First Bergthal Mennonite Church building
Accession no. 2002.017, 2008.011, 2009.011, 2012.022 and 2016.016, all filed at 2002.017. Some file numbers were changed when accession 2016.016 was integrated with the items received earlier.
Title and Physical Description
Bergthal Mennonite Church fonds. — 1927-2006, predominant 1969-2001. — 96 cm of textual records. — 16 photographs
Administrative History
The Bergthal Mennonite Church began its services in 1901 and formally organized in 1910. The first building was occupied in 1903, with a subsequent building program in 1948. Isaac Giesbrecht is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through colonization by Manitoba Sommerfelder Mennonites. In 1912, they became affiliated with the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. In 1929, they became the first congregation in the Conference of Mennonites in Alberta, and became affiliated with the General Conference Mennonite Church (later reorganized as Mennonite Church Canada) in 1938. Until the 1960s, the language in use was German and it was known as the Bergthal Mennonitische Gemeinde or Bergthaler Mennonitengemeinde, when there was a transition to the use of the English language and its current name. It is located 3 miles south and nine miles east of Didsbury.
Custodial History
The records were transferred to the Mennonite Church Alberta and Henry Goerzen, MCA archivist, donated them to the MHSA archives. They were supplemented by Berghtal Mennonite Church records held and donated by Henry Goerzen as part of Accession 2015.003.
Scope & Content
The fonds consists of five series: A) Governance, B) Bulletins, C) Food Committee/Ladies Committee, D) Sunday School, E) Youth and Other Newsletters and F) History Book.
Source of Acquisition
Gift by Mennonite Church Alberta through Henry Goerzen, MCA Archivist.
Finding Aids
See Series Inventory
Associated Materials
Some records associated with the Bergthal Mennonite Church fonds are held by Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg.
Notes
Accession no. 2002.017, 2008.011, 2012.022 and 2016.016, all filed at 2002.017. Some file numbers were changed when accession 2016.016 was integrated with the items received earlier.
Early records are in German
Bibliography
Mennonite Church Alberta Yearbook
Canadian Mennonite Encyclopedia, “Didsbury.”
Canadian Mennonite (1 July 1955): 11.
Mennonite Reporter (7 August 1978): 15; (13 November 1989): B2.
Brown, Helena M. “Will Bergthal Mennonite Church Survive Another 20 years? a Short Historical Sketch.” Research paper, CMBC, 1974, 14 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Brown, Helena M. “Bergthal Church (Didsbury, Alberta), 1903-1978.” Research paper, CMBC, 1978, 18 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Goerzen, Robert E. “The Bergthal Mennonite Church of Didsbury.” Research paper, CMBC, 1978, 14 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Dick, C.L. The Mennonite Conference of Alberta: A History of its Churches and Institutions. Edmonton: The Mennonite Conference of Alberta, 1981.
Description by Judith Rempel, revised October 2012
Last updated June 2013 – Jim Bowman
Series Inventory
A. Governance. — 1927-2004, predominant 1969-2004. — 24.5 cm textual records. – The series consists of bylaws & constitutions, minutes, and annual reports. Arranged by date
1-1 Constitutions and Revisions. — 1957 and later.
1-2 Gemeindeordnumg/Bylaws. — n.d.
1-3 Handbook. — 1966, 1981 and 1983
1-4 Certificate of Incorporation and Land Ownership. — 1960-1972
1-5 Minutes – translated. — 1927-1954
1-5a Minutes and reports. — 1947-1975
1-5b Minutes, Jugendverein. — 1947-1960
1-6 Minutes. — 1983-1985
1-7 Minutes and financial report. — 1986
1-8 Minutes. — 1987
1-9 Minutes, personnel and other notes. — 1988
1-10 Minutes. — 1989
1-11 Minutes. — 1990
1-12 Minutes. — 1991-1993
1-13 Minutes. — 1994-2000
1-14 Annual report. — 1966
1-15 Annual report. — 1969
1-16 Annual report. — 1970
1-17 Annual report. — 1972
1-18 Annual report. — 1974
1-19 Annual report. — 1975
1-20 Annual report. — 1977
1-21 Annual report. — 1978
1-22 Bergthal Mennonite Church Council Report – H.D. Goerzen. — 1978
1-23 Annual Meeting. — 1979
1-24 Annual report. — 1979
1-25 Annual report. — 1981
1-26 Annual report. — 1982
1-27 Annual report. —1983
1-28 Annual report. — 1984
1-29 Annual report. — 1985
1-30 Annual report. — 1986
1-31 Annual report. — 1987
1-32 Annual report. — 1988
1-33 Annual report. — 1989
1-34 Annual report. — 1990
1-35 Annual report. — 1991
1-36 Annual report. — 1992
1-37 Annual report. — 1993
Box 2
2-38 Annual Report and Minutes. — 1994
2-39 Annual Report and Minutes. — 1995
2-40 Annual Report and Minutes. — 1996
2-41 Annual Report and Minutes. — 1997
2-42 Annual Report and Minutes. — 1998
2-43 Annual Report and Minutes. — 1999
2-44 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2000
2-45 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2001
