Book Reviews
Royden Loewen, ed.. From the Inside Out: The Rural Worlds of Mennonite Diarists, 1863-1929 (Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba Press, 1999), pb. and hdc., 377 pp., $24.95 and $45.00 respectively.
Reviewed by John J. Friesen
In From the Inside Out, Royden Loewen continues his effort to illuminate the everyday life of ordinary people. The volume contains 21 diaries from ordinary Mennonites: women, men and youth. The diaries are taken primarily from the Hanover municipality in southeastern Manitoba and Waterloo County in Ontario. Their date of origin is the period between 1863 and 1929.
The diaries are not reproduced in full, but represented by sections from each of the diaries. The selections included here are usually a year in length so that they portray a broad range of daily life activity. All the selections are published in English.
Loewen notes that these diarists did not normally comment on the great events of their day, nor did they discuss major issues. By and large they recorded the events of daily life: illnesses, funerals, weddings,, childbirths, visiting of neighbours; the worship services, revival meetings, and the disciplinary actions of congregations.
In this book of diaries Loewen follows the emphases of his earlier book Family, Church and Market: A Mennonite Community in the Old and the New Worlds, 1850-1930, published in 1993.There, as well as in numerous articles, Loewen stressed the importance of the household for Mennonite community life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although these diarists do not focus formally on households, much of the life revealed in them is also household-centred.
The strength of Loewen's published work is that he is able to draw attention to and illumine the life of ordinary people in a way that former histories, relying on official documentation and the contribution of leaders, often did not do. Here the significant community contribution made by people often overlooked is brought to the fore: women, ordinary men, and youth.
This volume is interesting reading and contributes to a better understanding of Mennonite life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Dr. John J. Friesen is Professor of History and Theology at CMBC, Winnipeg.
Elmer Heinrichs and Jacob Peters, eds. Dit Sied Yant Sied: The Johann and Susanna Leppky/Loeppky Family, 1831-1998 (Winnipeg, MB: The Loeppky Reunion Committee, 1999), hdc., 380 pp., $55.00.
Reviewed by Richard Thiessen
"Dit Sied Yant Sied" ( this side - that side) is a Low German phrase used by Mennonites of southern Manitoba to designate whether Mennonites resided on the east or west side of the Red River. Thus this is an appropriate title for this book, which chronicles the story of the descendants of Johann G. Loeppky and Susanna (Toews) Loeppky. The Loeppky family migrated from the Bergthal Colony to Manitoba in 1875, and its descendants settled on both sides of the river.
The book is divided into twelve chapters - one for each of the ten Loeppky children. An introductory chapter and a final one, which focuses on 1958 and 1995 reunions held by the extended family, are also included. Those chapters which chronicle the descendants of the Loeppky siblings are organized in a similar manner, with a brief outline of each family, biographical sketches of descendants, and numerous photographs and illustrations. Each chapter concludes with a genealogy section listing all descendants in each family group, including their dates of birth, marriage, and death. The book concludes with an alphabetical listing by surname of Generations Two, Three, and Four direct descendants and the pages on which they appear.
The book is very attractive. Country Graphics and Printing of Rosenort, MB, did a fine job reproducing the numerous photographs. Some may find the format a little hard to adjust to, since data on individuals is located in two sections, with biographical data on one page and statistical data on a different page. However, the alphabetical index at the back of the book is very helpful in locating most individuals. The committee is to be commended for putting together a fine genealogical study and presenting family members and other interesting people.
Richard Thiessen is Director of Learning Resources at Concord College in Winnipeg.
Book Notes
Vol.1, No.3 of Rhubarb is now in print. To obtain a copy contact Glenn Bergen, CMBC, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M4 at ph. 204-888-6781. Copies of Issue No.2 on the theme of Immigration are still available also. Rev. Frank F. Enns read excerpts from his story in Issue No.2 at an August 1, 1999, MHV Pioneer Days workshop.
In the genre of journals and diaries is the book Prairie Pilgrims: Peter Loewen Dueck (1842-87), Johann Wiebe (1865-1932) and Maria (cont. on p.7)
In the genre of journals and diaries is the book Prairie Pilgrims: Peter Loewen Dueck (1842-87), Johann Wiebe (1865-1932) and Maria Klassen Kroeker Dueck (1875-1939) (Steinbach, MB: John W. Dueck Book Committee, 1999, pb., 255 pp., $18.95). It was translated and edited by Levi Dueck, and may be purchased at the MHV Museum, Box 1136, Steinbach, MB R0A 2A0, ph. 204-326-9661.
