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 (PDF) | April 1919-1924 (PDF) |
XV-11.2.2/2 Correspondence
XV-11.2.3/2 News clippings
| News clippings (PDF) |
XV-11.4.5/1 News clippings
| Undated (PDF) | 1917 (1) (PDF) | 1917 (2) (PDF) |
| 1918 (1) (PDF) | 1918 (2) (PDF) | 1919 (1) (PDF) |
| 1919 (2) (PDF) | 1919 (3) (PDF) |
XV-11.2.3/5 Manuscript,"Non-Resistant Groups in World War I"
| "Non-Resistant Groups in World War I" (PDF) |
XV-11.2.3/6 Appeals to government, U.S. and Canada
| Appeals to government by various U.S. and Canadian organizations (PDF) |
XV-11.2.3/7 Copies of exemption forms
| Copies of exemption forms (PDF) |
XV-11.4.5/2 Military exemption tribunals
| Miscellaneous (PDF) | Military Service Branch Tribunal Circulars (PDF) |
| Local Exemption Tribunals list (1) (PDF) | Local Exemption Tribunals list (2) (PDF) |
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 (PDF) |
XV-11.4.5/4 Appeals for exemption under the Military Service Act
XV-11.4.6/1 Military Service Act exemption process
| Military Service Act exemption process (PDF) |
Personal collections
Hist.Mss.1.4.2/4 Lewis J.Burkholder's Non-Resistant Relief Organization files
| Burkholder (1) (PDF) | Burkholder (2) (PDF) |
| Burkholder (3) (PDF) | Burkholder (4) (PDF) |
Hist.Mss.1.1.1.2.10/6 Samuel F.Coffman's World War I personal correspondence
| Coffman (1) (PDF) | Coffman (2) (PDF) |
Hist.Mss.1.61/2 Christian Gascho's Non-Resistant Relief Organization files
| Gascho (1) (PDF) | Gascho (2) (PDF) |
Hist.Mss.1. 225.2/1 Thomas Reesor's account of his experiences with the Non-Resistant Relief Organization
| Thomas Reesor (PDF) |
Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference
VIII-2.3.1/1 Non-Resistant Relief Organization correspondence
| 1917-March 1918 (PDF) | March 1918-May 1918 (PDF) |
| May 1918-August 1918 (PDF) | August 1918-February 1919 (PDF) |
| March 1919-1925 (PDF) |
VIII-2.3.1/3 Mennonite Relief Fund
| Receipt book and correspondence (PDF) | Receipts and correspondence (2) (PDF) |
| Receipts and correspondence (3) (PDF) |
VIII-2.3.2/1 Correspondence re military exemption
| Undated-May 1918 (PDF) | May 1918-1919 (PDF) |
Ontario District sewing circles, 1918
| II-5.4.2/2 Minute book (PDF) | II-5.4.6/2 Financial records (PDF) |
Canadian Mennonite pamphlets
| Memorandum of Laws Affecting the Members of the Mennonite Religious Society and Military Service in Canada (PDF), [Ontario? : Non-Resistant Relief Organization?, 1917?] | Official Documents from the Canadian Government regarding Exemption of Mennonites from Military Service in Canada (PDF). Gretna, Manitoba: B. Ewert's Printery, 1918. |