    26. Paper: “Die Djejewer Kolonien,” by B. Schellenberg, 19--.
    27. Paper regarding “die fuerstenlaendischn Kolonien,” from Jacob Cornelius Toews, (3 copies: 2 handwritten, one typed by Peter Goerzen in 1976), 19--?.
    28. Paper: “Die Ansiedlung ‘Schlachtin’ im Jokaterinoshavischen,” 19--?.
    29. Notes on the Orenberg settlement, including dates of ministers, etc., after 1931.
    30. Cards listing the Chortitzer Oberschuzen and the Kirchenaeltesten for the Chortitzer Gemeinde by J. Niebuhr, 1917.
    31. Paper: “Aus der mennonitischen Geschichte,” ca. 1933.
    32. Paper: “Staturschoenheiten die Doerfer, Georgstal, Olgafeld, Rosenbach, Alexandertal…” by Franz Isaak, 1935.
    33. Published paper: “In das gelobte Land,” 1925.
    34. Artwork depicting a cart with the date 1789 on it by Johann Janzen, ca. 1933.
    35. contents moved to file 99
    36. Paper: “Ein Bericht ueber das gut ebenhoh(f) Taschtschenak,” by Peter J. Enns, 19--.
    37. combined with file 101
    38. Correspondence and paper by Jacob Corn. Toews entitled “Das Mennonitische Gutsbesitzertum in Russland,” ca. 1951.
    39. Paper: “Das Mennonitische Gutsbesitzertum in Russland,” by Jacob Corn. Toews, expansion of version in file 101, 19--.
    40. Register der Umgekommenen (durch Mord von Machnowzy, Typhus und Selbstmord) im Nikolaipoler Bezirk vom 1. Oktober 1919 bis 1. Dezember 1920.”
    41. Paper: Erfahrungen eines C. O. aus dem letzten Kriege,” by H. Goerz, 19--.
    42. Publications: various issues of Die Kirche unterm Kreuz that were removed from the collection and merged with other issues of the same title and bound in 1984.
    Volume 552
    26. Minutes: Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba in German, 1933.”
    38. Program and minutes from the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba meetings in German, 1952.
    1. Songbook in German, 19--?.
    2. Songbook: Liederperlen: Eine Sammlung von lieblichen Liedern für gemischten Chor, by Cornelius Neufeld, 1912.
    3. Book: Die Bibel, 1891.
    4. Photograph of brass band, removed to photograph collection, 398:1.
    5. Songbook from Oliver, B. C., 1947.
    6. Publication: Canadian Mennonite, 1969. Items removed to stacks of surplus periodicals.
    7. Paper in Russian with explanation in German, 19--.
    8. Booklet: “Evangelium Matthäus,” Bible study for R