Mennonite
Historical
Society

of Alberta

Helen Friesen collection

Accession 2002.004, 2004.045, 2009.020, 2009.029, 2011.005, 2013.016 (All filed with 2002.004).

Title and Physical Description

Helen Friesen collection. — 1944-2004. — 8 cm of textual records. — 16 photographs

Administrative/Biographical History

Helen Friesen was born Helen Pauls 27 May 1926, Chortitza Village, Chortitza Settlement, USSR to Johann Pauls and Maria Friesen. During the period of German Army occupation of certain parts of Ukraine in USSR, Helen provided informational assistance which later became part of the Dorf Bericht record for Mennonite and other predominantly German-origin villages. During the war, she, her mother, and sister fled to Germany. Helen found a Canadian family to sponsor her immigration to Canada in the 1940s, but her mother and sister stayed behind. After years of domestic service in rural Alberta settings, Helen moved to Calgary, met and married on 5 Aug 1951 Cornelius Friesen. She had one adoptive daughter, Anita Friesen. Helen had been a correspondent for a number of Canadian Mennonite newspapers, writing in English and German. She was a member of the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta.

Scope & Content

The collection consists of copies of autobiographical manuscripts written by Henry Pauls, Helen Friesen, David G. Rempel , and Olga Rempel as well as historic photographs and postcards.  Olga Toews Regier Rempel was one of Helen Friesen’s neighbors in Russia and the daughter of Prediger (Pastor) Aron Toews.

Source of Acquisition

Gift by Helen (Pauls) Friesen,

Related Materials

For records related to the Helen (Pauls) Friesen fonds, see Einer von Vielen [One of Many] also authored by Olga Rempel about her father and The Mennonite colonies in New Russia : a study of their settlement and economic development from 1789 to 1914, the doctoral thesis by David G. Rempel that was completed in 1933.

Notes

Accession 2002.004, 2004.045, 2009.020, 2011.005, 2013.016 (All filed with 2002.004).
Language German and English
GRANDMA IV #352548
Last updated February 2018 – Jim Bowman

File List

 Manuscript, Photographs and Post Cards. — 1977-1987. — 8 cm of textual materials
The series consists of manuscript copies prepared by Helen or collected from family members. The series is arranged by date

1-1 Wer nimmt uns auf [who will take us in?] by Olga Rempel – [ca 1976].
1-2-1 Life in the Parental Home by David G. Rempel – 1973
1-2-2 Photograph of David G. Rempel.
1-3 Menno Simons Monument, Witmarsum, 4 photographs, [ca 2000].
1-4.1 The Museum windmill, Steinbach, [ca 1974]
1-4.2 Mennonitische Denkmal zur Erinnerungen die Opfer der Gewalt in diesem Jahrhundert, 1985.
1.4-3 [men in white uniforms being photographed, Russia] . [ca 1916]
1.4-4 Postcard Photograph of six members of the Dyck/Friesen families at Atlantic Park, England, addressed to P.J. Penner, Hague, Saskatchewan], [ca 1924-1928.
1.4-5 List of baptismal group (photograph missing)  at refugee camp Konradstein in Pressisch Stargard in April 1944.
1-5 50 Year Freedom Jubilee Committee Souvenir Program – 1998
1-6.1 Exterior of Chortitza Mennonite Church, [ca 1924]
1-6-2 Interior of Chortitza Mennonite Church, 1930.
1-7 Erinnerungen [Memories], [ca 1977]
1-8 Memoirs of Mrs. Helen Friesen, nee Pauls, Calgary, Alberta – 1987
1-9 Helen Pauls with her parents? [laser copy] , [ca 1970]
1-10 Heinrich Heinrich Dyck, Pappelheim – Mama’s cousin, [ca 1890]
1-11 Verein Einigkeit (Ladies’ Group), First Mennonite Church, Calgary – [ca. 1948-ca. 1950]
1-12 Mennonite Church Chortiza with photos, [ca 1936]
1-13 Correspondence – 1951-1990
1-13a Letters, David G. Rempel to Cornie and Helen Friesen. – 1971-1991
1-14 Village report, Chortitzan and Rosental – 1943
1-15 Charter and privileges granted by Czar Paul I in 1801, transcribed German and English translations by Henry Pauls.
1-16 The Henry & Sara Pauls family / [by Henry Pauls] – [ca. 1940]
1-17 Newsclippings – 1950-1990
1-18 Pauls reunion program, photo – 1988
1-19 Dr. David G. Rempel letter, obituaries – 1969, 1992
1-20 Dr. J.G. Rempel newsclippings and photograph – 1950, 1963
1-21 Helen Friesen (nee Pauls), God’s Leading in my Life, 1998.

Files received as accession 2009.029 filed together with files from earlier accessions.
1-22 Helen Pauls Friesen, “Aus Meiner Kindheit.”
1-23 Writings of Heinrich Pauls and Maria Pauls, 1955, 1963.
1-24 Clippings, [ca 1996].