J. Winfield Fretz

Classification scheme: 
Hist. Mss. 1.24

Title: J. Winfield Fretz fonds

Dates of creation: 1938-[1980?]

Physical description: 1.78 m of textual records

Biographical sketch: J. Winfield Fretz was born in 1910. He received his B.A. from Bluffton in 1934, his M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1938, his B.D. from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1940, and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1941. He was Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bethel College, 1942-47; Associate Professor of Sociology at Bethel College, 1948-50; Professor of Sociology and Chairman, Division of Social Sciences at Bethel College, 1951-63; Acting President, Bethel College, 1960-61; President, Conrad Grebel College, 1963-73; Professor of Sociology, Conrad Grebel College, 1963-79. He helped in the formation of the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale, the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union of Ontario, and the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario. He died January 24, 2005 in North Newton, KS.

Custodial history: The fonds was donated to the Archives at various times by J. Winfield Fretz. Files in Series 5-7 were received in 2001, at a later date than the rest of the files, and processed by the Archives in 2018.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of personal correspondence, committee records and research materials.

Notes: Original archival description created 1990s by Sam Steiner.

File list: There are four series 1) Personal correspondence; 2) Mutual aid correspondence and minutes; 3) Mennonite colonization research; 4) Waterloo County Mennonite history project; 5) Agricultural survey; 6) Teaching; and 7) Miscellaneous research and correspondence

Series 1: Personal correspondence and memorabilia

Vol.1

  1. Curriculum Vitae, 1975
  2. MCC Central Kansas correspondence
  3. Correspondence re: Commemorative Marker for Mennonite Settlement at Reesor, Ontario
  4. Correspondence re: research grant for Hugh Laurence
  5. Correspondece re: teaching at Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 1947-52
  6. MCC(Akron) orientation materials, 1964-66
  7. Correspondence re: David Appavo dissertation
  8. University of Waterloo, 55th Convocation Programme, where J. Winfield Fretz received LL.D.
  9. Newsclippings
  10. Addresses
  11. Franconia Mennonite Law Suit--Court Record. Copy given J. Winfield Fretz by Elvin Souder Esq. Counsel for the defendents.
  12. Blodwin Davies correspondence
  13. Folk Arts Council correspondence
  14. Julius A. Franz correspondence
  15. J. Herbert Fretz correspondence
  16. Melvin Gingerich correspondence
  17. Philip Hazelton correspondence
  18. Charles A. Loomis correspondence
  19. Michigan State University correspondence
  20. Arthur E. Morgan correspondence
  21. P.A. Sorokin correspondence
  22. Letters of Recommendation, 1963-71
  23. Correspondence re: Ruth Bestvater literary estate and Marie Bestvater artistic estate
  24. Correspondence with CGC, 1979-1994

Vol.2

  1. Speaking engagements, 1956- 57
  2. Speaking engagements, 1958- 60
  3. Speaking engagements, 1961- 62
  4. Speaking engagements, 1963- 71
  5. Speaking engagements, 1969-71
  6. Personal correspondence, 1935-42
  7. Personal correspondence, 1943
  8. Personal correspondence, 1944
  9. Personal correspondence, 1944-45
  10. Personal correspondence, 1945-46
  11. Personal correspondence, 1947
  12. Personal correspondence, 1948
  13. Personal correspondence, 1949
  14. Personal correspondence, pre-1950
  15. Personal correspondence, 1950
  16. Personal correspondence, 1951
  17. Personal correspondence, 1952
  18. Personal correspondence, 1953
  19. Personal correspondence, 1954
  20. Personal correspondence, 1955
  21. Personal correspondence, 1956
  22. Personal correspondence, 1957
  23. Personal correspondence, 1958-59
  24. Personal correspondence, 1959
  25. Personal correspondence, 1960
  26. Personal correspondence, 1961
  27. Personal correspondence, 1962
  28. Personal correspondence, 1963
  29. Personal correspondence, 1964
  30. Personal correspondence, 1965
  31. Personal correspondence, 1966
  32. Personal correspondence, 1967
  33. Personal correspondence, 1968
  34. Personal correspondence, 1969
  35. Personal correspondence, 1970
  36. Personal correspondence, 1971
  37. Personal correspondence, 1972
  38. Personal correspondence, 1973
  39. Personal correspondence, 1973-79
  40. Personal correspondence, 1974-79

