Amish Mennonite Fire and Storm Aid Union

Title: Amish Mennonite Fire and Storm Aid Union

Dates of creation: 1872-1993

Physical description: 12 cm of textual records

Administrative history: The Amish Mennonite Fire and Storm Aid Union began in 1872, though the historical record is unclear on the reasons for establishing the Aid Union. The Mennonite Conference of Ontario had established such a plan six years earlier; this may have been an influence.

The Aid Union's mandate was to provide a way for members suffering loss to be able to replace that loss without undue hardship. The directors of the Aid Union are composed of one representative of each congregation included in the organization. The annual meeting is held in June. The Aid Union has been unique in that it continues to include the full theological spectrum of Amish-background congregations -- from congregations in the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada to Old Order Amish.

Custodial history: The materials were donated to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario by the Aid Union in March 2000, except for file 11 (policies) which were donated by Anni Saunders in 2010.

Notes: For more information see: Catherine Schlegel, This is no insurance company: 125 years of Amish Mennonite Fire & Storm Aid Union (Ontario : The Aid Union?, 1997), 57 leaves.
Original description created by Sam Steiner, March, 2000

File list:

1. Minute and record book, 1913-1927
2. Minute book, 1927-1962
3. Minute book, 1963-1983
4. Minute book, 1983-1993
5. Alvin Schlegel assessment book, 1968-1969
6. Rules & regulations, 1938
7. Statement of receipts & expenses, 1976
8. Joseph L. Ropp assessment book, Mornington, 1914-1931
9. Accounts, 1920-1929, 1921-1927
10. Levies, 1929-1938
11. Policies