Image from the "Reesor Bible", Book of Numbers, 1531
Hours of operation
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed weekends and statutory holidays; Closed Christmas holidays from December 24, 2011 to January 2, 2012.
Making an appointment with the archivist in advance is strongly recommended, as not all staff are able to retrieve materials and provide reference service. Contact in advance of your visit can help us prepare the resources you need, and suggest research you can do in advance of your visit.
Location
Conrad Grebel University College is located north of the intersection of Westmount Road N. and University Ave. W. in Waterloo, Ontario. See the map to Conrad Grebel University College.
The Archives is located in the Academic Building (next to the parking lot) on the third floor (within the College library). Be aware there is a parking charge of $1/hour to a maximum of $4 for the day.
Contact Information
Mennonite Archives of Ontario
Conrad Grebel University College
140 Westmount Rd. N.
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6
Phone: (519) 885-0220 x24238
Email: marchive@uwaterloo.ca
Reason for visit
The Archives is open to anyone with a legitimate research interest. This could include research for personal, family, scholarly or artistic reasons, or on behalf of a congregation or institution.
Restrictions
The Archives is responsible to balance the researcher's need for access with the need for confidentiality of persons and institutions whose activities are reflected in the records. Consequently, the use of some materials in the Archives is subject to restrictions. If restrictions exist, they are usually noted in the archival descriptions; however, the archivist will have the most complete information.
Fee-Based Services
Except for those services described below, archival services are provided free of charge as a public service.
Payments are by cash or cheque made out to "Conrad Grebel University College." If you need items shipped to you, payment must be made in advance. Please confirm the availability of the item and the shipping charges by contacting the archivist before you send payment.
Service |
Self-Serve |
Staff-Assisted |
Photocopies |
.15 page |
.25 page |
Photocopies from microfilm |
.15 page |
.50 page |
Photo duplication (only digital images provided) |
|
5.00 ea. |
Photo republication rights |
Negotiated / at least $30.00 ea |
Negotiated / at least $30.00 ea |
Cassette tapes / CDs copied |
|
$20.00 ea |
Postage (all items) |
|
Estimated cost |
Copying of archival records
Copying archival records can be done with permission from Archives staff. If the materials you are researching can be photocopied, come prepared to pay by cash or Watcard. A portable drive or digital camera could also be used to scan or copy some materials.
The Archives may refuse requests for copies for reasons of copyright, preservation issues, or limitations of time.
Library resources
The Archives is adjacent to the Conrad Grebel University College library. The library includes a nearly comprehensive collection of materials published and about about Mennonites and related groups, including rare Anabaptist books. It is an excellent resource for archival researchers. The library shares a catalogue with the universities of Guelph, Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier.
Microform, video and audio equipment
A reader that can print or scan microform documents is available. CD players, cassette players and a record player are available for listening to sound recordings. Video tapes and DVDs can also be viewed on site.
If you are unable to make a personal visit
Most of our collections are not accessible over the Internet. You can still explore our holdings through this web site. We may able to reproduce sound recordings, photocopy print materials, or send digital copies of photographs to satisfy remote requests. See the information above on fee-based services and copying of archival records, and contact the archivist if you have additional questions.
Due to limited staff time , the Mennonite Archives of Ontario cannot carry out detailed research. We will attempt to answer a question if it can be done in about 15 minutes. Otherwise we ask you to make a personal visit for research.
The Archives collects, preserves, and makes available the recorded experience of Mennonites, Amish, and other related groups in Ontario. Our growing collection consists of 780 linear meters of personal, congregational, and institutional records in a multitude of formats.
The Archives is the official depository for Conrad Grebel University College, Mennonite Central Committee (Ontario) and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC). We are also the primary archives for MCEC congregations.
For an overview, see the archives overview or browse the archival description links at the top left of this page. You can also do a keyword search on our search page.
You will notice that unlike library collections which are often organized by subject or author, archival records are usually organized by the creator (individual or group) that generated them.
Note that although we are making progress, not all our collections have full descriptions online. Contact the archivist for more information.