Series 2: Mutual aid

Vol.1

  1. Correspondence re: Mennonite practice of mutual aid
  2. Research notes on Mennonite practice of mutual aid
  3. Research notes on Credit Unions
  4. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #1, 1955
  5. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #2, 1956
  6. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #3, 1957
  7. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #4, 1958
  8. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #5, 1959
  9. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #6, 1960
  10. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #7, 1961
  11. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #8, 1962
  12. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #9, 1963
  13. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Minutes #10, 1964
  14. Association of Mennonite Aid Society Correspondence, 1955-63
  15. Background materials for Mutual Aid Study Conference, 1964
  16. Proceedings of Mutual Aid Study Conference, 1964
  17. Proceedings of Mutual Aid Conference sponsored by MCC, 1955
  18. Reports to MCC (Mutual Aid Section)
  19. Correspondence with MCC re: Mennonite Mutual Aid
  20. MCC Mutual Aid Section Minutes
  21. Altona Echo newsclippings
  22. Altona Echo newsclippings
  23. Altona Echo newsclippings
  24. Altona Echo newclippings
  25. Altona Echo newsclippings
  26. Altona Echo newsclippings
  27. Altona Cooperative Vegetable Oils Research
  28. Correspondence re: Mennonite Indemnity, 1955-63
  29. Correspondence re: Mutual Aid Study Conference, 1965

Vol.2

  1. Correspondence with GC Mutual Aid Board Legal Counsel, 1946-57
  2. Correspondence re: burial associations, 1949-56
  3. GC Mutual Aid Board correspondence, 1951-52
  4. GC Mutual Aid Committee correspondence, 1952
  5. GC Mutual Aid Committee correspondence, 1953-55
  6. GC Mutual Aid Committee correspondence, 1955
  7. GC Mutual Aid Services Incorporation, 1957
  8. GC Mutual Aid Board Minutes
  9. GC Mutual Aid Services Correspondence, 1947-61
  10. GC Mutual Aid Services Correspondence, 1956-63
  11. GC Mutual Aid Services Correspondence, 1963
  12. GC Mutual Aid Services Correspondence, 1964
  13. GC Mutual Aid Services Committee Materials, 1957-62
  14. GC Mutual Aid Services Committee Materials, 1963
  15. GC Mutual Aid Services Committee Materials, 1964
  16. GC Mutual Aid Services Committee Materials, 1965
  17. GC Mutual Aid Services Committee Materials, 1966
  18. GC Mutual Aid Services Committee Materials, 1967
  19. GC Mutual Aid Services Audit Reports
  20. GC Mutual Aid Services Balance Sheets
  21. GC Conference Workers Housing
  22. GC Mutual Aid Services Delinquent Loans
  23. GC Mutual Aid Services in Paraguay
  24. GC Mutual Aid Services Loaning Services

Series 3: Mennonite colonization research

  1. Report of visit to Paraguay, 1929
  2. Canadian Mennonite colonization materials
  3. Study of Mennonite colonization
  4. Correspondence re: Mennonite colonization in Paraguay
  5. Study of Mennonite Colonization in Paraguay
  6. Latin America Raw Data re: Mennonite Missions and Churches, 1966-67
  7. Jacob Loewen's research on Latin American Indians
  8. State records of Mennonite colonization in Brazil
  9. Historical materials on construction of Trans-Chaco Road
  10. Published records of Mennonite colonization in Paraguay
  11. Immigrant Group Settlements in Paraguay, 1962.
    Scope and content: Questionnaires used to gather data about Paraguayan attitudes toward Mennonites in the Vollendam and Friesland areas. Findings published in Immigrant Group Settlements in Paraguay, 1962.
  12. Immigrant Group Settlements in Paraguay, 1962.
    Scope and content: Questionnaires used to gather data about Mennonite attitudes toward Paraguayans in the Vollendam and Friesland areas. Findings published in Immigrant Group Settlements in Paraguay, 1962.