The story of the 50-year history of the Sargent Mennonite Church of Winnipeg will be told in an upcoming volume being prepared for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the congregation in early October. The writer of the volume is John Dyck. The book is entitled Bless the Lord O My Soul: Sargent Ave. Mennonite Church 1949-1999. For further information contact the author at 204-885-2425.
The Lowe Farm community recently celebrated a centennial of its existence in the area. One of the projects was the production of a new history book to expand an earlier 75th anniversary edition. Its title is Reflections of Lowe Farm 1899-1999. (Lowe Farm, MB: Lowe Farm Centennial Committee, hdc., 320 pp.), and can be ordered from Paul Joyal, ph. 204-746-6697.
A 125th anniversary of Mennonites coming to Manitoba twelve-page special insert of the Winnipeg Free Press was published on July 24. It was edited by Delbert Plett and Adolf Ens. The insert may be ordered from Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Belatedly we note the publication of two items by Parks Canada on the Neubergthal Historical Site (near Altona, MB): Peter J. Priess, "Cultural Resources of the Neubergthal National Historic Site: An Archaeological Perspective," (pb., 77 pp., 1998), and Shelley Bruce, "Neubergthal National Historic Site Fence Study," (pb., 32 pp., 1998). An article titled "Preserving Resources at Neubergthal National Historic Site," by Frieda Esau Klippenstein was published in Research Links, Winter, 1997, pp. 6-7. For further information on these items, call Western Canada Service Centre at 204-983-5841, or fax 204-983-8187.
Margaret Penner Toews, originally from Greenland, SD (St. Anne, MB), has published at least seven devotional books since her publishing "debut" around the early 1970s. Her most recent one is entitled Through the Scent of Water (Neiburg, SK, Praise Hymn Publishers, pb., 319 pp. 1997 (reprint of 1996 edition which sold over 6000 copies). It is described as a "devotional book for women". Earlier titles include Five Loaves and two small fish (1976), Fly High My Kite (1982); Fourth Watch (1993), and Paul of the Unfriendly Town. For further information contact the author at Box 345, Neilburg, SK S0M 2C0, or ph. 306-823-4786.
The Peter D. Reimer clan gathered at Steinbach Bible College on August 13-15, 1999 to commemorate the 100th birthday of the late Peter D. Reimer of Steinbach. A book, compiled and edited by a grandson, Jim Peters, was prepared for the occasion. It is entitled A Godly Heritage. A Lasting Legacy: Peter D. and Maria Reimer (pb., 40 pp., $5). For further information contact Jim Peters, SRSS, Steinbach, MB R0A 2A0.
A family study on the Loeppkys, titled Dit Sied Yant Sied: The Johann ans Susie Leppky/Loeppky Family 1831-1998 (Winnipeg, 1999, jdc., 380 pp., $55) and edited by Elmer Heinrichs of Altona, and Dr. Jacob Peters of the University of Winnipeg, was launched at the Mennonite Heritage Village museum on August 1, 1999. To obtain copies contact Elmer Heinrichs, 204-324-5281.
From the Inside Out: The Rural Worlds of Mennonite Diarists, 1863-1929 (Winnipeg, MB, 1999, pb. and hdc., 377 pp., $24.95 and $45.00 respectively), edited with an introduction by Dr. Royden Loewen of the Chair of Mennonite Studies at the University of Winnipeg was released by the University of Manitoba Press in late August. To order contact U. of Toronto Press, 5201 Dufferin St., North York, ON M3H 5T8.
A Sharing of Diversities: Proceedings of the Jewish Mennonite Ukrainian Conference "Building Bridges" (pb., 264 pp., $19.95), containing selected papers from the August, 1995 JMU conference in Winnipeg, is now off the press. The book was edited by Fred Stambrook, Bert Friesen, and Mildred Gutkin.
You are invited to the launch of this volume at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, 4 October 1999, in the Rotunda of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg.
For further information contact Ken Reddig, Mennonite Heritage Centre, ph. 204-888-6781, e-mail kreddig@confmenno.ca
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