A genealogy guide lists many of the genealogical resources available in the Conrad Grebel University College Library and the Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Because there is only one part time staff person, the Mennonite Archives of Ontario cannot carry out research for family historians. We will attempt to answer a question if it can be done in about 15 minutes. Otherwise we ask you to make a personal visit for research.
Institutions for which we are the official repository, as well as other congregations and organizations with which we have long standing relationships, send us accruals of records on a regular basis. Such donations need no advance notice unless they are unusually large or problems with the collection (eg. privacy concerns or mould damage) need special attention. In these cases, contact the archivist before bringing materials to us.
If you are an organization or an individual wishing to donate materials for the first time, please contact the archivist in advance. Donations must fit within our mandate of collecting, preserving, and making available the recorded experience of Mennonites, Amish, and other related groups in Ontario. This includes not only the records of native-born Mennonite Ontarians, but also records of Mennonites who now make their home in Ontario (eg. Russian Mennonite records).
In adherence to the code of ethics of the Association of Canadian Archivists, we aim to be clear about our plans for the long-term care and use of your materials at the time of donation. Together, the archivist and donor sign a deed of gift form. We also advise you of your options, including housing materials at other archives.
If you are not yet ready to donate materials but are concerned for their preservation while in your care, feel free to contact the archivist for advice.
Laureen Harder-Gissing holds an Honours BA in History from the University of Waterloo, a Masters of Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Masters of Information Studies from the University of Toronto.
Prior to her arrival at MAO in 2009, Laureen worked as a library manager and a freelance public historian specializing in Ontario Mennonite history. She is the Historian of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and serves on the boards of the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario and the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada. Laureen also serves as CGUC librarian.
The Mennonite Archives of Ontario had its origin in the research undertaken by Lewis J. Burkholder in the early 1930s for his book, A brief history of the Mennonites in Ontario ([Kitchener, Ont. : Mennonite Conference of Ontario], 1935). In his research he gathered a significant quantity of 19th century letters and published documents. He placed these in a "Mennonite box" at the Archives of Ontario located in Toronto.
In 1941 an archival collection began to be maintained at the Golden Rule Bookstore (later Provident Bookstore) in Kitchener, Ontario. The manager of the bookstore, J.C. Fretz, was also the historian for the Mennonite Conference of Ontario. At that time the "Mennonite Box" was returned to Mennonite hands.
In 1958 an addition to the classroom building at Rockway Mennonite School provided space for archival materials. Additional materials from the Swiss Mennonite community in Ontario began to be gathered under the supervision of Dorothy Schwartzentruber who worked at the bookstore.
In 1965, after the construction of Conrad Grebel College, the collection was moved from Rockway. Lorna Bergey took charge of the collection until 1974 at which time Sam Steiner was hired as the first paid staff person. Laureen Harder-Gissing became archivist after Sam's retirement in January 2009.
The Mennonite Archives of Ontario now serves as the official depository for Conrad Grebel University College, Mennonite Central Committee (Ontario) and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. Other collections include the Mennonites in Canada collection gathered by Frank H. Epp, the archives of the Ontario Mennonite Bible School & Institute, the predecessor conferences to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, the Non-Resistant Relief Organization, the Conference of Historic Peace Churches, local Mennonite congregations, and leaders from within the Mennonite community.
The organizational scheme employed by the Archives were derived by that developed at the Archives of the Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana) by Melvin Gingerich, longtime archivist at that facility. He assisted in the early formation of the Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Volunteer
If you have an interest in Ontario Mennonite history and enjoy accomplishing detailed tasks, we may be able to use your help. Contact the archivist for more information.
Join the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario
The Society actively assists the Archives with its collection mandate and provides opportunities for archival education. Learn more from the Society's website.
Contribute to Conrad Grebel University College
Except for those services listed in plan your visit, archival services are offered free of charge.
The financial resources for the Archives are provided by Conrad Grebel University College. Charitable donations to support this program can be made through the College's Annual Fund drive. Donations of planned gifts are welcome.
In 2006, the College's board prioritized capital expansion for the library and archives space. Plans are ongoing to realize the vision of a renewed and expanded Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
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All information on this site is ©1999-2011 by the Mennonite Archives of Ontario, Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, ON.
Last modified
03-Jan-2012
by Laureen Harder-Gissing