Wiebe, Gerhard (d. 1992)

Title: Gerhard Wiebe fonds

Dates of creation: [19--]

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records

Biographical sketch:  Gerhard Wiebe, a teacher, was born in Russia. His father was also Gerhard Wiebe. In 1924 he married Agatha Peters, daughter of Peter and Susan Peters.The couple had three children: Siegfried, Hedy and Anna. In 1933, the family was able to immigrate to Canada, first settling on Pelee Island.

Custodial history: This manuscript was obtained by Frank H. Epp while researching the "Mennonites in Canada" series. Originally part of the "Mennonites in Canada" research files (XV-31.4), it was reappraised as a separate fonds in 2012.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of a manuscript entitled "How we left Russia in 1933 : a letter for my dear children and grandchildren." It relates the story of how Gerhard, Agatha and their three children were able, through a series of fortunate events, to obtain permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union and join other Wiebe family members in Pelee Island, Ontario. Anecdotes of life during the famine of 1932-33 and descriptions of a trip to Odessa and through former Mennonite villages are related.

File list:

1. How we left Russia in 1933 : a letter for my dear children and grandchildren / Gerhard Wiebe