© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated Nov. 10, 2010)

  • Epp, Heinrich M., 1904-1958

    • Retrieval numbers: Volumes 582-584; Photograph Collection 677

    Title: Heinrich M. Epp Fonds
    Dates: 1927-1958 , predominant 1952-1958
    Extent: 36 cm of textual material ; 3 photographs
    Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

    Historical note

    Heinrich Martin Epp was born on February 4, 1904, in Fischau, Southern Russia. He was beginning a Pedagogical Course in Halbstadt when his studies were interrupted by the revolution. He married Anna Enns on May 11, 1924, and they immigrated to Canada on October 10 of the same year. They first moved to Drake, Saskatchewan, then Winkler, Manitoba, and finally settled on a farm near Lena, Manitoba in 1927. Anna and Heinrich had eight children. Heinrich was called to ministry by the Whitewater Mennonite Church (Boissevain, Manitoba) in 1928 and was ordained on August 4, 1929. In 1945, the family moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia and Heinrich was ordained by the West Abbotsford Mennonite Church in 1948. He served as a minister in that congregation from 1946-1958. As a minister, Heinrich's strengths were in counseling, home visitation and personal work. He was also involved in many facets of conference work with both the General Conference Mennonite Church and the provincial conference in British Columbia. He died on April 13, 1958.

    Scope and content note

    This fonds consists primarily of correspondence, as well as minutes and other papers relating to various committees and activities. The correspondence concerns: family matters; the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization; the Provincial Mennonite Relief Committee; the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, both generally and the Board of Christian Service in particular; the General Conference Mennonite Church, especially the Board of Missions; and letters from refugees in Europe requesting relief aid. There are also various collected materials such as tracts and peace literature. The material is original and is mostly typewritten.

    Index terms

    Subject terms

  • Epp, Heinrich M., 1904-1958

    Creators

  • Epp, Heinrich M., 1904-1958

    Adjunct descriptive data

    Finding aids

    Inventory file list available

    Related material in this repository

    House of Heinrich Epp Collection

    Notes

    Language

    German (about 75%) and English (about 25%)

    Arrangement

    Description completed by Joanne Moyer in February 2007. Updated by Alf Redekopp, May 2013.

    Restrictions on access

    Limited access; see archivist

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Henry H. Epp, son of Heinrich

