Fairview Mennonite Home Seniors Oral History Project

Dates of creation: 1979

Physical description: 38 cassette tapes

Administrative history: In 1979 the Multicultural History Society of Ontario provided a grant for an oral history project administered by Conrad Grebel College to interview Mennonite senior citizens living at Fairview Mennonite Home in Cambridge, Ontario. Richard Neff conducted the interviews during the summer of 1979. All 32 interviews were conducted in English. 

Scope and content: In varying degrees, interviewees discussed growing up Mennonite, education, music, worship, theology, courtship, marriage, nonresistance, and the current state of the Mennonite church. Most interviewees were asked if they had experience hosting the Mennonites who immigrated from Russia in the 1920s.

A finding aid is available that provides both summaries of the interviews and biographical sketches of the persons interviewed. The original print copy of the finding aid is located at the Archives, along with the project's release forms.

Custodial history: A copy of the tapes were deposited in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario upon the completion of the project; the original tapes in the Multicultural History Society of Ontario collection at the Archives of Ontario.

Notes: The interview numbering system of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario is employed. Interviews marked with an asterisk (*) have been copied to CD in a wav and/or mp3 audio format.

File list:

7108 Interview, Mattie Bast (1902-    ) by Richard Neff, July 9, 1979; 1 tape (25 minutes). Amish Mennonite background

7123 Interview, Fannie Bauman (1895-    ) and Emma Bauman Erb (1893-     ) by Richard Neff, August 15, 1979; 1 tape (40 minutes) Grew up at Erb Street Mennonite Church.

7105 Interview, Stanley C. Brubacher (1892-    ) by Richard Neff, July 11, 1978; 1 tape (55 minutes)*

7112 Interview, Alice Cressman (1918-    ) by Richard Neff, August 29, 1979; 1 tape (45 minutes). Daughter of Scottish immigrant father and Mennonite mother

7102 Interview, John A. Cressman (1892-    ) by Richard Neff, July 12, 1979; 1 tape (50 minutes)*

7096 Interview, Joseph Cressman (1896-    ) by Richard Neff, July 5, 1979; 1 tape (60 minutes)*

7101 Interview, Angus Gingerich (1901-    ) and Almeta Gingerich (1898-     ) by Richard Neff, July 11, 1979 1 tape (40 minutes)

7099 Interview, Abner Good (1891-    ) by Richard Neff, July 25, 1979; 1 tape (60 minutes) Deacon at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church*

7125 Interview, Leah Hallman (1904-    ) by Richard Neff, August 28, 1979; 2 tapes (105 minutes)*

7104 Interview, Minnie Hunsberger (1887-    ) by Richard Neff, July 10, 1979; 1 tape (50 minutes). Pastor's spouse.

7107 Interview, Vera Hunsberger (1894-    ) by Richard Neff, July 6, 1979; 1 tape (45 minutes). Attended Toronto Bible School as young person; served in home missions.*

7094 Interview, John Kehl (1895-    ) by Richard Neff, August 1, 1979; 1 tape; 55 minutes. Deacon at First Mennonite Church (Kitchener)*

7110 Interview, Edwin Kinzie (1898-    ) and Linean Kinzie by Richard Neff, August 27, 1979; 1 tape (45 minutes)*

*7100 Interview, Isaiah Kinzie (1890-    ) by Richard Neff, July 13, 1979; 1 tape (35 minutes)

7120 Interview, Priscilla Kolb (1882-    ) by Richard Neff, Freeport Hospital, Kitchener, Ontario, August 30, 1979; 1 tape (35 minutes)

7122 Interview, Naomi Martin (1903-    ) by Richard Neff, August 21, 1979; 1 tape (60 minutes). Spouse of Jesse B. Martin, a prominent Mennonite minister*

7103 Interview, Lydia Ann Martin (1895-    ) by Richard Neff, July 12, 1979; 1 tape (20 minutes). Old Order Mennonite background

7126 Interview, Jacob Rudy (1894-    ) and Ada L. Rudy (1902-     ) by Richard Neff, August 23, 1979; 1 tape (40 minutes)*

7127 Interview, Elven Shantz (1893-    ) by Richard Neff, Kitchener, Ontario, August 8, 1979; 2 tapes (95 minutes). Lay leader in the Mennonite community; served on Military Problems Committee in World War II; part of visits to Prime Minister King*

7113 Interview, Junia Shantz (1892-    ) by Richard Neff, August 6 and 13; 3 tapes (150 minutes). Part of interview in Wanner Mennonite Church cemetery during which Mr. Shantz described individuals buried there.*

7111 Interview, Myra Shantz (1885-    ) by Richard Neff, August 28, 1979; 1 tape (40 minutes). Spouse of Bishop Benjamin Shantz.

7136 Interview, Hannah Snider (1893-    ) by Richard Neff, July 17, 1979; 1 tape (20 minutes). Daughter of a Bishop

7098 Interview, J. Stanley Snider (1904-    ) by Richard Neff, July 27, 1979; 1 tape (60 minutes).*

7132 Interview, Norman Snider (1890-    ) by Richard Neff, July 19, 1979; 2 tapes (105 minutes)*

7124 Interview, Edward Snyder (1905-    ) and Emma Snyder (1902-     ) by Richard Neff, August 22, 1979; 1 tape (50 minutes). Member of Wanner Mennonite Church. Edward and Emma are brother and sister.*

7095 Interview, Lillian N. Snyder (1895-    ) by Richard Neff, July 30, 1979; 1 tape (40 minutes) Member of Wanner Mennonite Church*

7106 Interview, Catherine Weber (1901-    ) by Richard Neff, July 6, 1979; 1 tape (40 minutes).

7133 Interview, Ervin C. Weber (1885-    ) by Richard Neff, July 19, 1979; 2 tapes (105 minutes)*

7129 Interview, Howard S. Weber (1903-    ) by Richard Neff, August 10, 1979; 1 tape (40 minutes). Son of U.K. Weber, first pastor at Stirling Ave. Mennonite Church.

7128 Interview, Joseph H. Weber (1890-    ) by Richard Neff, August 14, 1979; 1 tape (50 minutes). Member at Erb Street Mennonite Church

7130 Interview, Henry Wismer (1910-    ) by Richard Neff, August 3, 1979; 1 tape (60 minutes)*

7134 Interview, A. Vernon Woolner (1898-    ) by Richard Neff, July 20, 1979; 1 tape (30 minutes). Member at First Mennonite Church (Kitchener)*