© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated March 28, 2007)

  • Klassen, Johann J., 1872-1942


    Retrieval numbers: 589, 3682-3683

    Title: Johann J. Klassen Fonds
    Dates: 1932-1942
    Extent: 20 cm of textual material
    Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

    Historical note

    Johann J. Klassen was born on November 20, 1872, in Kronsgarten in the Chortitza Colony in Russia. His parents were Johann and Judith (Klassen) Klassen. He completed the pedagogical course at the Chortitza Zentralschule, and then spent five years studying theology at the Theological Seminary in Basel, Switzerland. He was the first student from Chortitza to study at the seminary and his education was financed by a Mennonite industrialist. Upon completing his studies, Johann returned to Russia where he served as a teacher and preacher in both Chortitza and Ekaterinoslav. He was married to Sara Dyck on May 20, 1900 and they had at least two children: Heinrich and Franz. In 1923, the family immigrated to Canada and Johann began working at the Nordheimer Church in Dundurn, Saskatchewan, in 1925. He was ordained as an elder by David Toews and played an instrumental role in gathering the scattered groups in Saskatchewan into an organized church. Johann was known for his unwavering faith and his calm unbiased judgement and he was often asked to address the conference on difficult topics. He also served on the program committee for the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. In 1940, Johann and Sara moved to Sardis, British Columbia, seeking a better climate for Sara's health. Johann began work at the First Mennonite Church Greendale, but was killed in a car accident on January 29, 1942.

    Scope and content note

    This fonds contains a collection of sermons in German (1936-1941), and correspondence, minutes and reports related to the Nordheimer Church (Dundurn, Saskatchewan), Conference of Mennonites in Canada annual conferences, the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization, and the German English Academy. Materials are both handwritten and typewritten.

    Index terms

    Subject terms

  • Klassen, Johann J., 1872-1942

    Creators

  • Klassen, Johann J., 1872-1942

    Adjunct descriptive data

    Finding aids

    Inventory file list available

    Notes

    Language

    German (approximately 90%) and English (approximately 10%)

    Arrangement

    Description completed by Joanne Moyer in February 2007.

    Restrictions on access

    None to access

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Some deposited by nephew, Henry T. Klassen

    • Inventory File List

    Volume 589
    1. Correspondence in German, primarily regarding church work and the CMC Program Committee, 1933-1939.
    2. Correspondence with David Toews in German, 1934-1940.
    3. Correspondence with Jacob H. Janzen in German, 1934-1939.
    4. Sermons and talks in German, mostly handwritten, 1934-1940.
    5. Sermons: photocopies of typewritten text in German, 1936-1940.
    6. Minutes of Nordheim Mennonite Church meetings in German, 1934-1938.
    7. Minutes and correspondence in German, primarily regarding the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization, also the German English Academy and other church work, 1934-1937.
    8. Reports in German from the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, the General Conference Mennonite Church, and the Conference of Mennonites in Saskatchewan; also some correspondence, 1932-1939.
    9. Reports regarding the German English Academy and Rosthern Bible School, 1934-1938.
    Volume 3682
    Accession # 88-101
    1. Sermons I: handwritten notes in German, 1940-1941.
    2. Sermons II: handwritten notes in German, 1940-1941.
    3. Sermons on Old Testament texts, including coronation celebration (1936) and David Toews’s ministry anniversary (1938), typewritten in German, 1936-1941.
    4. Sermons on texts from Matthew and Mark, typewritten in German, 1936-1941.
    5. Sermons on texts from Luke and Acts, typewritten in German, 1936-1940.
    6. Sermons on texts from John’s Gospel, Epistles, and Revelation, typewritten in German, 1936-1940.
    Volume 3683
    Accession # 88-101
    1. Sermons on texts from Paul’s epistles, typewritten in German, 1936-1941.
    2. Sermons on texts from the epistles of the Hebrews and Peter, including farewell sermons (1939), typewritten in German, 1937-1939.
    3. Topical sermons and reports, typewritten in German, 1936-1941.
    4. Correspondence regarding finances and documents from the Mennonite Aid Society, in English and German, 1941-1942.
    5. Miscellaneous manuscripts, including poems and sermons, handwritten and typewritten in German, ca.1940.