Current exhibit
What They Carried: The Archives of Russlaender Mennonite Immigrants
From 1923-1930, 21,000 Mennonite immigrants from the Soviet Union ("Russlaender") arrived in Canada seeking respite from war and turmoil. Many stayed in Ontario.
They carried what most immigrants carry: portable reminders of home and family, recipe books and other forms of practical knowledge, songbooks to sustain faith and culture. They carried painstakingly-acquired documents vital for the crossing of borders.
Less tangibly, they carried experiences of grief and loss along with feelings of trepidation and anticipation, from which new stories would grow.
Location: Mennonite Archives of Ontario (Milton Good Library, Conrad Grebel University College Academic Building, 3rd floor)
Hours: Exhibit hours are the same as Milton Good Library hours. The exhibit runs until April 2026. The exhibit is self-guided.
Admission: Free. Donations to the work of the Library and Archives are appreciated.
Companion digital exhibit: Russlaender Immigrants to Ontario: Sources & Stories
Past exhibits
Conchies Speak: Ontario Mennonites in Alternative Service, 1941-1946
Sites of Nonresistance: Ontario Mennonites and the First World War
Growing Family: Design & Desire in Mennonite Genealogy
Self-Guided Mennonite Art Tour
The Mennonite Archives of Ontario collects works of art that contribute to a greater understanding of Mennonite history and culture with emphasis on Ontario themes or artists. Comprising quilts, sculptures, paintings, and photographs, most of the collection was donated to the College or commissioned on behalf of Grebel. While some of Grebel’s art pieces are stored in the Archives or in offices, much of it is accessible to be viewed by the public during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-6:00 pm). Here is a guide to the easily accessible pieces, including primary details available about the art and artists, as well as the location of the works