Aaron C. Kolb

Title: Aaron C. Kolb fonds

Dates of creation: 1900-1937

Physical description: 5 cm of textual records

Biographical sketch: Aaron Clemens Kolb (Dec. 7, 1871-May 15, 1937) was the son of Jacob Z. Kolb and Maria Bowman. At the age of 17 he went to Elkhart, Indiana where he worked with the Mennonite Publishing Co. owned by John F. Funk. He served as the first secretary of the Elkhart Institute (later Goshen College). He married Phoebe Mumaw on Jan. 1, 1899.

In 1907 he moved to Saskatchewan where he was a farmer and teacher, and the first postmaster in Herbert -- a role he filled until 1931. The family then returned to Kitchener where he lived until his death.

For more information see the obituary in Gospel Herald, June 10, 1937 and the entry in Pioneers and prominent people of Saskatchewan (Winnipeg, 1924), p. 212.

Custodial history: Folders 1-4 were donated to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario in the early 1990s; folders 5-7 were donated by Elin Edwards in March 2000.

Scope and content: Contains correspondence, articles and papers written by Aaron Kolb, Manuscript copies of musical arranged or written by Kolb, and some published materials related to music.

Note: Original description created by Sam Steiner

File list:

1. Photocopies of a letter from MacKenzie King (copied from the King Collection, National Archives of Canada)
2. Photocopy of a photograph of A.C. Kolb in the Phoebe Mumaw Kolb collection in the Archives of the Mennonite Church
3. Photo postcard of Victoria Park (Berlin, Ontario), 1906
4. Published and typescript copies of articles and papers written by A.C. Kolb, including:
   "Music, a potential force in the development of a complete life," 1932
   "Maintaining our congregational singing," n.d.
   "Remembered," n.d.
   "The pathway of life," n.d.
   "What is Christianity," n.d.
   "Finding our place in life," n.d.
   "Clouds," before 1931
   "Observing the sabbath," before 1931
   "God, the God of Providence," n.d.
   "The foundation of Christianity," n.d.
   "Where Satan failed," 1920s?
   "The consistent worshipper," before 1931
   "Lifting up Christ," before 1931
   "When evening shadows fall," n.d. (poem)
   "What is man?," ca. 1906?
   "What may I expect?," n.d.
   "The greatest servant of all," n.d.
   "The Christian view of Jesus," 1928 - delivered to United Church of Canada, Herbert, Sask.
   "Bible difficulties," n.d.
   "You are traveling. Where do you get off?," before 1931
   "The ascension, the crowning work of redemption," before 1931
   "Easter reflections," before 1931
   "Hindrances on progress in our Christian journey," n.d.
   "How you talk!" n.d.
   "Self denial for the sake of others," n.d.
   "Grow," n.d.
   "Why do we pray?" n.d.
   "Friendship," n.d.
   "Christian educational ideals," 1930s - delivered to St. Jacobs Young Peoples Meeting
   "Thine, thine alone," n.d. (poem)
   "Great hymns of the church," n.d.
   "Christ: the basis for lasting peace," by Elven V. Snyder, 1937.
   Plus clippings of published articles by A.C. Kolb.
5. Manuscript copies of musical arranged or written by A.C. Kolb, 1930s? 
6. Misc. issues of choral magazines, 1924-1931, including Volunteer choir, Choir leader, The Choir herald
7. Three printed programs of Mennonite Gospel Chorus, 1934-1935