Alma and Lewis Reesor

Title: Lewis and Alma (Fretz) Reesor fonds

Dates of creation: 1837, 1933-1934, 1941-1943, 1948, 1995 ; predominantly 1941-1942

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records ; 19 photographs

Biographical sketch: Lewis Howard Reesor (1919-1999) and Alma (Fretz) Reesor (1921-1989) lived in the Markham, Ontario area. Both joined the Wideman Mennonite Church in 1934.  Lewis Reesor was a conscientious objector during the Second World War, and served from November 1941 to March 1942 at the Montreal River Alternative Service work camp. The couple married in 1947 and had five children. They farmed at Lot 26 Concession 8, Markham Township.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives in 2016 and 2020 by Martha Schatti, Marvin Reesor, Harold Reesor and Marylou deBruyn

Scope and content: Fonds consists primarily of photographs acquired by Lewis Reesor during his time in Montreal River. Also included are a number of family documents.

Notes:
Original archival description created 2020 by Laureen Harder-Gissing

File list:

1. Certificates of membership for Lewis Reesor and Alma Fretz issued by Wideman Mennonite Church, 1934
2. Ontario Mennonite Bible School certificate for Alma Fretz, 1941
3. Ontario Mennonite Sunday School Conference certificate for Scripture memorization to Alma Fretz, 1933
4. Christmas card from the "Argentine Snyders" (Mary (Fretz) Snyder, aunt to Alma Reesor), [1945?]
5. Letter from George Ford, Lewis Reesor's friend in the army, 1943
6. Typescript of interview with conscientious objectors Lewis Reesor, Leonard Ramer, Ross Wideman and Aaron Grove by Jennifer Hoover, 1995
7. Letter of thanks for material assistance from Helene (Bergen) Ulrich, a Mennonite refugee from the Soviet Union, written from a refugee camp in Europe, 1948 (includes translation)
8. Letter from Henry and Maria Hershberger with greetings from Jacob and Sarah Blanch, to Jacob and Fanny Berki, Daniel Hoover and Christian Berkey, 1837 (with translation)
9. Lewis Reesor's photographs of Montreal River Alternative Service work camp, 1941-1942