Mennonite
Historical
Society
of Alberta

Herman Thiessen fonds

Accession 2003.001

Title and Physical Description

Herman Thiessen fonds. — [ca. 1872]-1997. — 29 microfilm reels

Biographical History

Herman Thiessen was born 29 May 1919 in Stutthof-Stoerbuderkamfe, West Prussia to Herman and Katharina (Bench) Thiessen and married to Liesbech Maekelborger on 23 Dec 1942. Herman fled from Prussia in April 1945 via the Baltic Sea to Denmark. He worked in various agricultural marketing positions. Herman and Liesbeth have three children. While in Burgdorf, Germany, Herman compiled five family histories: Martin Thiehsen und seine Nachkommen, 1937-1977 (1977); Bartholamaeus Tiessen: 350 Jahre Familientradition (1986); Familiengeschichte den Familie Bench (1989); Peter Heydebrecht und Seine Nachkommen (1990); Die Familie Mekelburger (1992).

Custodial History

The records were acquired by Herman Schirmacher (1967- ) who donated them to the Mennonite Library and Archives at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas in 2001. Microfilm copies of were donated to the MHSA by Tim Janzen.

Scope & Content

The fonds consists of Thiessen’s genealogical correspondence and various materials he collected while compiling his books. In addition to the files of correspondence and notes, there are three card files with male Thiessesn, female Thiessens, and a “SuchIndex” which apparently includes all Mennonites he found who were born before 1820 or were baptized before 1840. The first folder contains some introductory and explanatory notes by Herman Thiessen. There is also some correspondence added by Herman Schirmacher, so it is not quite clear where Thiessen’s materials end and how much of Schirmacher’s material is included

Source of Acquisition

Gift by Tim Janzen, Portland, Oregon, 2003

Arrangement

Arranged according to sequence received – chronological according to folder number

Originals and Reproduction

Originals can be found at Mennonite Library & Archives, North Newton, KS

Related Materials

For a book published by Thiessen based on these records, see Martin Thiehsen und seine Nachkommen, 1937-1977 – 1977 (MHSA Library)

Notes

Accession 2003.001
Language: German and English
Description extensively extracted from the description prepared by Mennonite Library and Archives in Kansas, folder descriptions aided by Don Fehr, and images migrated with the assistance of Tim Janzen and Don Fehr.
Part of the Tim Janzen collection.
Last updated 29 Feb 2008 – Judith Rempel
Revised July 2012

Film List

Film No. 1 (images)

  1. Mennonite Library & Archives Archival Description of Herman Thiessen Papers – 2002
  2. Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 488 – 633

Film No. 2 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 634 – 771

Film No. 3 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 772 – 829

Film No. 4

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Names: Blank to A

Film No. 5

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Names: B to E

Film No. 6

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Names: E to H

Film No. 7

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Names: G to J

Film No. 8

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Name: J

Film No. 9

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Names: J to N

Film No. 10

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Names: N to P

Film No. 11

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens – First Names: P to W

Film No. 12

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens – First Names: Blank to A

Film No. 13

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens – First Names: A to D

Film No. 14

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens – First Names: D to H

Film No. 15

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens – First Names: H to J

Film No. 16

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens – First Names: J to M

Film No. 17

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens – First Names: M to O

Film No. 18

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens – First Names: O to Y

Film No. 19

  1. Card File – Surname Index: A to C

Film No. 20

  1. Card File – Surname Index: F to J

Film No. 21

  1. Card File – Surname Index: C to E

Film No. 22

  1. Card File – Surname Index: J to P

Film No. 23

  1. Card File – Surname Index: P to V

Film No. 24

  1. Card File – Surname Index: W to Z

Film No. 25 (images)

  1. Overview of the collected foundation (Unterlagen) of family research of the Mennonite families in Prussia and their descendants in the whole world Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 1 – 90

Film No. 26 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 91 – 225

Film No. 27 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 226 – 313

Film No. 28 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 314 – 423

Film No. 29 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes – Folders 425 – 487