Samuel F. Coffman family fonds

Classification scheme: 
Hist. Mss. 1.1

Title: Samuel F. Coffman family fonds

Dates of Creation: 1885-1994

Physical description: 5.35 m of textual records; 6.5 cm of photographs

Biographical sketch: Samuel F. Coffman, also known as Fred Coffman, was born near Rushville in Rockingham County, Virginia in 1872. In 1901 he married Ella Mann. They had six children, one of whom died in infancy.

Coffman graduated from High School in Elkhart, Indiana, and attended the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago from 1894-1895 and 1897-1898. He was ordained preacher in the Old Mennonite Home Mission in Chicago in 1895. He was appointed acting bishop in 1900 to organize Old Mennonite congregations in Alberta. He was confirmed bishop in the Ontario Conference of the Old Mennonite Church in 1903. He pastored the Moyer Mennonite Church in Vineland, Ontario, from 1901-1954. An extensive, but not inexhaustive, list of his Conference involvements is included in Four Earthen Vessels / Urie A. Bender, ed.- Kitchener, Ontario : Herald Press.- 1982.- pp.311-13.

Custodial history: S.F. Coffman bequeathed his literary estate to the Mennonite Conference of Ontario and to the Mennonite Church General Conference. Coffman's unmarried daughters, Barbara and Magdalena, kept papers they deemed to be of personal interest and the remainder was divided between the above named institutions. In 1956 J.C. Fretz, historian of the Mennonite Conference of Ontario, physically transferred those papers deemed to be related to the Mennonite Church General Conference to the Archives of the Mennonite Church, administered by the Historical Committee of the Mennonite Church General Conference. Fretz deposited those papers deemed to relate to the Mennonite Conference of Ontario in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario. In 1993 Coffman's daughters, Barbara and Magdalena, deposited in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario Coffman's papers deemed to be of personal interest which had been retained by them until that time. They also deposited their own personal papers at that time. Barbara Coffman subsequently died in 1993 and in 1994 and 1995 Magdalena deposited more family papers in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

Scope and content: In 1974 the S.F. Coffman papers deposited in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario were arranged into four series:

1. Correspondence
1.1 personal
1.2 business

2. Records
2.1 personal
2.2 business

3. Manuscripts
3.1 sermons
3.2 articles
3.3 research notes
3.4 news clippings

4. Memorabilia
4.1 photos
4.2 cards
4.3 ephemera and books

The 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1999 accessions were added to these series; the last by Lewis Coffman. A file list is available.

The inventory number assigned S.F. Coffman's papers in the Archives of the Mennonite Church is Hist. Mss. 1-163. A file list is available at FA20.

File list:

Series 1: Correspondence

Sub-Series 1: Personal

Dates of Creation: 1885-1954

277.5 cm. of correspondence

Vol.1

  1. J.C. Fretz letters, 1918
  2. Wilbur and Velma Hostetler letter, 1948
  3. Correspondence regarding Vineland congregation
  4. Correspondence regarding A Brief History of the Mennonites in Ontario
  5. William A. Wideman letters, 1896-1899
  6. Nahrgang family letters, 1896-1913
  7. Mary Berkey letter, 1899
  8. John E. Bingeman letter, 1899
  9. Adeline V. Brunk letter, 1903
  10. Dora Burkholder letter, 1903
  11. Ansel V. Coffman letters, 1893-1913
  12. Anna Barbara (Coffman) Bontrager letters, 1897, 1910-1914, 1917-1918, 1930-1932
  13. Anna Barbara (Coffman letters) Bontrager letters, 1894-1896, 1901-1913, 1930, 1942-1952
  14. Daniel H. Coffman letters, 1903
  15. David J. Coffman letters, 1881-1913
  16. Ella Coffman letter
  17. Fannie Coffman letters, 1895-1914, 1942-1952
  18. Jacob M. Coffman letters, 1893-1895, 1910-1914
  19. John Coffman letter, 1911
  20. Frances Coffman letters, 1903, 1911-1913
  21. John S. Coffman letters, 1887, 1893-1899
  22. Magdalena Coffman letters, 1911
  23. Margery Coffman letters
  24. S.F. Coffman letters, 1895-1905, 1912-1913, 1918-1919, 1931-1935, 1939, 1940-1956
  25. William Coffman letters, 1892-1901, 1906-1907, 1913-1914, 1945-1953
  26. Boyd Cressman letters, 1929
  27. Saedie Culp letter, 1903
  28. Amanda Ebersole letters, 1891, 1896-1901
  29. Melina Ebersole letters, 1896, 1902, 1904
  30. William Fretz letters, 1896-1898, 1910-1911
  31. Barbara Gingerich letter, 1902
  32. DeWitt Good letters, 1900-1901, 1909
  33. Amanda Hartman letters, 1902-1903
  34. Jacob A. Heatwole letters, 1895, 1899, 1909
  35. Lizzie Koch letters, 1913
  36. Abram and Barbara Kratz letters, 1899, 1901
  37. Andrew Kratz letter, 1901
  38. Salome Lehman letter, 1902
  39. Mann family letters, 1901-1904, 1908, 1911-1912, 1930
  40. Mother Mann letters, 1897, 1901-1903, 1906
  41. Lillie Minnich letters, 1896, 1899, 1901-1903
  42. Ezra Rittenhouse letters, 1895-1899, 1901
  43. Valerie Rittenhouse letter, 1901
  44. Lottie Smith letter, 1929
  45. Addie Stauffer letter, 1902
  46. Anna Wachtel letter, 1903

Vol.2 (long box)