Series 4: Mennonite Census Data project

Scope and content: Contains the records of a census of church members and ex-members of the organized Mennonite bodies in Waterloo County and adjoining counties conducted in 1971. This project was under the direction of J. Winfield Fretz. The original data sheets are listed below. Original file numbers were assigned by the project. It is possible that the "not used" file numbers are missing files, or were for census forms that were never returned. Numeric notations found on the outside of the original files are indicated after each file name. Further information on this study if found in J. Winfield Fretz's The Waterloo Mennonites: a community in paradox. 

  1. Computer printout of statistics
  2. Mennonite Census data project notes
  3. Mennonite Census project data sheets:
  1. Baden Mennonite Church (16961-17101) (141 cases)
  2. Biehn Mennonite Church (02426-02622)
  3. Blenheim Mennonite Church (07692-07866)
  4. Bloomingdale Mennonite Church (04214-04367)
  5. Breslau Mennonite Church  (06899-07197)
  6. not used
  7. Calvary Church (17717-17840) (124 cases)
  8. Elmira Mennonite Church  (03611-04213)
  9. not used
  10. Erb Street Mennonite Church (ID 01179-01730)
  11. First Mennonite Church  (04812-05984)
  12. Floradale Mennonite Church  (04368-)
  13. Geiger Mennonite Church  (21051-21240)
  14. Glen Allan Mennonite Church (21241-21418)
  15. Hawkesville Mennonite Church (00001-00338)
  16. Mannheim Mennonite Church  (01731-01976)
  17. Preston Mennonite Church  (15891-16199)
  18. Rockway Mennonite Church  (20083-20217)
  19. St. Jacobs Mennonite Church (13210-14189) (280 cases)
  20. Shantz Mennonite Church  (20794-21050)
  21. Wanner Mennonite Church  (07198-07455)
  22. Weber Mennonite Church  (18960-19067) (108 cases)
  23. Bethel Mennonite Church (00826-01178)
  24. not used
  25. Cassel Mennonite Church
  26. Crosshill Mennonite Church   (19726-19969) (244 cases)
  27. Maple View Mennonite Church
  28. Hillcrest Mennonite Church  (16202-1652) (341 cases)
  29. Riverdale Mennonite Church   (ID 19368-19725) (358 cases)
  30. St. Agatha Mennonite Church  (18,672-18,959)
  31. Steinmann Mennonite Church  (08292-08961)
    Note: Includes a folder of notes re the Albert Zehr group
  32. Zion Mennonite Church  (Western Ontario) (05985-06014)
  33. Poole Mennonite Church  (Western Ontario Conference) (ID 00339-00825)
  34. East Zorra Mennonite Church  (14,190-15,087)
  35. Tavistock Mennonite Church
  36. not used
  37. Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church  (02623-03544)
  38. Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church  (15088-15890) (803 cases)
  39. Zion Mennonite Brethren Church
  40. Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church
  41. - 45. not used

