Hermann Thiessen: Archival Description Record

Deutsche Version hier

Introduction: After the acquisition of the data collection from Hermann Thiessen #211747, they were sent to USA to be microfilmed. The microfilms were generated and sent to all major Mennonite Archives. Judii Rempel and Don Fehr of Canada and several other individuals converted some of the records to PDF, which were then put online on the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta website. Unfortunately, due to the unexpected death of Judii Rempel as well as Don Fehr, this data is offline. I do not have the exact background information. A few years ago I copied the PDF data from an FTP server of Don Fehr and reproduced it here as far as possible.

Important: To be able to work a little more systematically, it is helpful to look through Hermann Thiessen's index, in which he has numbered the folders and often indicated the main source or the content. At the beginning are some abbreviations for known sources. These are then noted on his index cards. The index cards are not available as a PDF in my opinion. In my opinion, some of the information is not necessarily correct. Because they are letters, notes from people who were looking for more information. Also transcription errors will have crept in. Therefore it is allways important to prove the information with more reliable sources. Hermann Thiessen has also made mistakes in his research like everyone else.

Title and Physical Description
Hermann Thiessen (1919- ) fonds. -- 29 microfilm reels, 35 mm

Biographical History
Hermann Thiessen was born 29 May 1919 in Stutthof-Stoerbuderkamfe, West Prussia to Hermann and Katharina (Bench) Thiessen and married to Liesbech Maekelborger on 23 Dec 1942. Hermann fled from Prussia in April 1945 via the Baltic Sea to Denmark. He worked in various agricultural marketing positions. At the time of the genealogical work, he lived in Burgdorf, Germany. Hermann and Liesbeth have three children.

Hermann compiled five family histories:

  • Martin Thiehsen und seine Nachkommen, 1937-1977 - 1977
  • Bartholamaeus Tiessen: 350 Jahre Familientradition - 1986
  • Familiengeschichte den Familie Bench - 1989
  • Peter Heydebrecht und Seine Nachkommen - 1990
  • Die Familie Mekelburger - 1992

Custodial History
The records were acquired by Hermann Schirmacher (1967- ) who donated them to the Mennonite Library and Archives at Bethel College, Kansas in 2001. Microfilm copies of were donated to the MHSA by Tim Janzen.

Scope & Content
The fonds consist of Thiessen's genealogical correspondence and various materials he collected while compiling his books. In addition to the files of correspondence and notes, there are three card files with male Thiessesn, female Thiessens, and a "SuchIndex" which apparently includes all Mennonites he found who were born before 1820 or were baptiszed before 1840. The first folder contains some introductory and explanatory notes by Hermann Thiessen.

There is also some correspondence added by Hermann Schirmacher, so it is not quite clear where Thiessen's materials end and how much of Schirmacher's material is included.

Source of Supplied Title
Title based on the contents of the fonds

Source of Acquisition
Gift by Tim Janzen, Portland, Oregon

Arrangement
According to sequence received - chronological according to folder number

Originals and Reproduction
Originals can be found at Mennonite Library & Archives, Newton, KS

Access Restrictions
None

Finding Aids
See Files Inventory

Associated Materials
See MHSA Library for Martin Thiehsen und seine Nachkommen, 1937-1977 and Mennonite Library & Archives, KS for original 7.2 cu feet of related records

Related Materials
For a book published by Thiessen based on these records, see Martin Thiehsen und seine Nachkommen, 1937-1977 - 1977 (MHSA Library)

Accruals
Not expected

Notes
Accession 2003.001
Language: German and English
Description extensively extracted from the description prepared by Mennonite Library and Archives in Kansas, folder descriptions aided by Don Fehr, and images migrated with the assistance of Tim Janzen and Don Fehr.
Last updated 29 Feb 2008 - Judith Rempel

Files Inventory

Film No. 1 (images)

  1. Mennonite Library & Archives Archival Description of Hermann Thiessen Papers - 2002
  2. Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 488 – 633

Film No. 2 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 634 – 771

Film No. 3 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 772 – 829

Film No. 4

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Names: Blank to A

Film No. 5

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Names: B to E

Film No. 6

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Names: E to H

Film No. 7

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Names: G to J

Film No. 8

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Name: J

Film No. 9

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Names: J to N

Film No. 10

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Names: N to P

Film No. 11

  1. Card File – Male Thiessens - First Names: P to W

Film No. 12

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens - First Names: Blank to A

Film No. 13

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens - First Names: A to D

Film No. 14

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens - First Names: D to H

Film No. 15

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens - First Names: H to J

Film No. 16

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens - First Names: J to M

Film No. 17

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens - First Names: M to O

Film No. 18

  1. Card File – Female Thiessens - First Names: O to Y

Film No. 19

  1. Card File – Surname Index: A to C

Film No. 20

  1. Card File – Surname Index: F to J

Film No. 21

  1. Card File – Surname Index: C to E

Film No. 22

  1. Card File – Surname Index: J to P

Film No. 23

  1. Card File – Surname Index: P to V

Film No. 24

  1. Card File – Surname Index: W to Z

Film No. 25 (images)

  1. Overview of the collected foundation (Unterlagen) of family research of the Mennonite families in Prussia and their descendents in the whole world Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 1 – 90

Film No. 26 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 91 – 225

Film No. 27 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 226 – 313

Film No. 28 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 314 – 423

Film No. 29 (images)

  1. Genealogical correspondence and notes - Folders 425 – 487