  1. Frank Gayman letters
  2. Tilman Moyer letters
  3. J.F. Rittenhouse letters
  4. "Special Letters"

Vol.3

  1. S.F. Coffman letters to Ella Mann, 1899-1900
  2. S.F. Coffman letters to Ella Mann, 1901
  3. S.F. Coffman letters to Ella Mann, 1902-03
  4. Ella Mann letters to S.F. Coffman, 1893-94
  5. Ella Mann letters to S.F. Coffman, 1895
  6. Ella Mann letters to S.F. Coffman, 1896
  7. Ella Mann letters to S.F. Coffman, 1897
  8. Ella Mann letters to S.F. Coffman, 1898
  9. Ella Mann letters to S.F. Coffman, 1899-1911
  10. Ella Mann Coffman general correspondence
  11. Report cards, death notices, marriage notices, etc.
  12. Flowers from Jerusalem
  13. S.F. Coffman sketches
  14. Elsie K. Bender letter, 1897
  15. Alice Bearss letter, 1901
  16. Ida Bergey letter, 1901
  17. M. Elizabeth Brown letters, 1912, 1914-1915
  18. Mary Brubacher letters, 1897, 1899
  19. Alda Culp letters, 1899, 1901
  20. Mary Denlinger letters, 1896, 1901-1903
  21. Sarah Funk letter, 1900
  22. Celesta Hartzler letters, 1897
  23. Lucetta High letters, 1897, 1901
  24. Barbara Kratz letters, 1897, 1899
  25. Berta Lehman letters, 1897, 1900
  26. Lizzie Minnich letters, 1888, 1897
  27. Debbie Moyer letters, 1899-1901
  28. Louida Nahrgang letter, 1897
  29. Saloma Rittenhouse letters, 1896
  30. Valerie Rittenhouse letter, 1901
  31. Anna Schact letter, 1893
  32. Barbara Sherk letter, 1896
  33. Rebecca & Sarah Sherk letter, 1913
  34. Linda Shantz letters, 1913
  35. Saphrona Sievenpiper letter, 1896
  36. Mollie Snyder letter, 1899
  37. Sarah Wismer letter, 1898
  38. Bertha Zook letter, 1897
  39. Lena Zook letter, 1902
  40. Family correspondence (mostly Fannie Coffman, but includes father, John S. Coffman, and other siblings
    1891-1901, 1907 (added Feb. 2001)

Vol.4

  1. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1935
  2. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1936
  3. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1936-80

Vol.5

  1. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1933
  2. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1934
  3. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1934
  4. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1935

Vol.6

  1. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1931-33
  2. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, 1960-78
  3. Barbara Coffman's correspondence, fan mail re: His Name was John

Vol.7

  1. Ellen Coffman's correspondence
  2. Ellen Coffman's correspondence

Vol.8

  1. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1917-21
  2. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1922
  3. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1923
  4. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1924
  5. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1925
  6. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1926
  7. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1927
  8. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1928
  9. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1929
  10. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1930
  11. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1931
  12. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1932
  13. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1933
  14. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1934

Vol.9

  1. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1918-34
  2. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1929-44

Vol.10

  1. John E. Coffman's correspondence from siblings, 1933-38
  2. John E. Coffman's correspondence from parents, 1933-38

Vol.11

  1. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1936
  2. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1937
  3. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1938

Vol.12

  1. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1928
  2. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1930
  3. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1934
  4. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1935
  5. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1935
  6. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1935
  7. John E. Coffman's correspondence, n.d.

Vol.13

  1. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1938
  2. John E. Coffman's correspondence, 1939
  3. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1939-40
  4. John E. Coffman's Summer Bible School correspondence, 1934-39
  5. John E. Coffman's MCC correspondence, 1940-45
  6. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1941
  7. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1942
  8. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1943
  9. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1944
  10. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1945
  11. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1946-53
  12. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1954-55
  13. John E. Coffman's correspondence with family, 1956-80
  14. John E. Coffman's letters to family, 1944-56

Return to top

Sub-Series 2: Business

Dates of Creation: 1897-1954

Vol.1

  1. H.D. Groh letters
  2. Historical Committee letters
  3. Historical Committee letters
  4. London, England Mission letters
  5. Non-Resistant Relief Organization letters, 1932, 1948
  6. Peace Problems Committee letters
  7. General Correspondence
  8. Howard Stevanus letters
  9. Arnold Gingrich letters
  10. Mennonite Conference of Ontario letters
  11. Mennonite Conference of Ontario letters
  12. Treasurer, Mennonite Conference of Ontario letters
  13. Secretary, Mennonite Conference of Ontario letters
  14. Moyer (First Mennonite) Church, Vineland letters
  15. Education and mission letters
  16. Ministerial support letters
  17. Conference-related correspondence, 1919-1928 (added Feb. 2001)
    (Includes lengthy letter from Boyd Cressman on the conference position on dress)
  18. Vineland correspondence, 1895-1901, 1925, 1928 (added Feb. 2001)
  19. Mixture of personal and conference correspondence, 1894-1927 (added Feb. 2001)
    (Includes letter of acceptance to Moody Bible Institute, 1894)

