Historical note

Otto Klassen was born April 7, 1927 in Schoeneberg, Ukraine to Bernhard Klassen and Katharina Derksen. He came to Germany in 1944. In 1947 he moved to Paraguay, settling in the Volendam Mennonite settlement. He married Kaethe Bergen in Paraguay in 1949. The family immigrated to Canada in 1955 and settled in Winnipeg where Otto established his own company, O. Klassen Masonry Ltd.

Otto Klassen received his first camera in 1944 and was also involved with filmmaking at that time. It was in Canada after 1955 that Klassen was inspired by Walt Disney, that he decided to pursue his filmmaking interest. He purchased his first professional 16 mm camera in 1967. He received much advise and encouragement from chief film editor of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) at that time.

Otto Klassen has become well known as a professional cameraman and independent film producer. His documentary films and videos are about Mennonite history, life, events and celebrations.

Scope and content note

This fonds includes digital masters, optical and negative tracks, broadcast VHS and Beta master videocassettes, release prints in 16 mm film and VHS video format. The moving images contain some colour and some black and white scenes. Otto Klassen's productions are the result of extensive research in archives, both in Canada and Germany. These productions represent the first time that the story of the Mennonite people in Prussia, Russia, Canada, Mexico, and Paraguay have been told through moving images. Several productions were released in multiple languages -- English, German, Low German and Spanish. At least 11 separate titles or series are represented in this fonds. They are:

1. The Great Trek 1939-1945
2. Prairie Pioneers: The Mennonites of Manitoba
3. Mennonites Conquer the Vistula Delta
4. Mennonite Monument
5. 75 years Mennonites in Mexico
6. 50 year Freedom Jubilee: Praise God for Canada
7. Women of Courage: Stories of Sadness & Stories of Suvival
8. Gespräch: Delgatenreise 1921
9. Im Dienst Der Liebe (KM 81)
10. Frajoa Enn De Oost-resaew, "Three Short Plays"
11. 125th Anniversary of Mennonites in Manitoba: 1874-1999

Index terms

Creators

Adjunct descriptive data

Finding aids

Finding aid consists of series descriptions and a file list.

Notes

Custodial history

The material in this fonds was created by Otto Klassen and most of it was donated to the archives by Klassen. One donation was made by MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) and other materials have come in sporadically.

Language

English, High German, Low German, and Spanish.

Arrangement

Described by Alf Redekopp December 2002.

Restrictions on access

No restrictions to access.

Terms governing use, reproduction and publication

Some restrictions to copying.

Immediate source of acquisition

Otto Klassen of Winnipeg
Mennonite Centre Committee (Manitoba)

Films

 Vol 30 Film "Im Dienst der Liebe" Km 81 (Paraguay) A+B Neg and Opt. Trk. 16mm. -- [1990?]. Reel 1. -- Note: Donated by MCC. Accession No: 01-008

Vol 31 Film "Im Dienst der Liebe" Km 81 (Paraguay) A+B Neg. and Opt. Trk. 16mm. -- [1990?]. Reel 2. -- Note: Donated by MCC. Accession No: 01-008

Vol 32 Film "Im Dienst der Liebe" km 81. -- [1990?]. -- Note: Donated by MCC. Accession No: 01-008

Vol 44 The Great Trek 1939-1943/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels of film A & B negative and optical track (English version) Show 1 Reel 1. Accession No: 02-161

Vol 45 The Great Trek 1939-1943/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels of film A & B negative and optical track (English version) Show 1 Reel 2. Accession No: 02-161

Vol 46 The Great Trek 1943-1945/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels A&B negative and optical tracks: Show # 2 Reel # 1 (English). Accession No: 02-161

Vol 47 The Great Trek 1943-1945/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 4 reels A&B negative and optical tracks: Show # 1 Reel # 2 (English). Accession No: 02-161

