Hermann Thiessen collection

Classification scheme:

Hist. Mss.11.16

Title: Hermann Thiessen collection of Prussian genealogy

Dates of creation: 1819-1833; microfilmed 2002

Physical description: 29 microfilm reels (16 mm)

Administrative history: In 2001, Hermann Schirmacher (1967- ), a family history researcher in Germany who in 2003 was doing mission work with HCJB World Radio in Ecuador broadcasting in Low German, made available several collections of Mennonite genealogical material to the Mennonite Library and Archives at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. Two of these collections were microfilmed in 2002 by the Kansas State Historical Society.

The largest collection was the files of Hermann Thiessen of Germany (29 May 1929), who published the following family history books: 1. Martin Thiehsen [sic] und seine Nachkommen 1737-1977 (1977) 2. Bartholomus Tiessen: 350 Jahre Familientradition (1986) 3. Familiengeschichte der Familie Bench (1989) 4. Peter Heydebrecht und seine Nachkommen (1990) 5. Die Familie Mekelburger (1992)

Scope and content: Thiessens papers include extensive correspondence and three large card files used in compiling his books. The three files: 1) male Thiessens (and variant spellings); 2) female Thiessens; and 3) a "Suchindex" that included all Mennonites that Thiessen identified who were born before 1820 or baptized before 1840. There are a total of about 15,000 cards in the card files. Each card contains data about one or more persons. The papers focus on Mennonite families in the Prussian/Russian stream, particularly on the families represented in Thiessens published books. This material has been microfilmed on 29 rolls of 35 mm microfilm (7 rolls of the correspondence files and 22 rolls of the cards).

Notes: The organization of the card files is unclear; it may represent the order in which Thiessen gathered the material. Not all numbers are present.

Due to a donation by Tim Janzen, a set of these microfilms is located at the following Mennonite archives:

1. Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2. Centre for M. B. Studies, Winnipeg, Manitoba
3. Mennonite Archives of Ontario, Waterloo, Ontario
4. Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta, Calgary, Alberta
5. Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
6. Mennonite Historical Society of B. C., Clearbrook, British Columbia
7. Mennonite Library and Archives, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas
8. Center for M. B. Studies, Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kansas
9. American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Lincoln, Nebraska
10. Germans from Russia Heritage Society, Bismarck, North Dakota
11. Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana
12. Center for M. B. Studies, Fresno, California
13. Mennonitische Forschungstelle, Weierhof, Germany
14. Mennonite Archive, Asuncion, Paraguay
15. Fernheim Colony Archives, Paraguay

File list:

Reel Number	Contents
1	Correspondence and Notes, folder 488-
2	Correspondence and Notes, folder 634-
3	Correspondence and Notes, folder 772-end
4	Male Thiessens, reel 1
5	Male Thiessens, reel 2
6	Male Thiessens, reel 3
7	Male Thiessens, reel 4
8	Male Thiessens, reel 5
9	Male Thiessens, reel 6
10	Male Thiessens, reel 7
11	Male Thiessens, reel 8
12	Female Thiessens, reel 1
13	Female Thiessens, reel 2
14	Female Thiessens, reel 3
15	Female Thiessens, reel 4
16	Female Thiessens, reel 5
17	Female Thiessens, reel 6
18	Female Thiessens, reel 7
19	Surnames, A - F
20	Surnames, F - J
21	Surnames, J - K
22	Surnames, K - P
23	Surnames, P - W
24	Surnames, W - Z
25	Correspondence and Notes, folder 1-
26	Correspondence and Notes, folder 91-
27	Correspondence and Notes, folder 226-
28	Correspondence and Notes, folder 314-
29	Correspondence and Notes, folder 425-

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