Accession 2022.015
Title and Physical Description
Eugene Janzen fonds,. – 18 cm of textual records. – 1 memory stick
Administrative/Biographical History
Eugene Janzen was born in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, the son of Jacob P. Janzen and Frieda Epp. His father served as Conscientious Objector in Canadian Alternative Service work camps in 1942.
Eugene Janzen earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972. He served as a Professor of Veterinary Medicine, first at the University of Saskatchewan and then at the University of Calgary. He has an interest in family history, including his father’s wartime service, and in the family’s genealogy.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of the large, very unique, extensively illustrated family Bible of Eugene Janzen’s grandparents, Peter J. Janzen and Maria (Martens) Janzen. In addition to Martin Luther’s German translation, this large family Bible contains numerous coloured and black and white pictures and illustrations, maps, tabulations, and extensive explanatory and background articles pertaining to biblical times. Also included in the Bible are genealogical records of the Peter J. Janzen and Maria (Martens) Janzen family.
The fonds also includes a booklet and memory stick containing photocopies and English translations of letters Jacob Peter Janzen (Eugene Janzen’s father) wrote while serving as a Conscientious Objector in alternative service camps in Banff National Park. Almost all of these letters were written in the cursive Gothic German script. Peter Janzen served in several camps in Banff National Park, including the Seebe camp. The letters were written in 1942.
Also included in the fonds are 1. a large undated genealogical chart of Frieda Epp, Eugene Janzen’s mother, 2. a 1982 published obituary of Jacob P. Janzen, 3. an undated handwritten short biography of Jacob G. Epp, and 4. an undated published manuscript entitled “Historical Sketch of our Mennonite People’s Trek from Russia to Canada and early development in the new land” written by Jacob J. Epp.
Source of Acquisition
Gift by Eugene Janzen