Vol.2

  1. Letters re: outlying congregations in Coffman's bishop district
  2. Notes of Ontario Mennonite Conference sessions, 1949; introduction to 1934 issue of Calendar of Appointments
  3. Hoover family letters. 1895-1903, 1907-1915, 1929
  4. J.S. Woolner and Amos Cressman letters, 1905-1907
  5. Correspondence with families in Blenheim congregation, 1897, 1900
  6. E.S. Hallman letters, 1896-1902, 1907-1909, 1914
  7. David Bergey letters, 1897-1898, 1900-1902, 1907-1919, 1932
  8. Samuel Honderich letters, 1907-1909
  9. A.C. Courtice letters, 1907
  10. Samuel S. Herner letters, 1895-1896, 1899-1900, 1911-1912
  11. A.C. Kolb letters, 1898, 1900-1903
  12. A.B. Snyder letters, 1896, 1901-1902, 1905, 1908-1915
  13. Bible Study Board letters, 1906, 1916-1919, 1922-1923
  14. Ephraim Snyder letters, 1917-1918, 1923-1924
  15. First Mennonite Church letters, 1923-1925, 1932
  16. A.B. Kolb letters, 1896-1899, 1901-1903, 1908
  17. Lancaster, PA Mission letters, 1910-1911
  18. A.H. Leaman letters, 1898-1902, 1909-1915, 1929-1930

Vol.3

  1. Mennonite Board of Education letters 1913-19
  2. Mennonite Board of Education textbook committee
  3. Mennonite Board of Education minutes 1917-22
  4. Mennonite Board of Education Special Matters
  5. Mennonite Board of Education letters 1922-23
  6. Mennonite Board of Education financial statements

Vol.4

  1. Historical Committee
  2. Mennonite Publishing House
  3. Military exemption and Bible study classes
  4. Correspondence with Governor-General of Canada
  5. Mennonite Church General Conference letters
  6. Mennonite Church Young People's Meeting 1922
  7. Mennonite Church General Conference Sessions, 1917
  8. Mennonite Church General Sunday School Committee letters
  9. Mennonite Church General Sunday School Committee letters
  10. Lessons Committee records of Mennonite Church Sunday School Committee
  11. Teacher Training Committee records of Mennonite Church Sunday School Committee
  12. D.H. Bender letters
  13. G.L. Bender letters
  14. Daniel Kauffman letters
  15. Mennonite Board of Missions letters
  16. Mennonite Publishing Committee letters
  17. H.F. Reist letters

Vol.5

  1. Mennonite Board of Rural Missions letters
  2. Ontario rural missions letters
  3. Correspondence re: proposed Goshen seminary, 1920-21
  4. Sherkston mission letters
  5. Ontario rural missions letters
  6. Sunday School Committee letters
  7. L.J. Burkholder letters

Vol.6

  1. Toronto Mission letters
  2. Clarence Center church letters
  3. Sherkston mission letters
  4. Markham church letters
  5. S.M. Kanagy letters
  6. J.I. Byler letters

Vol.7

  1. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, General Board letters
  2. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Missions Committee letters
  3. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Secretary's letters
  4. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Missions Study and Revision Committee
  5. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Program Committee
  6. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Missions Committee letters
  7. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Affiliations Committee
  8. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Executive Committee letters
  9. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Executive Committee letters
  10. Correspondence regarding L.S. Weber

Vol.8

  1. Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization letters
  2. Non-Resistant Relief Organization letters
  3. Misc. WWII-era letters

