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Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives & Gallery Wiens family
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Wiens Family fonds

  • CA MHCA Volumes 2252-2253, 4580, microfilm #785
  • Fonds
  • 1787-2000, predominant 1787-1963

This fonds consists of two bound books, copies of the books, their translations, and photocopies of published letters by Jacob Wiens (1816-1888) from the Mennonitische Rundschau. The first book, the Wiens Family Diary, contains mathematical calculations, fraktur art, travel diary, recipes, poetry, and record of events that take place in Prussia, Russia, and Canada. The second book, the Jacob Wiens Family Record, contains Wiens genealogical information and financial records of money paid and loaned. This material is unique that it spans such a large time frame following the family through three countries and includes various authors of the Wiens family. It gives the Wiens genealogy but also shows the complicated mathematical calculations used in a school setting as well as a love for artistic expression. The material shows the authors' love for poetry, music, and the kind of medical procedures used by the Mennonite people in Russia in the mid to late 1800s. A travel diary detailing the trip from Russia to Canada in 1876 is included. The materials give the reader a unique window into the life of a Mennonite community in Prussia, Russia, and Canada.

Wiens family

Wiens Family Diary

  • CA MHCA Volumes 2252-2253, 4580, microfilm #785-Volumes 2252-2253
  • Series
  • 1787-1959
  • Part of Wiens Family fonds

This series consist of the Wiens family diary and some loose pages. This series is divided into three main sections. The first section is an arithmetic book that was started by teacher Peter Wiens (1770-) in 1787 and is the oldest part of the book. In it Peter Wiens has numerous charts and equations where he lists units of measurement, additions, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, fractions, weights and currency, conversion of Prussian currency, calculation of interest and algebra style mathematical problems. Each mathematical page is embellished with elaborate and colorful fraktur art. Some pages have Latin language titles. The second section was written by Jacob Wiens (1816-1888) a nephew of Peter Wiens (1770-) through his brother Jacob (1767-1845). This portion is a compilation of various writings, some of which have been copied from other sources. Materials include stories such as Cholera in Rosengart, and Election of Jacob W. Kronsthal as teacher and J. Dyck as deacon; Home remedies for a good mouth grease, how to make a barometer, for headaches, and how charcoal can be used for medicine; Letter book that includes Invitation to the Mennonites in Danzig to emigrate to Russia and The Privilege given by Kaiser Paul; poetry and a travel diary detailing the migration of the Wiens family from Russia to Manitoba in 1876. Included with this book is an index to both sections and a translation of sections of the second portion of the book. Material has been translated and published in Nettie Kroeker's book Grandfather Wiens' Diary en route Russia to Canada, and translations by MHC volunteer Jake K. Wiens. The third section includes loose pages that were located in the diary. They have been removed, transliterated and translated. This material includes poetry, letters, and recipes.

Wiens family

Jacob Wiens Family Record

  • CA MHCA Volumes 2252-2253, 4580, microfilm #785-Volume 4580
  • Series
  • 1824-1903
  • Part of Wiens Family fonds

This item consists of 2 sections of a notebook without covers or titles pages. There are 13 pages which have entries on them. The initial four pages contain financial records. The remaining pages contain genealogical records giving dates of birth, marriage and death. The dates range from 1748-1903. The entries in the book seem to have been started by Jacob Wiens (1767-1845). His wife, Sara adds entries (her own birth and her husbands death). Their youngest son, Jacob Wiens (1816-1888) continues the register after his mother dies in 1861. He begins a formal sections dated Jan. 3, 1869. He is the one who most likely brought the book to America in 1876. He identifies himself as Jacob Wiens, Kronsthal. In Canada the family settled at Hoffnungsfeld near Winkler, Manitoba. His youngest daughter, Aganetha Wiens (1860-1827) married Johan Enns (1857-1929). Aganetha is the next person to make an entry into this record. The last entry in this item is written by this Johan Enns. Also included are copies of a number of letters written to the periodical Mennonitische Rundschau by Jacob Wiens (1818-1888) as a correspondent for the village of Honffnungsfeld.

Wiens family