   46. Heidelberg Conservative Mennonite Church (21419-21568)

   47. Calvary Conservative Mennonite Church (21569-21674)

   48. New Hamburg Conservative Mennonite Church (21675-21839)

   49.-50. not used

   51. North Woolwich Mennonite Meetinghouse (#59) (17102-17354)

   52. Martin Mennonite Meetinghouse  (Waterloo-Markham)
        (08962-09260)

   53. Elmira Mennonite Meetinghouse (07867-08291)

   54. Goshen Mennonite Meetinghouse (17355-17716)

   55. Montrose Mennonite Meetinghouse (20218-20793) (575 cases)

   56.-57. not used

   58. Martin Mennonite Meetinghouse (Old Order)  (11230-11616)

   59. North Woolwich Old Order Mennonite Meetinghouse (11617-11967)

   60. Conestoga Mennonite Meetinghouse (Old Order) (09552-09886)

   61. West Woolwich Mennonite Meetinghouse (Old Order)(10184-010593)

   62. Winterbourne Old Order Mennonite Meetinghouse (11968-12152)

   63. Linwood Old Order Mennonite Meetinghouse (09887-10183)

   64. Peel Old Order Mennonite Meetinghouse (12153-12538)

   65. Olivet Mennonite Meetinghouse (Old Order) (09280-09551)

   66.-67. not used

   68. Cedar Grove Amish Mennonite Church (10594-10940)

   69. Mornington Amish Mennonite Church (10941-11229)

   70. not used

   71. David Martin Mennonite Church (01977-12425)

   72.-74. not used

   75. Elam Martin Old Order Mennonite Church (07456-07691)

   76.-77. not used

   78. North Easthope Reformed Mennonite Church

   79.-83. not used

   84. Roseville Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church

   85. not used

   86. Bethel Conservative Mennonite Church (13041-13209)

   87. not used

   88. Milverton Conservative Mennonite Fellowship (19970-20082)
 

Series 5: Agricultural Survey

Scope and content: Contains the records of a census of the agricultural practices of Mennonites in Waterloo County. The census was conducted between 1969 and 1970 to inquire about a resistance to change among Conservative Mennonite in Waterloo County.

  1. Preliminary Report on an Agricultural Survey of Mennonite Farmers in Waterloo County, Ontario, 1969-1970
  2. Results of Agricultural Survey in Waterloo County, 1969-1970
  3. Mennonite Agricultural Census, 1969
  4. Waterloo County Agricultural Census, 1970
  5. Waterloo-Markham Agricultural Census, 1970
  6. Non-Mennonite Agricultural Census, 1970

Series 6: Teaching

  1. Soc 230G Family and Kinship (Correspondence Course) lecture notes
  2. Soc 230G Family and Kinship assignments, 1976
  3. Soc 275G (Sociology of Mennonites course) student term papers
    Scope and content: “Statistical Conclusions and Inferences drawn from a Study of the Names of Mennonites in Waterloo County” by Susan Seredynsky and Elizabeth Sheldrake; “Education” by Ethel Chislett; “School Visit” by Linda Morrison; “Public Opinion and the Mennonites [of Waterloo County]” by Walter Mollins; “Members of the First United Church of Waterloo who are of Mennonite Background” by Emily Schmitt.
  4. Soc 325/326G: Haiti Issues in Third World Development resource materials, 1963-1977
  5. Soc 325/326G: Haiti Seminar lecture notes, 1977
  6. Council of Mennonite Colleges, Haiti Field Trip notes, 1966-1977
  7. Notes from interviews by students of Old Order Mennonites