Vol.9

  1. Anonymous letters, 1895, 1906
  2. "A" letters, 1897, 1902, 1905, 1912, 1930, 1932
  3. "B" letters, 1897, 1911-1914, 1929-1952
  4. Nelson Bechtel letters, 1908, 1914-1915
  5. Nathaniel Bergey letters, 1908, 1913
  6. E.J. Berkey letters, 1895-1897, 1902, 1908
  7. D.B. Betzner letters, 1929
  8. Jacob Bixler letters, 1913
  9. Joseph Bingeman letter, 1901
  10. John Blosser letters, 1910
  11. N.O. Blosser letters, 1909-1910
  12. L.B. Blough letters, 1911
  13. E.C. Bossert letters, 1939
  14. Aaron C. Bowman letters, 1913
  15. M.C. Bowman letters, 1901
  16. R.R. Brenneman letters, 1899,
  17. Elias Bricker letters, 1901-1903
  18. Harvey Bricker letters, 1902
  19. Amos Brubacher letters, 1901
  20. Ida Brubacher letters, 1913, 1932
  21. Jacob Brubacher letters, 1911
  22. Menno Brubacher letters, 1916, 1931
  23. Simeon Brubacher letters, 1913
  24. George R. Brunk letters, 1899, 1901
  25. Jacob Brunk letters, 1911
  26. J.D. Brunk letters, [undated], 1908-1911, 1931
  27. Abram Burkhart letters, 1897
  28. Daniel Burkhardt letters, 1898
  29. Ada Burkholder letters, 1910-1913, 1915
  30. Oscar Burkholder letters, 1911-1912, 1931-1932
  31. Chester Bushart letters, 1916
  32. Rufus Buzzard letters, 1910-1911
  33. N.E. Byers letters, 1908-1913
  34. Jacob Byler letters, 1911, 1914
  35. "C" letters, 1899, 1908, 1910, 1913, 1924, 1930-1932
  36. H.D. Charles letters, 1911
  37. Amos Cressman letter, 1907
  38. Curtis Cressman letters, 1938, 1941, 1944
  39. Elvina Cressman letters, 1914
  40. M.C. Cressman letters, 1901, 1910-1914
  41. Clayton Culp letters, 1901
  42. "D" letters, 1900-1901, 1912
  43. C.F. Derstine letters, [19--]
  44. I.R. Detweiler letters, 1910-1911, 1914-1915
  45. Bernice Devitt letters, 1912-1913
  46. Elizabeth Dingee letters, 1910
  47. Dominion Alliance letters, 1900, 1913, 1915-1916
  48. Joseph Driver letters, 1912
  49. "E" letters, 1909, 1914, 1929-1930, 1932, 1947
  50. A.M. Eash letters, 1912-1913
  51. Gordon B. Eby letter, 1943
  52. Tilman Erb letter, 1908
  53. "F" letters. 1901
  54. A.L. Fretz letters, 1933
  55. J.C. Fretz letters, 1943-1947
  56. M.R. Fretz letters, 1904
  57. John F. Funk letters, 1894, 1897, 1901, 1904
  58. [spare]
  59. "G" letters, 1911, 1913-1914, 1936
  60. David Garber letter, 1901
  61. Fred Geiger letters, 1911
  62. Myron Gel letters. 1896, 1898
  63. A.C. Good letters, 1930
  64. Abner Good letters, 1911
  65. Christian Good letter, 1899
  66. I.B. Good letters, 1911
  67. Silas S. Good letters, 1911
  68. Samuel Good letters, 1915
  69. Solomon R. Good letters, 1899-1901
  70. Anson Groh letters, 1910-1915
  71. Herbert Groh letters, 1908, 1948
  72. Ivan Groh letters, 1932
  73. Mabel Groh letters, 1911
  74. Elmer Grubb letter, 1903
  75. "H" letters, 1900-1901, 1910-1912, 1930-1932, 1946
  76. Manasseh Hallman letters, 1911-1913
  77. John E. Hartzler letters, 1908-1914
  78. J.K. Hartzler letter, 1896
  79. J.S. Hartzler letters, 1908-1914, 1931
  80. J.W. Hartzler letters, 1913
  81. L.J. Heatwole letters
  82. E.D. Hess letters, 1909-1911
  83. David Hilty letter, 1899
  84. Joel Hoover letters, 1910-1912
  85. Leonard Hoover letters, 1910, 1913
  86. Milton Hoover letters, 1929
  87. Samuel Hoover letters, 1896, 1902
  88. John Horsch letters, 1900, 1909-1914
  89. C.K. Hostetler letters, 1896, 1899-1901
  90. M.S. Hunsberger letter, 1910
  91. D.J. Johns letter, 1899
  92. Frank Johnson letters, 1910-1911
  93. Mattie E. Johnson letters, 1901
  94. "K" letters, 1895-1896, 1910-1920, 1929, 1931
  95. W.W. Kauffman letters, 1897
  96. F.B. Kime letters, 1902
  97. B.B. King letters, 1910-1916
  98. Knechtel family letters
    S.F. Coffman to Daniel Knechtel, Berlin, Ontario, 26 Feb 1912
    S. F. Coffman to Daniel Knechtel, Berlin, Ontario, 22 Mar 1912
    Mrs. Knechtel, Berlin, Ontario to the Coffman family, 5 Mar 1912
    D.L. Knechtel, Berlin, Ontario to the Coffman family, 14 Apr 1912
    Mrs. Knechtel, Berlin, Ontario to S.F. Coffman, 19 Jul 1913
     