    Inventory File List

    Volume 582
    1. Correspondence concerning the Mission Board, the Board of Colonization, the General Conference Mennonite Church, the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, pastoral work, and personal matters in both German and English from 1955.
    2. Correspondence concerning the Mission Board, the Board of Colonization, the General Conference Mennonite Church, pastoral work, and personal matters in both German and English from 1956.
    3. Correspondence concerning the Mission Board, the General Conference Mennonite Church, pastoral work and personal matters in both German and English from 1957-1958.
    4. Documents: passport, documents relating to pastoral work, such as marriage certificates, and reference letters, 1952-1958.
    5. Correspondence with Franz H. Epp in German, 1953-1958.
    6. West Abbotsford Mennonite Church: agendas, minutes and financial records in German, 1953.
    7. Family correspondence: letters in German from 1953-1957, includes list of relatives.
    8. Correspondence concerning pastoral and personal matters, mostly in German, from 1946-1957.
    9. Church correspondence: certificates of post office registration, correspondence, and minutes concerning pastoral issues, the Mennonite Benevolent Society, the Board of Missions and the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba, mostly in German, from 1951-1955.
    10. Correspondence with children in German from 1955-1958; includes index of letters.
    11. Family history forms for Enns/Epp family tree.
    12. Correspondence with/from Menno & Irma re. estate matters, mother taking ill, and well-being of youngest siblings. – Sept. 1956-Apr.1961.
    Volume 583
    1. Provincial Mennonite Relief Committee: minutes and correspondence in German, 1954-1958; also some material concerning the Mennonite Central Committee and the Board of Colonization.
    2. Mennonite Board of Colonization: reports, minutes and correspondence in German and English from 1955-1957; also some material concerning the Provincial Relief Committee.
    3. Mennonite Central Relief Committee, Western Canada: correspondence, minutes and financial records, mostly in German, from 1954-1958; also some material concerning Board of Colonization.
    4. Provincial Mennonite Relief Committee: constitution, minutes, financial records and correspondence, mostly in German, from 1951-1958; also some material concerning Board of Colonization.
    5. European Relief: letters in German requesting and thanking for relief, and donation receipts mostly addressed to G. Schellenberg, 1935-1959.
    6. Personal papers of Heinrich and Anna Epp including letters, last will and testament, immigration documents from leaving Russia in 1924 and other documents. -- 1924-1958. (Acc. no. 2010-0081)
    Volume 584
    1. Correspondence with J. J. Thiessen in German regarding the Board of Missions and the Board of Colonization, 1952-1957.
    2. Conference Work: correspondence and minutes relating to the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, the Board of Colonization, the General Conference Mennonite Church, and pastoral work, in German and English, from 1954-1955.
    3. Board of Christian Service: correspondence and minutes, mostly in German, concerning sending Bibles to Russia and other projects, from 1957-1958; also some material concerning the Board of Colonization and the Mennonite Central Committee.
    4. Bethesda Mennonite Health Society: agendas, financial records, reports and correspondence in German, from 1954-1957.
    5. Conference of the United Mennonite Churches of British Columbia: correspondence, minutes and lists of names in German from 1954-1957.
    6. Mennonite Central Committee: a letter (1955) and a newsletter (1956) in English.
    7. General Conference Mennonite Church: correspondence concerning various agencies, especially the Mennonite Biblical Seminary and the Board of Christian Service in English and German from 1955-1958.
    8. Mission Board: correspondence, minutes, and list of potential missionaries in Abbotsford, in English and German, from 1953-1958.
    9. Hospital: visiting hours for Chilliwack General Hospital.
    10. Conference of United Mennonite Churches of British Columbia: constitution, correspondence, and financial reports in German, from 1957-1958.
    11. Missions: pamphlets in English from Mennonite missions agencies, including Mennonite Pioneer Mission and General Conference Mennonite Church Board of Missions, ca. 1956.
    12. Peace literature: pamphlets, newsletters and correspondence in English and German, ca. 1950-1953.
    13. Sunday School resources in German, including several issues of Sonntagschulhelfer, from1954-1957.
    14. Peace, Service and Evangelism: publications from the General Conference Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Central Committee regarding programs, and correspondence, in English, from 1955-1957.
    15. Gelegenheitsgedichte: poetry in German.
    16. Various tracts in German and English.
    17. Miscellaneous programs from various church functions and events, mostly in German, from 1953-1957.
    18. Miscellaneous pamphlets and publications, including a pamphlet from the Gideons, an issue of Menno-Blatt (1956), a clipping from the Jewish Western Bulletin (1956) and about the Mennonite church (1927).
    19. Board of Christian Service: financial records, reports, correspondence, application form, minutes, newsletter, and articles in German and English from 1956-1958; also some material concerning the Mennonite Central Committee.
    Collection Number:
    		677 Heinrich M. and Anna Epp Photograph Collection
    677:1 Zentralschule in Ohrloff. - 1914. - 14x9 cm; b&w.

    		This photo is a postcard showing the two-storey secondary school building in Ohrloff, Molotschna which

    		opened on 20 May 1914. This secondary school was established in 1822 under the leadership of Johann

    		Cornies.
    677:2 Martin Epp in Tiege. - 19--. - 14x9 cm; b&w.

    		This photo shows Martin Epp in front of his store in the village of Tiege, Molotschna, Russia.
    677:3 Mennonite farmyard showing mature bricks. - 19--. - 11x8.5 cm: b&w.

    		This photo shows a group of 6 young children sitting on the grass in a typical Mennonite farm yard in

    		southern Russia. In the background is a barn, showing two horses and a cart. There is a row of manure

    		bricks layered up in front of the buildings.