Vol 48 The Great Trek (1939-1943)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 8 reels A&B negative and optical tracks: Intro to Show # 1 & 2. Accession No: 02-161

Vol 49 The Great Trek (1939-1943)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 3 reels A&B negative and optical tracks: End of Part II. Accession No: 02-161

Vol 50 The Great Trek Part I/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16 mm positive film and magnetic sound track (to make video master). Accession No: 02-161

Vol 51 The Great Trek Part II/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16 mm positive film and magnetic sound track (to make video master). Accession No: 02-161

Vol 52 Der Große Trek (1. Teil)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16mm film (release print for viewing). Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 53 Der Große Trek (2. Teil)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16mm film (release print for viewing). Accession No: 02-161

Vol 54 The Great Trek Part I/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 16 mm film (release print for viewing). Accession No: 02-161

Videocassettes

Vol 129 125th Anniversary of Mennonites in Manitoba: 1874-1999. -- August 1, 1999. -- 45 min. -- VHS. Accession No: 99-134.

Vol 147 The Great Trek, 1939-1943 Part I. -- [199-]. -- 37 min. – VHS. Accession No: 00-014. –Note: There is a duplicate copy in Volume 242.

Vol 148 The Great Trek, 1939-1943 Part II. -- [199-]. -- 39 min. -- VHS. Accession No: 00-014. – Note: duplicate in Volume 243.

Vol 149 50 Year Freedom Jubilee, Praise God for Canada. -- 1998. -- 60 min. -- VHS. Accession No: 00-014.

Vol 154 Frajoa Enn De Oost-resaew, "Three Short Plays"/Otto Klassen Productions. -- 1999. - 60 min. -- VHS. Accession No: 00-056.

Vol 196 "Im Dienst Der Liebe" (KM 81), Master. -- 1990. -- time 40:00. -- Beta. -- Note: Donated by MCC. Accession No: 01-008.

Vol 197 "Im Dienst Der Liebe" (KM 81), Edited Master. -- 1990. -- time 40:00. -- Beta. -- Note: Donated by MCC. Accession No: 01-008.

Vol 198 Altkolonier Mennoniten, Wandern von Kanada nach Mexiko, 1 of 3. -- 1997. -- VHS. 29 minutes. -- Note: In Low German. Accession No: 01-010.

Vol 199 Pioniere in Mexiko, Kanadische Mennoniten kolonisieren in Mexiko, 2 of 3. -- 1997. VHS. -- 54 minutes. -- Note: In Low German. Accession No: 01-010.

Vol 200 75 Jährige Jubiläumsfeier der Mennoniten in Mexiko 1922-1997, 3 of 3. -- 1998. -- VHS. -- 59 minutes. -- Note in Low German. Accession No: 01-010.

Vol 201 Old Colony Mennonites emigrate from Canada to Mexico, 1 of 3. -- 1997. -- VHS. -- 29 minutes. Accession No: 01-010.

Vol 202 Pioneers in Mexico, Canadian Mennonites Colonize in Mexico, 2 of 3. -- 1997. -- VHS. -- 57 minutes. Accession No: 01-010.

Vol 203 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Mennonites in Mexico 1922-1997, 3 of 3. -- 1998. -- VHS. -- 36 minutes. -- 1 copy. Accession No: 01-010.

Vol 242 The Great Trek 1939-1943 Part 1/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 37 minutes. -- English. -- VHS. Accession No: 02-161. – Note: there is a duplicate in Volume 147.

Vol 243 The Great Trek 1939-1943 Part 2/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 39 minutes. -- English. -- VHS. Accession No: 02-161. – Note: there is a duplicate in Volume 148.