  99. John Koch letter, undated
  100. H.P. Krehbiel letter, 1907
  101. H.W. Krehbiel letter, 1935
  102. Jacob Krehbiel letter, 1911
  103. W.B. Kriegbaum letters, 1901
  104. J. Kurz letters, 1896
  105. "L" letters, 1896, 1932
  106. P.R. Lantz letters,1913
  107. George J. Lapp letters, 1910-1912
  108. Abraham S. Leatherman letter, 1929
  109. Levi Leatherman letter, 1902
  110. D.A. Lehman letters,1929
  111. Herschey Lehman letter, 1899
  112. J.S. Lehman letter, 1895
  113. M.C. Lehman letters, 1931
  114. N.A. Lind letter,1916
  115. Bertha Lindhorst letter,1932
  116. W. Lineweaver letter, 1897
  117. Aaron Loucks letters, 1895, 1899-1901, 1904, 1908
  118. "M" letters, undated, 1894, 1898, 1907, 1910-1914
  119. J.B. Martin letters, 1931-1932
  120. Menno E. Martin letter, 1930
  121. Nelson Michael letters, 1910-1916
  122. Jesse Martin letter, 1909
  123. Oliver Martin letter, 1902
  124. C.Z. Mast letters, 1943
  125. Emerson McDowell letters, 1905, 1941
  126. John H. Mellinger letters, 1896
  127. A.J. Metzler letters, 1940
  128. D.D. Miller letters, 1929
  129. Dave Miller letter, 1902
  130. Ernest Miller letters, 1911, 1913, 1929
  131. H.T. Miller letters, 1902, 1904, 1911
  132. Orie Miller letter, 1943, 1949
  133. Abraham Moyer letter, 1900
  134. A.H. Moyer letter, 1901
  135. William Moyer letters, 1900-1901
  136. J.S. Musselman letters, 1909-1911
  137. G.W. North letters, 1895-1896
  138. J.M. Nunnemaker letters, 1898, 1901
  139. Jonas Nyce letter, 1908
  140. "O" letters, 1899, 1911
  141. Perring Page letters, 1913
  142. W.J. Perry letters, 1911-1912
  143. David E. Planes letters, 1912
  144. Cassius Provins letters, 1901
  145. "R" letters, 1896, 1933
  146. A.B. Ramer letters, 1896
  147. Isaac Reaman letters, 1896
  148. Jesse Ressor letters, 1910
  149. J.A. Ressler letters, 1896, 1910-1914
  150. Freeman Rittenhouse letters, 1912
  151. H.F. Rittenhouse letters, 1932
  152. M.F. Rittenhouse letters, 1911, 1914
  153. I.W. Royer letters, 1911-1914
  154. "S" letters, 1901, 1912, 1916, 1919, 1929-1933, 1942, 1946
  155. Ephraim Schaaf letters, 1903
  156. Delton Schmidt letters, 1931
  157. Moses Schmidt letters, 1902
  158. F.W. Schisler letters, 1908
  159. Samuel Schwartz letters, 1911
  160. J.R. Shank letters, 1913
  161. J.W. Shank letters, 1912
  162. Israel Shantz letters, 1901, 1903
  163. J.M. Shantz letters, 1898
  164. Lloyd Shantz letters, 1931
  165. Moses H. Shantz letters, 1911, 1915
  166. Simeon Shantz letters, 1911
  167. W.E. Shantz letters, 1908
  168. J.M. Shenk letters, 1910, 1931
  169. S.G. Shetler letters, 1899-1900, 1905, 1911
  170. Ben Shoemaker letters, 1901
  171. J.S. Shoemaker letters, 1908, 1914
  172. Ephraim Snider letters, 1911-1914
  173. C. Henry Smith letters, 1910-1911
  174. J.B. Smith letters, 1910-1911, 1914
  175. J.D. Smith letters, 1929
  176. William & Francis Smith letters, 1908, 1911
  177. J.P. Smucker letters, 1900
  178. R.R. Smucker letters, 1929
  179. Ida Snider letters, 1913
  180. Jonas Snider letters, 1903-1904
  181. B.P. Snyder letters, 1897, 1899-1900
  182. Elvin Snyder letters, 1930-1931
  183. Emma Snyder letters, 1913
  184. Ephraim Snyder letters, 1914-1916
  185. Oliver Snyder letters, 1911, 1913
  186. John D. Souder letters, 1936
  187. A.E. Stauffer letters, 1902, 1912-1913
  188. Jas Stalter letters, 1911-1913
  189. Jonas Snyder letters, 1911-1915
  190. Noah Stauffer letters, 1907, 1910, 1915
  191. Norman Stauffer letters, 1901, 1913
  192. Norman Steckle letters, 1902
  193. Clara & Menno Steiner letters, 1909-1911, 1918
  194. A.J. Steiner letters, 1911-1914
  195. Howard Stevanus letters, 1915
  196. M.D. Stutzman letters, 1931
  197. Frank Summer letters, 1901
  198. Clara Unzicker letters, 1931
  199. Peter Unzicker letters, 1898
  200. "W" letters, 1897, 1911-1912, 1929-1932
  201. I.A. Wambold letters, 1896, 1900, 1907, 1913-1914
  202. C.P. Watson letters, 1901
  203. George A. Weber letters, 1915
  204. M.S. Weber letter, 1912
  205. Noah Weber letters, 1911-1914
  206. U.K. Weber letters, 1908-1914
  207. A.D. Wenger letters, 1896-1897, 1900, 1910-1911
  208. Daniel Wenger letters, 1901
  209. S.B. Wenger letters, 1911-1914
  210. P.E. Whitmer letters, 1910-1911, 1914
  211. Samuel Wideman letters, 1895-1896, 1910-1914
  212. Daniel Wismer letters, 1911
  213. Isaiah Wismer letters, 1915
  214. I.A. Yoder letters, 1895-1898, 1901
  215. Abner Yoder letters, 1940
  216. C.Z. Yoder letter, 1911-1912, 1929, 1932
  217. D.A. Yoder letters, 1912
  218. John D. Yoder letters, 1912
  219. Wilber Yoder letters, 1944
  220. Jonas Zavitz letters, 1912
  221. Edna Zehr letter, 1931
  222. J.W. Zerbe letter, 1898

Vol. 10 (Special correspondence, accrued 1999/2000)

  1. Vineland congregation correspondence, 1950-1954
    Includes carbon copy of typescript - "A record of Russian Mennonite Aid Committee for Lincoln County, Ontario, 1873-1880" by Philip Wismer, Deacon, 1924
  2. Rainham congregation correspondence, 1907-1951
  3. Conferences and meeting arrangements, 1929-1938 (In which Coffman invited to participate)
  4. Elkhart Investigating Committee, 1902, 1922-1923 (Indiana-Michigan Conference difficulties; Coffman was secretary of the committee) Includes Herald of Truth report on 1902 difficulties in the conference, and multiple copies of the final report.
  5. First Mennonite Church (Kitchener) Investigating Committee, 1921-1924 (Includes petition by members of congregation seeking investigation)
  6. Personal Correspondence of Special Interest, 1914-1918
    Notes: Most of this file deals with issues related to World War I and the Mennonite position. A digital copy of the World War I material is available here.
  7. "Special letters," 1915-1936 (Many deal with Mennonite Board of Education issues, some with Mennonite Publishing House, some with theological questions)
  8. Letter about background to hymn, "In They Holy Place" written by Coffman

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Series 2: Records

Sub-Series 1: Personal

Date(s) of creation: 1901-55

125.5 cm. of records

Vol.1

  1. Will (1935); Statement read at 25th wedding anniversary 1926
  2. Subscription to Christian Ministry, 1948
  3. Inventory of periodicals 1955
  4. Application for Clergy Certificate on CPR 1901
  5. Church membership certificates for Salome Ellen Coffman, Barbara Francis Coffman and Magdalena Elizabeth Coffman
  6. Application for permit to leave Canada, 21 February 1918

