Mennonite
Historical
Society

of Alberta

John J. Esau fonds

Accession 2009.018

Title and Physical Description

John J. Esau fonds. — 1968-1987. — .25 cm of textual records

Administrative/Biographical History

John J. Esau was born in 1918 in Klinok, Neu Samara, Russia to Johann and Katharina (nee Riediger) Esau and immigrated to Canada in 1926. They settled in the Acme district of Alberta, moved on to Didsbury, Stavely, Vauxhall and finally Coaldale. Johann married Anna Heinrichs in 1948 and they had seven children: Marian, Alvin, Rosella, Linda, Elfrieda, Kenneth, and Ronald. While initially a farmer for 23 years, John changed fields and worked in retail sales for McLeods and then Simpson Sears in Lethbridge. He and Anne donated their time to an assignment with Mennonite Central Committee in Kentucky. John held leadership roles in the Christian Service Brigade and as Secretary of the Mennonite Brethren Church for many years.

Scope & Content

The fonds consists of short writings created by John J. Esau.

Source of Acquisition

Gift by John J. Esau

Related Materials

Esau, John J. (ca. 1988). Lofty Peaks & Awesome Valleys. Self-Published.

Notes

Accession 2009.018
GRANDMA #215122
Obituary found in Mennonite Brethren Herald, 7 Feb 1997
Last updated 21 Oct 2010 – Judith Rempel

File List

1-1 – Short Writings by John J. Essau – 1980s-1999
.01 The Mennonite Brethren Settlement in the Vauxhall district – 1968
.02 In Retrospect – 1971
.03 Vauxhall M.B. Church’s 40th Anniversary: Nov. 10/74 – 1974
.04 Excerpts from my Autobiography: “Lofty Peaks & Awesome Valleys” – [ca. 1988]
.05 Caught in the Blizzard – 1980
.06 Report at Vauxhall M.B. church’s 50th Anniversary, July 29, 1984
.07 Brief summary of the Conference of Alberta M.B. Churches – 1986
.08 New Settlers from Abroad – 1987
.09 History of the John J. Esau Family – 1987