Vol 244 The Great Trek 1939-1943 Part 1+2 timecode for shot list/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- VHS. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 245 The Great Trek/ Otto Klassen. -- 1996. -- 76 minuets. -- Betacam SP master, Print and Mag X-Fer,. Used to make video English Version. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 246 Old Colony Mennonites Emigrate from Canada to Mexico (Part 1)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 29 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-30Ma. -- English. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 247 Altkolonier Mennoniten Wandern von Kanada nach Mexico (Part 1)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 29 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-30Ma. -- High German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 248 Ooltkoloniea Mennoniten Waundren von Kanada no Mexiko (Part 1)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 30 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-30Ma. -- Low German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 249 Los Menonitas Emigran de Canada a Mexico (Part 1)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 30 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-30Ma. -- Spanish. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol. 250 Pioneers in Mexico: Canadian Mennonites Colonize in Mexico/ Otto Klassen. – 1997. – 57 minutes. – Betacam SP Master, Sony BCT-60MLa. Accession No. 02-161.

Vol 251 Pioniere in Mexiko: Kanadische Mennoniten kolonisieren in Mexiko (Part 2)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 54 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-60MLa. -- High German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 252 Pioneare en Mexiko: Kanaudische Mennoniten Kolonisearen en Mexiko (Part 2)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 56 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-60MLa. -- Low German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 253 Pioneros en Mexico: Menonitas Canadienses se Establecen en Mexico (Part 2)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1997. -- 54 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-60MLa. -- Spanish Accession No: 02-161

Vol 254 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Mennonites in Mexico 1922-1997 (Part 3)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1998. -- 37 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT- 60 Mla. – English. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 255 75 Jährige Jubiläumsfeier der Mennoniten in Mexiko 1922-1997 (Part 3)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1998. -- 59 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT- 60 Mla. -- High German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 256 Gespräsh "Delegatenreise 1921"/ Otto Klassen. -- 1998. -- 1 broadcast videocassette. -- 35 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT - 60MLa. – High German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 257 Mennoniten Bezwingen Das Weichseldelta/ Otto Klassen. -- 1994. -- 15 minutes. -- VHS. -- Low German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 258 Mennonites Conquer the Vistula Delta/ Otto Klassen. -- 1994. -- 15 minutes. -- VHS. High German. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 259 Mennonites Conquer the Vistula Delta/ Otto Klassen. -- 1994. -- 15 minutes. -- VHS. English. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 260 Prairie Pioneers: The Mennonites of Manitoba/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 43 minutes. -- VHS. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 261 Women of Courage: Stories of Sadness & Stories of Survival/ Otto Klassen. -- 1999. -- 24 minutes. -- VHS. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 262 Women of Courage: Stories of Sadness & Stories of Survival/ Otto Klassen. -- 1999. -- 24 minutes. -- Betacam SP Master, Sony BCT-60MLa. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 263 Mennonite Monument Video/ Otto Klassen. -- 1995. -- 50 minutes. -- VHS. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 264 50 Year Freedom Jubilee: praise God for Canada/ Otto Klassen. -- 1998. -- 60 minutes. -- Betacam SP master, Sony BCT-60MLa. Accession No: 02-161.

Vol 265 Im Dienst Der Liebe (Km 81)/ Otto Klassen. -- 1992. -- 40 min. -- VHS.

Digital

 30. The Great Trek (Parts 1 and 2). DVD format. (Acc. no. 2007-047)

Textual (Acc. No. 02-161)

Volume 5029

1. The Great Trek Script/ Otto Klassen. -- [199-].
2. The Great Trek (part 1) shot list/ Otto Klassen. -- [2002?]. -- In German and English.  
3. The Great Trek (part 2) shot list/ Otto Klassen. -- [2002?]. -- In German and English.
4. The Great Trek correspondence. -- 1985-1994. -- In German and English.
5. Film production expenses for the film "The Great Trek"/ Otto Klassen. -- 1986-1996, 2000. -- In English and German.
6. Publicity (reviews, articles etc.) on a number of films. -- 1992-2002. -- In German and  English.
7. 75 Years Mennonites in Mexico scripts.[199-]. -- In German.