Series 7: Miscellaneous research and correspondence

  1. Correspondence, Bibel und Pflug (South America), 1954-1956, 1959
  2. Correspondence, Christian Living, 1956-1963
  3. Correspondence, The Mennonite, 1950-1953
  4. Correspondence, Mennonite Life, 1946-1949
  5. Correspondence, Mennonite Life, 1950-1954, 1956, 1961-1963
    Scope and content: Includes an unpublished article “The history of the Meadow Mennonite Church of Colby, Kansas” by Paul F. Goossen, 1950.
  6. Correspondence, Mennonite Quarterly Review, 1949-1950, 1952, 1956-1957, 1962-1963
  7. Correspondence, Bluffton College, 1959, 1963-1973
  8. Correspondence, General Conference missions in Paraguay, 1959, 1964
  9. Correspondence, Mutual Aid Funds for Self-Help Projects, 1965
  10. Conference of Mennonites in Canada, 1963-1971
  11. General Conference Department of Higher Education, 1970-1972
  12. General Conference Peace and Social Concerns Committee, 1963-1968
  13. General Conference Radio Committee report, 1967
  14. General Conference Voluntary Service & 1-W, 1966-1971
  15. General Conference Voluntary Service (Canada) report, 1964
  16. Mennonites, general
  17. Mennonite Central Committee, general, 1968-1970
  18. MCC Atlanta Report, 1965
  19. MCC Bolivia, 1964, 1968
  20. MCC Ontario, Indian development work, 1968
  21. MCC Peace Section, 1964-1969
  22. MCC Service Opportunities, 1968-1969
  23. MCC Social Work Abroad, 1964, 1969
  24. MCC Summer Service Education Program, 1968-1969
  25. MCC Teachers Abroad Program (TAP), 1965-1969
  26. MCC Trainee Program, 1964-1967
  27. MCC Voluntary Service, 1966-1972
  28. Mennonite Medical Association, 1963-1964
  29. Menno Travel Service, 1964-1971
  30. Asian Countries
    Scope and content: Correspondence from 1961 on “Food for China” program, Korean report from August 1961, various materials on Japan from 1956-1958
  31. Mennonites in Central America and the Caribbean islands
    Scope and content: Contains materials on Mennonites in British Honduras (1957-1960), Costa Rica (1950-1951, 1957, 1959), Dominican Republic (1967), and Puerto Rico (1956-59)
  32. Mennonites in Europe and the Middle East
    Scope and content: Contains materials on French Mennonites (1950), Mennonites in Greece (1953-1954), Palestine, and Yugoslavia (1954, 1957)
  33. Mennonites in Mexico – Calvin Redekop’s study
  34. Mennonites in Russia, 1946, 1950, 1955-1958, 1970
  35. Russian Baptists, 1964
  36. Vietnam, 1965
  37. Addresses at General Conference 1977
  38. Church Extension Service, 1956-1960
  39. Conference on Evangelism, 1957-1958
  40. Council of Boards, 1960-1962
  41. Council of Mission Board Secretaries (COMBS), 1964-1966
  42. Former Presidents of Mennonite Colleges, 1960-1961
  43. Mennonite Men, 1950-1956
  44. Personal letters and memorabilia
  45. Waterloo County news clippings 1953-1986
  46. Gambling, news clippings, 1950-1974
  47. Labour Management and the Church, 1957
  48. Mennonite Hospitals, 1940-1961
    Scope and content: Includes an investigative term paper “The Institution of the Nursing Profession” by Anne Wiebe.
  49. Mennonites and race relations, 1957-1959
  50. Mennonite Sunday schools, 1942, 1947, 1951
  51. Mennonite Weekly Review, Homes for the Aged news clippings, 1937-1948
  52. Newton business and college community, relations and discussions, 1945-1962
  53. Theological Study Group, 1956-1960
  54. Adlai Stevenson, 1965
  55. Gulfport, Mississippi (Mutual Aid) – 1947-1969
  56. Hidden Springs, 1966
  57. J.F. Kennedy Assassination and Funeral, Nov. 22, 1963
  58. John Birch Society, 1960-1961
  59. Education Committee, Canadian Mental Health Association, 1966
  60. K-W Colloquium on Mental Health, 15 Oct 1971
  61. K-W Mental Health Services, 1965-1971
  62. MCC Mennonite Mental Health and Ontario Psychiatric Centres, 1951-1965
  63. Mennonite Mental Health, 1958-1964
  64. Mennonite Mental Rest Homes, 1945, 1950
  65. Mental Health – General, 1953-1969
  66. Mental Hospital – Brooklane Farm, Maryland, 1953
  67. Mental Hospital – King’s View homes, 1947-1957
  68. Mental Hospital – Prairie View Hospital, 1952-1958
  69. Sociology of Mental Illness, 1964-1971
  70. Higher Education funding

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