After combing through nine of Frank H. Epp’s filing cabinets (so far), Linda Huebert Hecht knows more than a little bit about this important church leader. Hired by Conrad Grebel University College in 1999, she has worked part-time archiving Epp's extensive collection of correspondence, research notes, articles and newspaper clippings. According to Sam Steiner, Grebel Archivist, this five year project, jointly funded by the Frank H. Epp Memorial Fund and Grebel, is important because
Epp was a very significant Canadian Mennonite leader that helped influence 20th century Mennonites to be more actively engaged in the political discussions of the day. Whether one judges this to be a good or bad thing, he helped this to happen. Persons that have this kind of pivotal influence need to be preserved in their papers.
The Epp Collection is very large, consisting of 22 four drawer filing cabinets and includes documents from Epp's entire career, reflecting the many roles he had, as journalist, radio speaker, ordained minister, church leader, historian, professor, college president, politician, peace activist and author, as well as his positions with Mennonite Central Committee, several non-Mennonite organizations, and on many committees. He began collecting materials in the 1950s when he became founding editor of The Canadian Mennonite, and continued to do so until shortly before his death in 1986.
Nearly half finished, Huebert Hecht is currently processing cabinet number 10, on political science. There are several larger sections related to Epp's sermons, writing, speaking and travels, which remain to be processed. Finished files include issues pertinent to the Mennonite community at a particular time, such as conscientious objection and alternative service, Mennonites and peace, and information on Mennonite educational institutions.
The Middle East section reveals the breadth of Epp's contacts as he did the research for his books on this topic, [says Huebert Hecht.] As well, this collection includes newspaper clippings and magazine articles on many different social, political and cultural topics, a selection of which has been kept. One of the oldest items processed to date is a newspaper article on Mennonites in the Family Herald and Weekly Star of 1938.
Huebert Hecht mentions the integral role that Epp's wife Helen played in creating and managing the collection and in handling correspondence. The archival guide to the collection is based on their filing system.
Frank Epp's personal correspondence, distributed throughout the cabinets, is one of the most interesting parts of the collection. According to Huebert Hecht, he kept copies of all the letters he sent - from simple requests for information and longer personal answers, to short notes of affirmation and concern for individual people. She notes that
Epp often took the time to write a letter, extending congratulations, sending a personal thank you, giving encouragement and in general keeping in contact with many different people. In his correspondence one can follow `both sides of a conversation' and learn much about Epp's thinking and ideas over the whole span of his lifetime.
This cataloguing is a continuous process, and is not yet complete. It will eventually be open to the public, but interested researchers may be able to look at the finished sections already. As for the usefulness of the collection, Steiner speculates that
Epp is significant enough that someone might do a biography; persons interested in Mennonite participation in political life (i.e. running for office) would find it useful; and persons interested in Mennonite responses to Vietnam and to the Middle East will find it useful since Epp was an outspoken Mennonite leader on these areas. All in all, anyone interested in how Canadian Mennonites engaged society in the 1950s-1970s would likely find it useful.
The Frank H. Epp Memorial Fund granted $1,000 in 2004 for the ongoing processing of the Epp archives. The Fund is a memorial to the late Frank H. Epp (1929-1986) and its proceeds are used to support projects in those areas of Christian concern and scholarly interest to which his life was devoted. The administrative committee of the Frank H. Epp Memorial Fund invites applications for study/work projects which further Epp's vision for mission in Canada and throughout the world. Specific areas of interest include scholarships, internships, and research assistance for undergraduate and graduate students in the History of minorities (especially Mennonites), Peacemaking (particularly in the Middle East), Mennonite ecumenicity, and Communication of the Christian faith. The fund also provides funding for research, writing, publishing and other projects considered important and meritorious by the sponsoring agencies. The fund is sponsored by Conrad Grebel University College, Mennonite Central Committee Peace Office, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Mennonite Historical Society of Canada, and Mennonite Publishing Services (Canadian Mennonite), and is administered by Mennonite Foundation of Canada.
For more information and application deadlines contact:
Frank H. Epp Memorial Fund
Mennonite Foundation of Canada
Mennonite Central Committee Peace Office