Ontario Mennonites and the First World War digital files

Files on this page are scans of files in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario that relate directly to the activities of Ontario Mennonites and other peace churches during the First World War. The files were scanned in 2016 and 2017.

They include the extensive files of the Non-Resistant Relief Organization and the relevant files of the Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference, as well as related files in the personal collections of Ontario Mennonite leaders Lewis J. Burkholder, Samuel F. Coffman, Christian Gascho, and Thomas Reesor. Files related to the formation and wartime activities of the Ontario District of the Mennonite women's sewing circles are also included.

These digital scans have been provided by the Mennonite Archives of Ontario at Conrad Grebel University College for the purpose of research and private study. Any use for other purposes may require the authorization of the copyright owner of the work.

The Non-Resistant Relief Organization

XV-11.2.1/2 Minutes and reports

1917-March 1919 April 1919-1924

XV-11.2.2/2 Correspondence

January-October 1917 October 1917 October-November 1917
November 1917 (1) November 1917(2) November-December 1917
December 1917 January-February 1918 February 1918
March 1918 April 1918 (1) April 1918 (2)
April 1918 (3) May 1918 (1) May 1918 (2)
May 1918 (3) May 1918 (4) June 1918 (1)
June 1918 (2) June 1918 (3) June 1918 (4)
July 1918 (1) July 1918 (2) July 1918 (3)
July 1918 (4) August 1918 (1) August 1918 (2)
September 1918 (1) September 1918 (2) October 1918 (1)
October 1918 (2) October 1918 (3) November-December 1918 (1)
November-December 1918 (2) 1919-1924 (1) 1919-1924 (2)
1919-1924 (3)    

XV-11.2.3/2 News clippings

News clippings

XV-11.4.5/1 News clippings

Undated 1917 (1) 1917 (2)
1918 (1) 1918 (2) 1919 (1)
1919 (2) 1919 (3)  

XV-11.2.3/5 Manuscript,"Non-Resistant Groups in World War I"

"Non-Resistant Groups in World War I"

XV-11.2.3/6 Appeals to government, U.S. and Canada

Appeals to government by various U.S. and Canadian organizations

XV-11.2.3/7 Copies of exemption forms

Copies of exemption forms

XV-11.4.5/2 Military exemption tribunals

Miscellaneous Military Service Branch Tribunal Circulars
Local Exemption Tribunals list (1) Local Exemption Tribunals list (2)

XV-11.4.5/3 Notes on the history of Mennonites seeking exemption in Canada

Notes on the history of Mennonites seeking exemption in Canada

XV-11.4.5/4 Appeals for exemption under the Military Service Act

Members or adherents eligible for service Statistics on members or adherents eligible for service
Exemption claims of Mennonite, Amish and Brethren in Christ members (1) Exemption claims of Mennonite, Amish and Brethren in Christ members (2)
Exemption claims of Mennonite, Amish and Brethren in Christ members (3) Reports of cases decided by Central Appeal Judge (1)
Reports of cases decided by Central Appeal Judge (2)  

XV-11.4.6/1 Military Service Act exemption process

Military Service Act exemption process

Personal collections

Hist.Mss.1.4.2/4 Lewis J.Burkholder's Non-Resistant Relief Organization files

Burkholder (1) Burkholder (2)
Burkholder (3) Burkholder (4)

Hist.Mss.1.1.1.2.10/6 Samuel F.Coffman's World War I personal correspondence

Coffman (1) Coffman (2)

Hist.Mss.1.61/2 Christian Gascho's Non-Resistant Relief Organization files

Gascho (1) Gascho (2)

Hist.Mss.1. 225.2/1  Thomas Reesor's account of his experiences with the Non-Resistant Relief Organization

Thomas Reesor

Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference

VIII-2.3.1/1 Non-Resistant Relief Organization correspondence

1917-March 1918 March 1918-May 1918
May 1918-August 1918 August 1918-February 1919
March 1919-1925  

VIII-2.3.1/3 Mennonite Relief Fund

Receipt book and correspondence Receipts and correspondence (2)
Receipts and correspondence (3)  

VIII-2.3.2/1 Correspondence re military exemption

Undated-May 1918 May 1918-1919

Ontario District sewing circles, 1918

II-5.4.2/2 Minute book II-5.4.6/2 Financial records

Canadian Mennonite pamphlets

Memorandum of Laws Affecting the Members of the Mennonite Religious Society and Military Service in Canada, [Ontario? : Non-Resistant Relief Organization?, 1917?] Official Documents from the Canadian Government regarding Exemption of Mennonites from Military Service in Canada. Gretna, Manitoba: B. Ewert's Printery, 1918.

Hours

Generally 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. An appointment in advance is recommended.

Contact

Mennonite Archives of Ontario
Conrad Grebel University College
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6

Phone: 519-885-0220 x24238