Mary Wagler

Title: Mary (Schwartzentruber) Wagler fonds

Dates of creation: 1892-1908, 1919-1920, 1936-1941

Physical description: 3 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch: Mary Schwartzentruber (1870-1957) was the daughter of John B. and Maria (Bender) Schwartzentruber. In 1896 she married Jacob L. Wagler (1868-1939). The couple had four children. She lived in the Millbank, Ontario area, and after 1940 in the village of Millbank. Her husband was a deacon in the Mornington Amish Mennonite Church.

Custodial history: Autograph book and cards donated to the Archives by Marion Roes in 2003. Diary donated to the Archives by Florence Roes (granddaughter of Mary Wagler) and Florence's niece Heather McGill in 2018. Received through Marion Roes.

Scope and content: A "Five Year Diary" given to Mary Wagler by her son Noah and his family, Christmas 1936. Entries by Mary Wagler range from 1937 to 1941. The diary describes daily life and the Amish community around Millbank, Ontario. During these years, Mary experienced the death of her husband and son-in-law, as well as the births of two grandchildren. The collection also includes an autograph book begun prior to marriage, but including several entries by her daughters, Barbara and Mary, in 1907 and 1908. Several greeting cards, mostly addressed to her daughters, are also included.

Notes: The diary is transcribed in: Wagler, Mary Schwartzentruber, and Marion Roes. Diary of Mrs. Jacob L. Wagler/Mary Schwartzentruber 1937-1941. Waterloo, Ont.: M. Roes, 2001. A copy is located in the Milton Good Library.

Original archival description created 16 April 2004 by Sam Steiner and updated in 2019 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.