Vol.2

  1. "B" bills
  2. Electric bills
  3. Bell telephone bills
  4. "C" bills
  5. Canadian Printing Co. bills
  6. Cheque book
  7. M.C. Cressman bills
  8. "D" bills
  9. Electrolux bills
  10. Farm bills
  11. W.G. Fletcher bills
  12. C.J. Freeman bills
  13. Fretz bills
  14. "G" bills
  15. "H" bills
  16. "K" bills
  17. "M" bills
  18. MacLaren Cheese bills
  19. Niagara telephone bills
  20. "O" bills
  21. "P" bills
  22. Plumbing & Heating bills
  23. Printing bills
  24. "R" bills
  25. Record of Christian Work bills
  26. "S" bills
  27. Tax Receipts
  28. Travel bills
  29. "T-U-V" bills
  30. "W" bills
  31. "Young People's Paper" bills
  32. Maggie Book estate records
  33. Christopher Hoover estate records
  34. Barbara Kratz estate records
  35. Barbara Kratz estate records
  36. Sarah L. Moyer estate records
  37. Ezra Rittenhouse estate records
  38. Ezra Rittenhouse estate records

Vol.3

  1. Address books
  2. Autograph books
  3. Business cards
  4. Memorandum book 1903-04
  5. Memorandum book 1907
  6. Memorandum book 1908
  7. Memorandum book 1909
  8. Memorandum book 1917
  9. Memorandum book 1918-21
  10. Memorandum book 1918-26
  11. Memorandum book 1930-32
  12. Memorandum book 1935
  13. Memorandum book 1936
  14. Memorandum book 1945
  15. Memorandum books of sermon texts
  16. Library indexes

Vol.4

  1. Diary 1903
  2. Diary 1904
    2a. Diary 1909
  3. Diary 1912
  4. Diary 1913
  5. Diary 1916
  6. Diary 1917
  7. Diary 1918
  8. Diary 1919
  9. Diary 1919
  10. Diary 1921
  11. Diary 1922
  12. Diary 1923
  13. Diary 1925
  14. Diary 1933
  15. Diary 1934
  16. Diary 1935
  17. Diary 1936
  18. Diary 1937
  19. Diary 1938
  20. Diary 1939
    20a. Diary 1940
  21. Diary 1945
  22. Diary 1896
  23. Diary 1897
  24. Diary 1898
  25. Diary 1900
  26. Diary 1901
  27. Diary 1902

Vol.5

  1. Ella Mann's diary 1893
  2. Ella Mann's recipe and address book
  3. Ella Mann's memorandum book
  4. Ella Mann's diary 1898
  5. Ella Mann's music score

Vol.6

  1. John E. Coffman's account book
  2. John E. Coffman's diary 1928
  3. John E. Coffman's diary 1929
  4. John E. Coffman's diary 1930-31
  5. John E. Coffman's diary 1933-34
  6. John E. Coffman's diary 1934
  7. John E. Coffman's diary 1933-34
  8. John E. Coffman's diary 1935
  9. John E. Coffman's diary 1935-36
  10. John E. Coffman's diary 1937
  11. John E. Coffman's diary 1937
  12. John E. Coffman's diary, 1937-38
  13. John E. Coffman's diary, 1939
  14. John E. Coffman's diary, 1939-40
  15. John E. Coffman's diary, 1941
  16. John E. Coffman's diary, 1942
  17. John E. Coffman's diary, 1943
  18. John E. Coffman's diary, 1944
  19. John E. Coffman's diary, 1945
  20. John E. Coffman's diary, 1946
  21. John E. Coffman's diary, 1947
  22. John E. Coffman's diary, 1948
  23. John E. Coffman's diary, 1949
  24. John E. Coffman's diary, 1950
  25. John E. Coffman's diary, 1951
  26. John E. Coffman's diary, 1952
  27. John E. Coffman's diary, 1953
  28. John E. Coffman's diary, 1954
  29. John E. Coffman's diary, 1973
  30. John E. Coffman's diary, 1975
  31. John E. Coffman's diary, 1976
  32. John E. Coffman's diary, 1977
  33. John E. Coffman's diary, 1978
  34. John E. Coffman's diary, 1979
  35. John E. Coffman's diary, 1980

Vol.7

  1. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1938-42
  2. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1943-47
  3. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1981
  4. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1984
  5. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1960
  6. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1985
  7. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1963
  8. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1972
  9. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1975
  10. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1979
  11. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1980
  12. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1986
  13. Barbara Coffman's diary, 1988-89
  14. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1974
  15. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1975
  16. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1976
  17. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1977
  18. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1980
  19. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1982
  20. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1985
  21. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1987
  22. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1988
  23. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1990
  24. Barbara Coffman's datebook, 1993
  25. Barbara Coffman's receipt book
  26. Barbara Coffman's memorandum book, 1966-74
  27. Barbara Coffman's memorandum book, n.d.
  28. Meditation at the funeral of Barbara Coffman, 19 Nov 1992, by Kevin Block
    Custodial history:  Donated to the Archives by Vernon Brubacher in 2011.

