Classification scheme:
Hist. Mss. 1.243
Title: J. Harold Sherk (1903-1974) fonds
Dates of creation: 1916-1970 ; 1940s predominant
Physical description: 8 cm of textual records
Biographical sketch: J. Harold Sherk was a pastor in the Ontario district of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, taught at Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, and served with Mennonite Central Committee. He was also involved with the Conference of Historic Peace Churches and provided support to conscientious objectors in Alternative Service during World War II. From 1958-1969 he was the director of the National Service Bureau for Religious Objectors in Washington, D.C.
Scope and content: Correspondence, minutes, sermons, obituary, photographs, and a list.
Custodial history: File 1 donated by Harold Sherk, son of J. Harold Sherk. Files 2-12 donated by Mila Reusser in 2015 and 2016. Files 13-16 donated to the Archives in 2024 by Leone and Vernon Sherk.
Note: Further biographical details can be found in the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Photographs are located in the Mennonite Archival Image Database.
File list:
- Sermon entitled "The Universality of Jesus."
- Correspondence re Alternative Service, 1942-1943
Scope and content: Contains correspondence of the "Toronto Committee," problems with Alternative Service workers not being able to get leaves from camp, and suggestions for a proposed National Selective Service government program. - Correspondence re Alternative Service, 1941-1942
Scope and content: Contains Conference of Historic Peace Churches correspondence and lists of Alternative Service workers. - Correspondence re Alternative Service, 1942
- Correspondence re National Service Board for Religious Objectors, 1968-1970
- Correspondence re Sherk's retirement from the National Service Board for Religious Objectors, 1969-1970
- National Service Board for Religious Objectors Prison Visitation Service to War Objectors, 1968-1969
- Correspondence re Mennonite Brethren in Christ denominational name change, 1947-1948
- "Conscientious objectors in America" article by J. Harold Sherk in Current History magazine, 1968
Scope and content: Includes article draft and correspondence - Correspondence re Alternative Service, 1940, 1942-1944
Note: Peace Problems Committee minutes found in this file were moved to XVIII.3 Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church - Correspondence, various, 1942-1944
- Report cards from Berlin Collegiate and Technical Institute and Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute, 1916-1921
- "Scriptural Non-Resistance" by Rv. J. Harold Sherk, Hyattsville Mennonite Church Sunday School Class, 1960s.
- Obituary of Sherk's father, John Hubert Sherk, 1878-1962
- Photographs of Montreal River Alternative Service Work Camp, 1941
- List of men at Montreal River, 1941-1942