Classification scheme: 
Hist.Mss.1.266 (s.c.)

Title: J.M. Nighswander fonds

Dates of creation: 1975-2000

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records

Biographical sketch:  Joseph Martin Nighswander (1923-2006) was born on a farm in Pickering, Ontario to David and Nancy (Lehman) Nighswander. He and his wife Elsie had four children. He was an amateur historian, churchman, and administrator of Parkview Home for Senior Citizens.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives by J. M. Nighswander in 2001.

Scope and content: Various published papers on local history, Mennonite history, genealogy and family history, and aging, as listed below.

Notes: For photographs related to this individual, search the Mennonite Archival Image Database.
Further materials related to this individual may be found by searching the Archives.
Original archival description created 2013 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
 

File list:
Note: Papers published in Ontario Mennonite History, Gospel Herald, the Mennonite Reporter, and by the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario are listed here, but located in the Library.
 

1. Historical Sketch of the Steeles Avenue Mennonite Congregation
- Published in the March 1994 Ontario Mennonite History.

2. Swiss Mennonites of the Markham Area
- Published in the February 1998 issue of Der Bote. Also
presented at the Mississauga Mennonite fellowship.

3. A History of the Hamlet of Altona, Ontario
- Published in the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario
booklet "More Pioneer Hamlets of York", Volume 9, 1985, and also
presented as a speech at Victoria Square at the Annual meeting of
1984.

4. Profile of a Pastor: of Emerson McDowell
- Published in Mennonite Reporter issue of December 8, 1975

5. "Marpeck, the Pilgrim", an Early Anabaptist - Published in the Purpose magazine of March 23, 1975

6. Opening of the Parkview Apartments at 465 Rupert Avenue,
Stouffville - Published in the Stouffville Tribune newspaper in March of 1975

7. History and Overview of Willowgrove Farm Ltd. - Published in the Mennonite Reporter of July 21, 1975

8. Paper on Aging and the Responsibility of the Church to the Elderly
- Published in the Mennonite Reporter, and The Stouffville Tribune in
1978

9. Paper, What I Think the Mennonite Church Will be Like in 10 Years
- Presented at a Mennonite Board of Missions church wide meeting in
about 1979 (date uncertain), in Elkhart, lndiana.

10. The New (Proposed) Toronto International Airport, Pickering
- Published in Mennonite Reporter on June 9, 1975

11. Canadian Mennonite Health Assembly held at Parkview, Stouffville
- Published in the Mennonite Reporter of May 31, 1976

12. Paper, Don Hildebrand; Bringing Healing to Teesdale Place,
Scarborough - Published in the Mennonite Reporter on June 12, 1978

13. Paper, Huge Mission Rally at Baden, Ontario, Oct. 1 , 1978
- Published in The Stouffville Tribune in October 1978

14. Reporting in "Readers Say"; Account of Conference Sessions of the
Canadian Mennonite Health Assembly at Winnipeg, January 1982
- Published in the Gospel Herald of February 1982

15. Paper, Mission Board involved in a Variety of Ministries
- Published in the Mennonite Reporter in 1979

16. Parkview Home, Thoughts on Aging - Published in The Stouffville Tribune of November 1981

17. Paper; A Great Man is Among Us; Rev. D.l. Jeffrey
- Published in the Mennonite Reporter on April 27, 1981

18. Paper; Minister's Death Mourned by Many; Newton Gingrich
- Published in The Stouffville Tribune in August 1979

19. Paper; Senior Citizens Week, Only a Beginning?
- Published in The Stouffville Tribune on June 25, 1981

20. Paper; The Most Pressing Moral and Ethical lssue of Our Time
- Published in Mennonite Reporter on February 7, 1983

21. Paper; Sterling Farms lnc., Markham, Ont.
- Published in Mennonite Reporter in 1982

22. Paper; The lnvolvement of Mennonite Church People in the Life and
Times of Whitchurch-Stouffville - Published in The Stouffville Tribune in 1984

23. Paper; Capital Punishment Described as Premeditated Murder
- Published in The Stouffville Tribune in 1987

24. Paper; Ontario Focusing on Home Care for Elderly and Disabled
- Published in Mennonite Reporter in January 1982

25. Report; Ordination and Growth Highlight Church Year
- Published in Mennonite Reporter of January 24, 1994

26. Report; Fourteen Nations at House of Friendship Dinner
- Published in Mennonite Reporter of February 7, 1994

27. Paper; Mennonite Central Committee Celebrates 75th Anniversary
- Published in Stouffville Tribune of October 1, 1994

28. Paper; Status and Use of Pennsylvania German/Dutch in the Markham
District of the Region of York, Ontario, Canada - Published in the Journal of the Centre for Pennsylvania German Studies newsletter of Winter 1999

29. Paper; Emigration of Swiss Mennonites to Ontario in the early 1800's
- Presented at the St. Clair O'Connor Community, Toronto, January 20, 2000.

30. Paper; The Altona Mennonite Meeting House
- Published in: Durham Region lnfo Packet, 2000; The Pathmaster, Pickering Township Historical Society July, 1999

31. Paper; Historical lnformation, Altona School - Presented at the September 11, 1999 Altona School Reunion

32. Historical Paper. The Altona Apple Butter Mill, Pickering Twp.
- Published in Pathmaster, The Pickering Township Historical Society
newsletter, summer of 1998

33. Historical Background of Lot 34, Conc. 9, Pickering Twp. - unpublished paper, 1998

34. Historical Background of Lot 32, South Half, Conc. 9, Pickering
- unpublished paper, April 1998

35. Paper; Nighswander Family Genealogy 1682 to 1997 - unpublished paper, circulated to family members only, in 1997

36. Paper; Spirituality and Aging - Presented at a Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada workshopat Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in 1996
- Circulated to all MCEC congregations in a booklet form, with
other Senior Services committee materials, papers, etc.
 

Hours

Generally 8:30-4:30 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