Vol.8

  1. John S. Coffman's memorandum book, 1888
  2. John S. Coffman's memorandum book, 1895-97

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Sub-Series 2: Business

Date(s) of creation: 1901-54

Vol.1

  1. Minutes of organizational meetings of Mennonite congregations in Alberta, 1901
  2. Moyer Mennonite Church cemetery records, with list of Daniel High's children
  3. Reports of the Mennonite Immigration and Colonization Association of North America
  4. Minutes of Ontario Mennonite Conference ministers' meeting, 1915
  5. Constitution of the Mennonite congregation near Okotoks, Alberta
  6. Ontario Mennonite Conference Bishop's meeting, 1951
  7. Ontario Mennonite Sunday School Conference reports and correspondence
  8. Minutes of the Mennonite Board of Education, Mennonite General Conference
  9. Rockway Mennonite High School reports and letters
  10. Reports of Bishop of Toronto Mennonite Mission
  11. Mennonite Mission Board of Ontario notes
  12. Ontario Mennonite Conference ministerial committee records
  13. Minutes of Ontario Mennonite Conference bishops' meeting, 1944
  14. Moyer Mennonite Church historical records
  15. Ontario Mennonite Conference minutes
  16. Ontario Mennonite Conference Executive meeting minutes

Vol.2

  1. Ontario Mennonite Conference constitutions and charter
  2. Proposed Automobile Aid Plan correspondence
  3. Ontario Mennonite Conference bishop's meeting on communion, 1939
  4. Ontario Mennonite Conference bishop's meeting, 1945
  5. Correspondence with A.C. Kolb re: Gov't. annuities
  6. Ontario Mennonite Conference agendas, etc.
  7. Published proceedings of Mennonite General Conference, 1896-191
  8. Draft constitution of the Mennonite Conference of Ontario, 190
  9. Proposed Ontario Amish Mennonite Auto Aid Plan Constitution
  10. Resolution of Ontario Mennonite Conference Peace Committee, 1943
  11. Mennonite General Conference Memo books, 1953

Vol.3

  1. Proposed Mennonite Board of Missions Constitution ca.1938
  2. Mennonite General Conference Polity Committee correspondence, 1927-40
  3. Mennonite General Conference Polity Committee correspondence, 1935-40
  4. Mennonite General Conference Polity Committee correspondence, 1930-36
  5. Mennonite General Conference Polity Committee correspondence, 1939-43

Vol.4

  1. Examination for ministerial candidates, Mennonite Conference of Ontario
  2. Mennonite Mission Board of Ontario constitutional drafts
  3. Ontario Mennonite Conference Committee on Birth Control Report
  4. Ontario Christian Workers' Conference Constitution
  5. Record of Announcements and Appointments at Vineland Church

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Series 3: Manuscripts

Date(s) of creation: ca. 1895-1954

125.5 cm. of manuscripts

Sub-Series 1: Sermons

Vol.1

  1. Genesis sermons
  2. Exodus sermons
  3. Leviticus sermons
  4. Numbers sermons
  5. Deuteronomy sermons
  6. Joshua sermons
  7. Judges sermons
  8. Ruth sermons
  9. I-II Samuel sermons
  10. I-II Kings sermons
  11. I-II Chronicles sermons
  12. Ezra sermons
  13. Nehemiah sermons
  14. Esther sermons
  15. Job sermons
  16. Psalms sermons
  17. Proverbs sermons
  18. Ecclesiastes sermons
  19. Song of Solomon sermons
  20. Isaiah sermons
  21. Jeremiah sermons
  22. Lamentations sermons
  23. Ezekial sermons
  24. Daniel sermons
  25. Hosea sermons
  26. Joel sermons
  27. Amos sermons
  28. Jonah sermons
  29. Micah sermons
  30. Nahum sermons
  31. Unused
  32. Habakkuk sermons
  33. Zephaniah sermons
  34. Haggai sermons
  35. Zechariah sermons
  36. Malachai sermons
  37. Matthew sermons
  38. Mark sermons
  39. Luke sermons
  40. John sermons
  41. Acts sermons
  42. Romans sermons
  43. I Corinthians sermons
  44. II Corinthians sermons
  45. Galatians sermons
  46. Ephesians sermons
  47. Philippians sermons
  48. Colossians sermons
  49. I Thessalonians sermons
  50. II Thessalonians sermons
  51. I Timothy sermons
  52. II Timothy sermons
  53. Titus sermons
  54. Philemon sermons
  55. Hebrews sermons
  56. James sermons
  57. I Peter sermons
  58. II Peter sermons
  59. I, II, III John sermons
  60. Jude sermons
  61. Revelations sermons
  62. Mennonite church history lectures
  63. Mennonite Hour radio sermons
  64. Bible Conference sermons
  65. Woman's Sphere sermons
  66. Special Bible Study sermons
  67. Funeral sermons
  68. Sermons of special interest
  69. Sermons of special interest
  70. Sermons of other ministers
  71. Sermon outlines

Vol.2

  1. Special lectures to young people
  2. Elkhart Institute lessons
  3. Communion, baptism, inquiry sermons, Vineland
  4. Communion, baptism, inquiry sermons, Rainham and South Cayuga
  5. Communion, baptism, inquiry sermons, Toronto
  6. Communion, baptism, inquiry sermons, New York
  7. Communion, baptism, inquiry sermons, Outside Points
  8. Special sermons, Vineland
  9. Special sermon series, Vineland
  10. Sunday evening sermons, Vineland
  11. Special sermon series, Outside Points
  12. Doctrinal sermons
  13. Sermons at Outside Points
  14. Vineland sermons
  15. Vineland sermons
  16. Vineland sermons
  17. Vineland sermons
  18. Russalism sermons
  19. Moody Bible Institute notes
  20. Misc. sermons 1904-10
  21. Misc. sermons 1914-21
  22. Training lessons for Sunday School teachers
  23. Special Studies

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Sub-Series 2: Articles

Vol.1

  1. Christian Monitor articles

Vol.2

  1. "The Christian Woman's Veil"
  2. "The Bible School"
  3. "Two Church Papers"
  4. "Preparation of the Teacher"
  5. "Who Are the Mennonites?" Canadian Baptist, 14 Jun 1950