2-46 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2002
2-47 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2003
2-48 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2004
2-49 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2005
2-50 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2006
2-51 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2007
2-52 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2008
2-53 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2009
2-54 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2010
2-55 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2011
2-56 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2012
2-57 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2013
2-58 Annual Report and Minutes. — 2014
Box 3
B. Bulletins. — 1967-2006. — 36 cm of textual records. – The series consists of Sunday morning worship bulletins, congregational records & a telephone directory. Arranged by subject and date
3-59 Bulletins – 1967
3-60 Bulletins – 1968
3-61 Bulletins – 1969
3-62 Bulletins – 1970
3-63 Bulletins – 1971
3-64 Bulletins – 1972
3-65 Bulletins – 1973
3-66 Bulletins – 1974
3-67 Bulletins – 1975
3-68 Bulletins – 1976
3-69 Bulletins – 1988
3-70 Bulletins – 1989
3-71 Bulletins – 1990
3-72 Bulletins – 1991
3-73 Bulletins – 1992
3-74 Bulletins – 1993
3-75 Bulletins – 1994
3-76 Bulletins – 1995
Box 4
4-77 Bulletins – 1996
4-78 Bulletins – 1997
4-79 Bulletins – 1998
4-80 Bulletins – 1999
4-81 Bulletins – 2000
4-82 Bulletins – 2001
4-83 Bulletins – 2002
4-84 Bulletins – 2003
4-85 Bulletins – 2004
4-86 Bulletins – 2005
4-87 Bulletins – 2006
4-88 Bulletins – 2007
4-89 Bulletins – 2008
4-90 Bulletins – 2009
Box 5
5-91 Bulletins – 2010
5-92 Bulletins – 2011
5-93 Bulletins – 2012
5-94a Bulletins – 2013
5-94b Bulletins – 2014
5-95 Telephone Directory – 1998, 2000-2001
C. Food Committee/Ladies Committee. — 1962-1998. — 4 cm of textual records. – The series consists of menus, membership lists, and minutes. Arranged by date
5-96 Minutes, Women of the Bergthal Mennonite Church – 1960-1984
5-97 Bergthal Sweing Circle, Financial Records, 1971-1992
5-98 Food Committee Menus, Members, etc. – 1962-1967
5-99 Food Committee Menus, Members, etc. – 1968-1972
5-100 Cookies Distribution Notes – 1971-1980
5-101 Food Committee Financial Records – 1975-1984
5-102 Ladies and Food Committee Notes, membership and Minutes – 1978-1989
5-103 Kitchen Inventory – 1978-199
5-104 Food Committee Menus, Members, etc. – 1982- 1987
5-105 Minutes – Ladies Annual Meetings – 1985-1991
5-106 Food Committee Menus – 1996
D. Sunday School. — 1991-1997. — 10.5 cm of textual records. –
The series consists of project descriptions, resources, program information, evaluations, staff listings, minutes and notes. Arranged by subject and date
5-107 Teacher Handbook – n.d.
5-108 Sunday School Resources – n.d.
5-109 Resource Committee – n.d.
5-110 Summer Sunday School – n.d.
5-111 Evaluation of Teacher In-Service – n.d.
5-112 Sunday School – 1991
5-113 Christmas Eve – 1991-1993
5-114 Parent Newsletters, Evaluation Forms, Intent Forms – 1991-1993
5-115 Sunday School staff meeting minutes – 1964-1983
5-116 Sunday School staff Meeting – 1991-1993
5-117 Curriculum Information and Other Resources – 1991-1994
5-118 Education – 1991-1994
5-119 Executive – Sunday School – 1991-1994
Box 6
6-120 Promotion Sunday – 1992-1993
6-121 To do – 1992-1993
6-122 Possible Sunday School Projects – 1993
6-123 Sunday School Class Lists – 1993
6-124 Resources – 1993
6-125 Mini Teacher In-Service – 1993
6-126 Summer Sunday School – 1993
6-127 Yearly Staffing – 1993-1994
6-128 Sunday School Notes, Minutes – 1993-1997
E. Youth and Other Newsletters. — 1967-1982. — 3.5 cm of textual records. – The series consists of newsletters written by Alberta Mennonite Youth Organization, the Young People of the Bergthal Mennonite Church, or other Bergthal Mennonite Church members. Arranged by subject and date
6-129 Christian Young People Fellowship, Bergthal Mennonite Church, Constitution and Minutes, 1945-1973.
6-130 Christian Young People Fellowship, Bergthal Mennonite Church, Minutes 1974-1990.
6-131 Thanksgiving Newsletter – n.d.
6-132 Bergthal Bestseller – n.d.
6-133 Newsletter – n.d.
6-134 Thanksgiving Newsletter – 1967
6-135 Young Peoples Newsletter – 1969
6-136 Newsletter – 1969
6-137 Y.P. News – 1970
6-138 Bergthal News – 1973
6-139 Young People’s Newsletter – 1973
6-140 deVine – 1974
6-141 Newsletter – 1975
6-142 AMYO Christmas Newsletter – 1982
6-143 Bergthal Bestseller – 1999
F. History Book. — 2003. — 6 cm of textual records. — 16 photographs. – The series consists of documents created in preparation of the congregational 100th anniversary history book. Arranged by subject and date
6-144 Interviews – 2003
6-145 Reviews, Additions – 2003
6-146 Manuscript – 2003 [photographs separated; inventory available]
6-147 Living in Faithful Evangelism