Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

1946–1966, 1982, 1996.
35 cm of textual records and 25 photographs.

Administrative history
Education has been an important aspect of Mennonite life. In the mid 1920s, a large settlement of Mennonites, the majority of them Mennonite Brethren, began in the Coaldale area. They were concerned about the potential adverse effect of public education on their children and therefore the desire quickly grew to establish their own high school. The Mennonite Brethren church in Coaldale, Alberta established the Mennonite Educational Society in the spring of 1946 with the leadership of B.B. Janz. In the fall, the Alberta Mennonite High School opened with H. Thiessen as principal. Instruction was given to forty-two students in grades nine to twelve. In 1951, after grades seven and eight were added, enrolment rose to ninety. Although investments in buildings and salaries were low, immense financial strain was placed on the society’s 100 members. Along with a chronic financial burden, the constituency’s loyalty was split with the Coaldale Bible School. Eventually both institutions closed. The Alberta Mennonite High School closed its doors in 1964.

Scope and content
The records found in this collection consists of school yearbooks, graduation photographs, school reunion material, and some financial records and minutes.

Custodial history
The material in this collection has come to the archives at various times. Most of the yearbooks were added to the collection as they turned up in various used book collections. When the financial records and minutes were acquired by the Center is unclear, but before 1990. The 1947–1948 yearbook, photographs, and some correspondence came to the archives from Anne Kornelsen of Coaldale, Alberta on August 5, 1982, and early in January 2001. Some records came to the archives via Abe Dueck on October 8, 1996. The material was sent to him as an alumnist of the institution which he then donated to the Center. The material pertains to the institution’s reunion held in Calgary August 30–September 1, 1996.

Notes

Some material in German.
Volume 657.
Described by Conrad Stoesz October 7, 1999; updated January 18, 2001.
Finding aid consists of a file list.
No restrictions.
Accession nos. Unknown, 1982–77, 1994–05, 1996–060, 2001–002
Location: Volume 657, Institutional Papers, Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Photograph Collection 147.

Textual file list

Volume 657
Institutional Papers – Alberta Mennonite High School
1. Minutes. -- 1961–1964
2. Alberta Mennonite High School Bulletin. 1959–1964
3. Registration of “The Mennonite Educational Society of Alberta”. 1947, 1951
4. Correspondence and minutes including those of the building committee. 1946, 1947, 1949–1956, 1958–1966
5. Minutes. 1961–1964
6. Financial ledger. Note: includes two loose pages of a letter or report. 1960–1961
7. Financial ledger. 1955–1965
8. Financial ledger, Namen Register der Mitglieder des Mennonitenschen Hochschule. 1946–1955
9. The Pioneer, Alberta Mennonite High School Year Book, 1947–48, Coaldale Alberta, 1948. Photocopied [ca. 1982]. 1948
10. The Pioneer Year Book, 1948–1949, Coaldale, Alberta. 1949
11. Quo Vadia, AMHS 1950–51, Coaldale, Alberta. 1951
12. Quo Vadis, AMHS, Coaldale, Alberta. 1953
13. Quo Vadis, AMHS, Coaldale, Alberta. 1953
14. Quo Vadis, AMHS, Coaldale, Alberta. 1954
15. Quo Vadis, AMHS, Coaldale, Alberta. 1955
16. Quo Vadis, Coaldale, Alberta: Students’ Union of the Alberta Mennonite High School. 1956
17. 1957 Quo Vadis, Kansas City. 1957
18. 1957 Quo Vadis, Kansas City. 1957
19. AMHS Quo Vadis 1958, Kansas City: Inter-Collegiate Press. 1958
20. AMHS Quo Vadis 1958, Kansas City: Inter-Collegiate Press. 1958
21. 1959 Quo Vadis, Kansas City: Inter-Collegiate Press. 1959
22. 1959 Quo Vadis, Kansas City: Inter-Collegiate Press. 1959
23. Quo Vadis, Coaldale, Alberta: Published by the Students’ Union of the Alberta Mennonite High School. 1960
24. Quo Vadis, Coaldale, Alberta: Published by the Students’ Union of the Alberta Mennonite High School. 1960
25. 1961 Quo Vadis, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Inter-Collegiate Press. 1961
26. 1961 Quo Vadis, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Inter-Collegiate Press. 1961
27. Quo Vadis 1962, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Inter-Collegiate Press. 1962
28. 1963 Quo Vadis, Coaldale, Alberta. 1963
29. 1964 AMHS Quo Vadis, Coaldale, Alberta. 1964
30. News letter, “Pilgrim”. 1957
31. Janzen, Linda, “A History of the Alberta Mennonite High School, Coaldale, Alberta 1946–1964”, Student paper at Canadian Mennonite Bible College. 1982
32. Address book, “What Ever Happened To?”. 1996
33. Alberta Mennonite High School Reunion. 1996
34. Protokoll und Berichte. 1948–1958
35. Building committee minutes. 1960–1961
36. Summary of minutes from the Coaldale MB Church. 1945–1961
37. Minutes, reports, and correspondence. 1946–1963
38. Government correspondence and reports. 1953, 1966
39. “Mennonite High School to Close its Doors”, in The Lethbridge
Herald, Saturday 13, 1964, p. 6. 1964

Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
6–26 BA251. Alberta Mennonite High School minutes and correspondence. 1943–1949
6–27 BA251. Alberta Mennonite High School Minutes and correspondence. 1950–1958

Photographs

NP44–11 Mennonite Brethren Herald photograph collection Access No. 1994–05
NP44–11:33 Alberta Mennonite High School
[195?]. – 1 print: b&w; 13 x 8 cm
This picture shows the Alberta Mennonite High School buildings.
NP44–11:33 Alberta Mennonite High School
[195?]. – 1 print: b&w; 13 x 8 cm
This picture shows the Alberta Mennonite High School buildings.
NP44–11:34 Alberta Mennonite High School
1948–49. – 1 print: b&w; 13 x 9 cm
This picture shows a large group of Coaldale Mennonite High School students.
NP44–11:35 Alberta Mennonite High School
1957. – 1 print: b&w; 13 x 9 cm
This picture shows the graduating class of 1957 with their teachers at the Coaldale Mennonite Brethren High School. Back (l–r): John Willms, Rudy Dyck, Peter Janzen, Victor Pauls, Ron Neuman, Dave Penner, Alvin Sawatzky, Eddie Boldt, John Regehr, Werner Dick, Walter Dueck, Pete Nikkel. Middle: J. Heidebrecht (teacher), J. Isaac (teacher), Peter J. Dick (teacher at Eden Christian College), Anne Janzen (teacher). Front: Lilly Schmidt, Anne Nikkel, Elizabeth Penner, Lydia Pauls, Erna Martens.
NP44–11:36 Alberta Mennonite High School
1948–49. – 1 print: b&w; 13 x 9 cm
This picture shows the teachers of the Coaldale Mennonite High School in 1948–1949. Heinrich Thiessen is at right and Heinrich Dick is at left.
NP44–11:37 Alberta Mennonite High School
1959. – 1 print: b&w; 13 x 9 cm
This picture depicts Alberta Mennonite High School students showing their Bibles during a campaign at the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP44–11:38 Alberta Mennonite High School
[1964]. – 1 print: b&w; 18 x 13 cm
This is a formal group photograph of a graduating class at the Alberta Mennonite High School. Front (l–r): Jeanette Vander Kooy, Hilda Dyck, Erica Jantzen (teacher), Anne Kornelsen (teacher), Margaret Matthies, Doreen Neufeldt, Mary Thiessen. Middle (l–r): Elenore Janz, Esther Quiring, George Wiens (teacher), John Braun (principal), Victor Thiessen (teacher), Joanne Baerg, Martha Quapp, Caroline Willms. Back (l–r): Ken Wall, Harold Siebert, Alvin Nikkel, Fred Mensch, Ron Nikkel, David Goertz, Eric

NP147–01 Alberta Mennonite High School Access No. 2001–02
NP147–01:1 Grade 7
1952. – 17 x 12 cm [b&w].
This photo is of 10 grade 7 students and one teacher of the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:2 Grade 8
1952. – 17 x 12 cm [b&w].
This photo is of 13 grade 8 students and one teacher of the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:3 Class of 1952
1952. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo of the graduating class of 1952 from Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:4 Graduating Class of 1953
1953. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo of the graduating class of 1953 from Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:5 Graduating Class of 1954
1954. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo of the graduating class of 1954 from Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:6 Graduating Class of 1955
1955. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo of the graduating class of 1955 from Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:7 Concert AMHS Choir
1955. – 25 x 21 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the Alberta Mennonite High School Concert Choir of 1955.
NP147–01:8 Graduating Class of 1956
1956. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the 1956 graduating class of the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:9 Glee Club of 1956
1956. – 25 x 18 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the Alberta Mennonite High School Glee Club of 1956.
NP147–01:10 The Graduating Class of 1957
1957. – 23 x 15 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1957 from the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:11 The Graduating Class of 1958
1958. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1958 from the Alberta Mennonite High School. Note: there is a second copy.
NP147–01:12 The Graduating Class of 1959
1959. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1959 from the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:13 The Graduating Class of 1960
1960. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1960 from the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:14 The Graduating Class of 1961
1961. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1961 from the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:15 The Graduating Class of 1962
1962. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1962 from the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:16 The Graduating Class of 1963
1963. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1963 from the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:17 The Graduating Class of 1964
1964. – 24 x 19 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the graduating class of 1964 from the Alberta Mennonite High School.
NP147–01:18 Alberta Mennonite High School Choir
[between 1952–1956]. – 25 x 21 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the Alberta Mennonite High School choir.
NP147–01:19 Alberta Mennonite High School Choir
[ca. 1956]. – 25 x 20 cm [b&w].
This photo is of the Alberta Mennonite High School choir in a church with a pipe organ.