Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1527-1971, predominant 1527-1825, 1924-1971 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
10 microfilm reels.
9 audio reels.
35 cm of textual records.
143 photographs.
3 film reels
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Hutterian Brethren is a sectarian group which lives communally on farms or colonies, as they are called. Hutterites date back to 1528 when a group of about 200 Anabaptists formed a communal society in Moravia (now in Czechoslovakia) to escape religious persecution. The basic Hutterian beliefs, which are still held today, were established at that time under the leadership of John Hutter. These beliefs include the separation of church and state, pacifism, adult baptism, and communal living and ownership of property.
Over their history Hutterites have been subjected to periods of persecution which resulted in migration from Czechoslovakia to Hungary, Romania, Russia, the USA and to Canada. Because of persecution in the USA over their refusal of military service, the group emigrated en masse to Canada in 1918, settling in Manitoba and Alberta, and later in Saskatchewan. Some Hutterites subsequently returned to the USA. Colonies in southern Alberta include: Red Willow, MacMillan, Stand Off, Lakeside, Rosebud, New Rosebud, Wolf Creek, Cayley, New Ulm, Hand Hills, and Minburn.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gifts of Jacob Walter, Dr. Karl Peter, E.J. Spiteri, and Red Willow Colony, and purchased from John Wipf, New Ulm Colony, Cayley Colony, Wolf Creek Colony, New Rosebud Colony, and Brigitte Peter-Cherneff, 1962-2018.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection consists of Stand Off colony records: recording of church service (1963) and singing (1971); photographs (1940s-1964); recorded interview with Jacob Walter on early history of colony (1971); sketches of early buildings; ethnological study, recorded observations and films by Dr. Karl Peter on colony life; microfilm of early religious writings (ca. 1550s-1560s), chronicle of Hutterian history (1527-1665, 1947- 1960), and legal agreements with government authorities (1782-ca. 1960) (predominantly in German); articles of association for Stand Off colony (1924-1956); and genealogy of Jacob Walter family (in German). Also consists of records from a number of southern Alberta colonies, especially Red Willow: German songbooks (1800s-1955, and some microfilmed from 1696-1825); medical book (1612, in German); microfilm of religious writings (1696-1875); recorded songs and interviews; and photographs (1961-1964). Includes microfilm of correspondence between Russian Hutterite colonies (1800s).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Photos cannot be published without archivist's approval.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The material is in German and English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Originals of early religious writings (ca. 1550s, 1560s), Hutterian chronicle, legal agreements, Stand Off colony articles of association, and Walter genealogy are held by Stand Off colony. Originals of religious writings (1696-1875) and songbooks (1696-1825) are held by Paul Stahl. Originals of Russian colony correspondence held by Minburn colony. Some religious writings (1795) are held by MacMillan and Red Willow colonies; also includes research materials of Karl Peter.
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Note
Photos were allowed to be taken by Dr. Karl Peter on the understanding that those with faces clearly visible would not be published.
Note
M 3552 is missing.
Note
Microfilm-Hutterian Brethren