Mennonite
Historical
Society

of Alberta

Anna Janzen fonds

Accession 2004.032

Title and Physical Description

Anna Janzen fonds,. – 1926-1958. – 2 cm of textual records. – 1 compact disc

Administrative/Biographical History

Anna Janzen (nee Anna Barg), the daughter of Isaak Barg and Maria (Dueck) Barg, was born 8 November 1911 in the village of Fuerstenwerder, Saporoschnia settlement.  She migrated from the Soviet Union to Canada in 1926.  There she married Aron Janzen on 11 January 1931.  They lived in Coaldale, Alberta, where Anna Janzen died in 2008.  Over the years the family received numerous letters from relatives still in the Soviet Union.

Custodial History

The letters and some supporting documents were entrusted to Erna Goerzen who photocopied and translated them, and also preserved a copy on a compact disc.  The original copies were returned by Erna Goerzen to Anna Janzen.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of a manuscript entitled “Familien Briefe aus Ruszland, 1926-1958, Sammlung von Anna Janzen, Englishe Verfassung-Uebersetzung, Heinrich u. Erna Goerzen,”  It includes the translated version of letters received by members of the Janzen family from relatives in the Soviet Union, together with an account by Anna’s father-in-law of the family’s journey from the Soviet Union, and some supportive genealogical information.  Also included is a separate folder contianing more extensive genealogical information, and another folder containing photocopies of the letters which are also preserved on a compact disc.

Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Mennonite Historical Society of  Alberta by Erna Goerzen.