Accession 2012.012
Title and Physical Description
Henry Peters fonds, c. 1910-1963, 9 cm photographs and correspondence
Biographical History
Henry Peters, son of Heinrich Peters (1857-1930) and Elizabeth Warkentin Peters (1960-1936) was born on 26 August 1885 in Kronsweide, Russia (Alt Kolonie). He married Katharina Friesen from Alt Kronsweide on 10 May, 1912. They had two children (Louise, b. 1913 and Martha, b. 1918). Henry Peters died 3 November 1958 and Katharina Friesen Peters died 30 December 1941, both on the family farm east of Olds, Alberta.
During World War I, Henry Peters served on Red Cross trains gathering and transporting wounded soldiers to hospitals. The family fled from Kronsweide when that village was threatned by terrorist bands led by Nestor Machno. They lived for some time in Steinfeld, Molotschna Colony, before emigrating to Canada in 1925. They went first to Namaka, Alberta. Then, together with Heinrich’s brother Frank, the family rented a farm near Cayley before buyiing a section of land east of Olds, Alberrta. The Henry Peters family moved briefly to a farm near Torrington, Alberta. They, together with the family of Heinrich’s brother David, purchased more land and enlarged the housing facilities on the farm east of Olds.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of 9 cm of genealogical information, a brief family history, photographs of Henry Peters parents, his family and the families of his siblings, and letters from family members and friends in Canada and Russia.
Source of Acquisition
The photographs and letters were donated to the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta by Anita Lunden, daughter of Louise (Peters) Gronau and granddaughter of Henry and Katharina Peters.
Notes
Accession 2012.012
File List
01. Peters family genealogies, recollections by Louise (Peters) Grunau – Henry Peters’ daughter.
02. Six photographs of Heinrich and Katharina (Friesen) Peters, c. 1912-1938, and of daughter Louise.
03. Ten photographs of John and Mary Peters family – relatives of Henry and Katharina Peters, undated.
04. One photograph of Heinrich and Elizabeth (Warkentin) Peters and one of their family. Parents of Henry Peters.
05 . Thirteen photographs of Franz and Justina Peters family, 1923-c.1954. Franz was Henry Peters brother.
06. Eleven photographs of Susanna and Gerhard Peters family, most undated. Susanna, who married Gerhard Peters, was Henry Peters sister.
07. Six photographs of David and Maria Petes, most undated, and one letter, 1945 from David Peters, Henry Peters brother.
08. Six photographs of Gerhard and Katharina Dahl family, most undated. Katharina Dahl was Henry Peters sister.
09. Eight letters, 1927-1942 from Jacob Friesen, Katharina (Friesen) Peters sister.
10. Four photographs and four letters from the Peter and Agatha (Friesen) Quapp family, 1931 and undated. Agatha Quapp was Henry Peters sister.
11. Folder of letters from friends and relatives in Russia, c.1930-1935.
12. Folder of letters from friends and relatives, c. 1921-1947,
13. Eight photographs of Kornelius and Anna Friesen family, and about a dozen letters from relatives. Kornelius Friesen was a brother of Katharina (Friesen) Peters.
14. Eleven letters, most form Kornelius Friesen, 1915-1917.
15. Constitution of the Mennonite Mutual Supporting Society, 1949.
16 Twelve photographs and eight postcards related to Henry Peterswartime service on Red Cross trains.
17. Three Friesen family pictures – relatives of Katharina (Friesen) Peters.
18. Folder of letters, 1926-1936, from Wilhelm and Maria Falk – relatives of Katharina (Friesen) Peters.
19. Seven letters, 1929-1939 from John and Mary Peters – Henry Peters nephew and other Canadian correspondents.
20. Death notice of Heinrich Peters, 1930 – father of Henry Peters.
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