Vol.3

  1. Barbara Coffman's manuscript of His Name was John
  2. Misc. oral presentations and articles by Barbara Coffman
  3. Barbara Coffman's historical dramas

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Sub-Series 3: Research Notes

Vol.1

  1. Chicago Mission research notes
  2. Translated letters, 1841-59

Vol.2

  1. Barbara Coffman's genealogical notes
  2. Barbara Coffman translations of Gross family letters
  3. Barbara Coffman list of Canadian Mennonite letters in the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Historical Society
  4. Letter fragments collected by Barbara Coffman
  5. Letter fragments translated by Barbara Coffman
  6. Barbara Coffman's copy of 1986 "Tour of the Twenty"
  7. Barbara Coffman's research notes on J.S. Coffman
  8. Barbara Coffman's research notes on Fry family history
  9. Barbara Coffman's copy of Isaac G. Martin's criticisms of Letters to the Mennonite Community in Upper Canada
  10. Barbara Coffman's research on Pennsylvania Germans
  11. Barbara Coffman's copies of Gross family letters in Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Historical Library
  12. Barbara Coffman's records of Daniel High and New Mennonites
  13. Letters to John S. Coffman preserved by Barbara Coffman
  14. Fry family letters preserved by Barbara Coffman
  15. Barbara Coffman's maps of Mennonite homesteads in Lincoln County

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Sub-Series 4: Newsclippings

Vol.1

  1. Adolscent social problems
  2. Bible schools
  3. Bible study
  4. Church
  5. Doctrines
  6. Denominations
  7. Devotions
  8. Education
  9. Evangelism
  10. Gardening
  11. History
  12. Jewish people
  13. Life insurance
  14. Literary
  15. Lodges
  16. Marriage and Divorce
  17. Ministry
  18. Missions
  19. Music
  20. Peace
  21. Poetry
  22. Politics
  23. Religion
  24. Science
  25. Cults
  26. Social Reform
  27. Sunday School
  28. Temperance
  29. War
  30. Miscellaneous

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Series 4: Memorabilia

Date(s) of creation: ca. 1876-1954

6.5 cm. of photos
93 cm. of ephemera and books

Sub-Series 1: Photos

Vol.1

  1. Photos

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Sub-Series 2: Cards

Vol.1

  1. Sympathy Cards

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Sub-Series 3: Ephemera and Books

Vol.1

  1. The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.- New York : American Bible Society.- 1876.
  2. Doctrines of the Bible : A Brief Discussion of the Teachings of God's Word / Daniel Kauffman, ed.- Scottdale : Mennonite Publishing Company.- 1928.
  3. Landmarks of Church History : To the Reformation / Rev. Henry Cowan, D.D.- New York : Fleming H. Revell Company.- n.d.
  4. The Conscience / Joseph Gowan and George Gowan.- London : Elliot Stock.- 1905.
  5. A Campsite in the Making / Herb Groh.- Ottawa : Ottawa and District Boys' Work Board.- 1956.
  6. First Lessons in Latin / Elisha Jones.- Chicago : S.C. Griggs and Co.- 1883.
  7. Octaves / Henry Turner Miller.- Beamsville.- 1904.
  8. Joseph W. Yoder: Lecturer--Singer--Entertainer / Joseph W. Yoder.- Huntingdon, Pennsylvania : The Yoder Publishing Company.- n.d.
  9. Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion / Victor E. Marsden.- rpt. 1933.
  10. Osteopathy booklets
  11. How to Know the Wild Flowers / M. Parkinson.- Toronto : The Educational Publishing Company.- 1905.
  12. Catalogue of the Rittenhouse Libary / Annie R. Fry.- Lincoln County, ON : Gleneyrie School.- 1914.- Catalogue of Rittenhouse School Museum.- n.d.
  13. Sunday School lesson books
  14. The Foreign Missions Conference of North America : Twenty-Third Annual Session / Fennell P. Turner and Frank Knight Sanders, eds.- New York : Foreign Missions Conference.- 1926.- The Foreign Missions Conference of North America : Twenty-Sixth Annual Session.-
    Fennell P. Turner, ed.- New York : Foreign Missions Conference.- 1919.
  15. National Council for Prevention of War News Bulletin.- Washington, D.C. : National Council for Prevention of War.- 1926-27.
  16. War and Peace pamphlets
  17. Amish Mennonite conference programs
  18. Dedication programs
  19. Missions meeting programs
  20. Elkhart Institute programs
  21. Music conference programs
  22. Educational programs
  23. General Conference programs
  24. Vineland and Niagara District programs
  25. Sunday School Conference programs
  26. Sunday School Conference programs
  27. Sunday School Conference programs
  28. Sunday School Conference programs
  29. Sunday School Conference programs
  30. Sunday School Conference programs
  31. Sunday School Conference programs
  32. Young People's meeting programs
  33. Bible Conference programs
  34. The Bible True and Infidelity Wicked / William S. Plumer.- New York : American Tract Society.- n.d.- presented to Samuel F. Coffman by the Mennonite Sunday School, December, 1880.
  35. Loyal Responses / Frances Ridley Havergal.- New York : E.P. Dutton.- 1884.- presented to Samuel F. Coffman by Mennonite S. School, Elkhart, Ind., for attendance during 1884, December 1881.
  36. Whose Fault was It?.- New York : Dodd, Mead, and Company.- n.d.- presented to Samuel F. Coffman by the Mennonite Sunday School, Elkhart, Ind. December, 1881.
  37. "Hermonische Melodien Büchlein".- Clinton Township, Upper Canada.- 1810 (Fraktur piece by Catharine Kratz)

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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