Mennonite
Historical
Society

of Alberta

Bergthal Mennonite Church Women in Mission fonds

Location:

Accession 2003.018

Title and Physical Description

Bergthal Mennonite Church Women in Mission fonds. — 1956-2006. — 27 cm of textual records. — 8 photographs

Administrative/Biographical History

The Bergthal Mennonite Church Women in Mission gathered first in 1956 as “Busy Fingers” to become involved in relief and mission work by learning about it and by contributing financially to it. It was made up of women who were members of the Bergthal Mennonite Church near Didsbury, Alberta, but it was not subordinate nor did it report to that church. It formally reported to the Alberta Women in Mission which in turn reports to the Canadian Women in Mission bodies. It was affiliated with the Mennonite Church Alberta and Mennonite Church Canada. The BMCWM ended its activities in 2006

Scope & Content

The fonds consists of three series: A) General Files, B) Photos, and C) Plays

Variations in Title Proper

Also known as Busy Fingers fonds and Bergthal Women in Mission fonds

Source of Acquisition

Gift from Bergthal Mennonite Church Women in Mission, 2003-2008

Access Restrictions

Access to personal information is subject to legislation and MHSA privacy policy

Finding Aids

See Files Inventory

Associated Materials

Associated records may be found in the Bergthal Mennonite Church fonds

Related Materials

For books related to the fonds, see the following books catalogued in the MHSA library

  • Dick, C.L. (1980). Conference of Mennonites in Alberta History. Calgary: Conference of Mennonites in Alberta.
  • General Conference Mennonite Women’s Mission Association. (1968). General Conference Mennonite Women’s Mission Association Manual.
  • General Conference Mennonite Women’s Mission Association. (1975). The Manual of Women in Mission of the General Conference Mennonite Church.
  • Goering, Gladys V. (1980). Women in Search of Mission: A History of the General Conference Mennonite Women’s Organization. Newton, KS: Faith and Life Press.
  • Goerzen, Erna. (2007). Bergthal Mennonite Women in Mission: 1956-2006. Didsbury, AB: Bergthal Mennonite Women in Mission.
  • Hooge, Katie. (1977). The History of the Canadian Women in Mission: 1952-1977. Winnipeg, MB: Canadian Women in Mission.
  • Neufeld, Anne. (1977). Alberta Women in Mission: 1947-1977. Coaldale, Alberta: Alberta Women in Mission.
  • Neufeld, Anne. (2002). Alberta Women in Mission: 1947-1997. Coaldale, Alberta: Alberta Women in Mission.
  • Patkau, Esther. (2002). Canadian Women in Mission: 1895-1952-2002. Saskatoon, SK: Canadian Women in Mission.

Notes

Accession 2003.018, 2008.008, all filed with 2003.018
Last updated April 2013 – Jim Bowman

Files Inventory

A. General Files. — 1956-2006. — 26 cm textual records
The series consists of general files that include copies of constitutions, minutes, reports, directories, event management and correspondence. Arranged according to date

1-1 Busy Fingers – Constitution – 1956-2003
1-2 Bergthal WM – Minutes and Letters – 1977
1-3 Bergthal WM – Minutes and Letters – 1978
1-4 Bergthal WM – Minutes, Constitution – 1979
2-34 Minutes – 1979-1992
1-5 Bergthal WM – Minutes, Letters – 1980
1-6 Conferences and Executive Workshops – 1980-1986
1-7 Bergthal WM – Minutes, Letters – 1981
1-8 Bergthal WM – 1982
1-9 Bergthal WM – 1983
1-10 Bergthal WM – 1983-1984
1-11 Bergthal WM – 1984
1-12 Bergthal WM – 1985
1-14 Financial Records – 1985-2006 [separated to Oversize “A”]
1-15 Bergthal Women in Mission – 1986-1987
1-16 Bergthal Women in Mission – 1989-1991
1-17 Bergthal WM, Minutes and Correspondence – 1992
1-18 Bergthal WM – 1993
2-34 Minutes, Reports and Records, 1979-1992 1-19 Minutes, Reports and Records, 1994-1999
1-20 Reports, Meeting notes, Litanies – 1994-1999
1-21 Address List – General Conference Women in Mission, Canadian Women in Mission, Alberta Women in Mission – 1995-2005
2-22 Roll Call – 1997-2006
2-23 Minutes – 2000-2002
2-24 Minutes – 2000-2003
2-25 Correspondence – 2001-2003
2-26 Project Sheets – 2002-2004
2-27 Bergthal WM – Minutes – 2002-2005
2-28 Canadian Women in Mission Retreat – 2003-2005
2-29 Alberta Women’s Retreat – 2003-2004
2-30 Correspondence – 2004-2006

A-1 Files received as Accession 2009.008 but interfiled with Accession 2003.018
2-35 Women in Mission. Busy Fingers, History, Bergthal
2-36 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Amended Constitution. 1975
2-37 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Minutes 1975.
2-38 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Financial Reports, 1961. 1963-65, 1970, 1972-76.
2-39 Bergthal Women in Mission, Handbooks, 1978-2001.
2-40 Women in Mission, Questionaires, 1961-1978
2-41 Women in Mission, Correspondence, Minutes and Reports 1967-1987.
2-42 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Audited Financial Statements, 1962-1978.
2-43 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Minute Book, 1965-1969
2-44 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Minutes, 1967-1974.
2-45 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Minutes, 1962-69, 1976, 1978-79, 1981-82.
2-46 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Constitution, 1982, Alberta Conference report, 1987.
2-47 Women in Mission, Canadian and General Conference reports, 1982-1985
2-48 Canadian Women in Mission Reports, 1979, 1993.
2-49 Alberta Women in Mission Minutes, 1971-1973.
2-50 Women in Mission, Busy Fingers, Soocial Committee, 1976-1985
2-51 Alberta Women in Mission, Minutes and Reports, 1976.
2-52 Alberta Women in Mission, Canadian Conference Reports, 1975-76

B. Photographs. — undated. — 8 photographs
The series consists of unidentified and undated photographs. Arranged as found

1-13-1 Remember the Gonzalez family in Mexico (Rolando, Margaret, Roland, Keith, Karen and Kelly; Wycliffe Bible Translators nd
1-13-2 Mennonite Christian Hospital
1-13-3 Asian woman
1-13-4 two nurses and a man
1-13-5 two women and a girl
1-13-6 two nurses
1-13-7 woman at pulpit
1-13-8 two women in front of house and a man working

C. Plays. — [ca 1990s]. — 1 cm textual records
The series consists of plays produced by the Bergthal Women in Mission. Arranged according to subject

2-31 Seedtime and Harvest – n.d.
2-32 The Wise and Foolish Pilgrims – n.d.