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Kroeker, Abram A. (1892–1981)

(1892–1981) fonds. – 1873–1987, predominantly 1913–1976.
77 cm textual material, 58 photographs, 17 audio cassettes, and 2 films.

Biographical sketch
Abram Arthur Kroeker, son of Abram Kroeker and Helene Wiens Kroeker, was born in Winkler, Manitoba in 1892 and died in 1981. He married Elizabeth Nickel (1894–1981) in 1914. From 1920 to 1922 he attended the Biola Bible School in Los Angeles. He was one of the original sponsor-founders of the Winkler Bible Institute in 1926, was a member of the Winkler board from its inception, and taught Sunday School education there from 1929–1944. Kroeker aggressively promoted Sunday School work, especially the graded teaching principle, in the Mennonite Brethren Conferences of Canada and United States, and was largely responsible for the progress in teacher training and in the adoption of graded lessons in Canada. He was chairman of the Sunday School Committee of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference since its formation in 1933 to 1957. Kroeker was also the secretary of the Manitoba Mennonite Brethren Conference for some time.

Kroeker was involved in basically two activities throughout his life: agriculture and church work, largely the educational branch of the church. He founded Camp Arnes, buying the land in 1936. The camp began functioning in 1949. He was ordained in the Winkler Mennonite Brethren Church in 1941.

He began farming on his own in 1928, and was an innovator from the beginning, always on the cutting edge of technology. He was chairman of the Canadian Vegetable Producers Association for 30 years. He was inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame in summer 1990.

Information given by Bert Friesen

Scope and content
Included in the Abram A. Kroeker fonds are 3 tapes, 1972 interviews between Harold Jantz, editor of the Mennonite Brethren Herald, and A.A. Kroeker. Subject content is Winkler Bible Institute, conference affairs, and family life. The tapes, available in transcript form in the A.A. Kroeker fonds, are confidential.

Kroeker also donated 38 negatives called “Excerpts of Diary of Jacob Wiens, Exodus from Russia” 1876. Jacob Wiens was the father to A.A. Kroeker’s mother. The fonds also includes two reels of 16 mm film created by A.A. Kroeker about Camp Arnes (1952) and the Ashern Church baptism (1959); 8 slides of unveiling of cairn to commemorate the first Mennonite Brethren Church in Canada (1963); and 50 photographs. All of these materials have been placed in appropriate places in Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.

Textual materials in this fonds demonstrate Kroeker’s love for the Bible School and the Sunday School, for people, and for farming. Interesting historical and genealogical materials are also part of this fonds. Most of the sermon notes are Kroeker’s notes taken from presentations by other speakers. The correspondence concerns the Winkler Bible School, Sunday School conventions, Choral workshops (Gesung Kursus), Bethel Hospital, Winnipeg City Mission, Evangelical Teachers Association and MBBC. Many of the records in this fonds are undated.

Custodial history
The custodial history of this fonds has different stages. In 1974, A.A. Kroeker donated many copies of early conference yearbooks and other materials. In June 1981 Bert Friesen, Winnipeg, donated the tapes and transcription. In July 1990, Don Kroeker (son), of Winkler, donated two boxes of various documents. Eileen Kroeker, wife of Don Kroeker, donated more photographs, textual records, correspondence, and other publications in February, 1997. The research papers were compiled by Bert Friesen and deposited by Peter Kroeker on Dec. 1, 1998.

Notes
Series description

Abram A. Kroeker personal and biographical records. – 1873–1987, predominantly 1913–1976.
15 cm textual material, 38 negatives.


This series consists of biographical and genealogical material, agricultural records, trip diaries, notes from Kroeker’s student days, personal correspondence, and tributes. Of special interest are 38 negatives of a diary of Jacob Wiens, father to A.A. Kroeker’s mother, about the exodus from Russia in 1876.
Abram A. Kroeker educational and institutional records. – 1926–1969.
20 cm textual material.


This series consists of information about the Winkler Bible School, Mennonite Brethren Bible College. Records are in the form of correspondence, reports, programs, lists, plays, songs, and a 16 mm film.
Abram A. Kroeker sermon series. – 1920–1957.
8 cm textual material.


This series contains sermon and speech notes created by Kroeker and others, predominantly in the German language.
Abram A. Kroeker Sunday school series. – 1937–1958.
12 cm textual material.


This series consists of reports, questionnaires, and correspondence that grew out of Kroeker’s involvement with the Sunday School Committee of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference and the Sunday School Committee, Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America.
Abram A. Kroeker church related records. – 1928–1963.
10 cm. textual material and two films.


This series contains information about the Winkler, North Kildonan, and Newton Mennonite Brethren churches, as well as records of the Winnipeg city mission. There is also a file related to the Mennonite Symphony Orchestra covering 1944–1961. Records about a cairn (1963) to commemorate the first Mennonite Brethren Church in Canada are also in this series. Two films, one of Joe Wiebe’s work at Ashern and about Camp Arnes are also included. Correspondence regarding the early years of Camp Arnes are also located in this series.
Abram A. Kroeker photograph collection. – 1926–1977.
50 photographs, 8 slides.


The photographs in this series are of teachers and students at the Winkler Bible School and a few of teachers at Mennonite Brethren Bible College in its early years. This series includes photographs as well as slides of the cairn-raising at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Canada.
Abram Arthur Kroeker Research materials. – 1981–1985.
12 cm of textual records and 14 audio cassette tapes.


This series consists of materials collected by Bert Friesen, in preparation for writing a biography of Abram A. Kroeker. The materials include transcripts of interviews (conducted mainly by Bert Friesen) with friends, colleaques and partners of A.A. Kroeker. There are files containing photocopies of the earliest minutes of many of the organizations that A.A. Kroeker either founded or was significantly involved with from the beginning such as Camp Arnes, Bethel Hospital (Winkler), Winkler Bible School and Winkler Home for the Aged, Inc. There are some materials that were collected by Nettie Kroeker regarding her brother, A.A. Kroeker, as well as correspondence received by J.E. Kroeker and Peter Kroeker.
File list

Volumes 1006-1007

Series I: A.A. Kroeker personal and biographical records.

  1. A.A. Kroeker business card.
  2. Small blue notebook: genealogical material and trip diary.
  3. Black notebook: Trip diary, agricultural notes, addresses, list of applications for music camp and Arnes workers. – 1952.
  4. “Lebensbeschreibung unserer Lieben Mutter.” Life of Helena Wiens Kroeker (1856–1946) by Nettie Kroeker. – 1944–1946.
  5. Black ring binder: Biola lecture notes. – 1921.
  6. Black ring binder: Sunday School teacher’s forms, Biola class notes, and class records.
  7. Plays, some performed by the Kroeker family. – 1927–1937.
  8. Personal and church-related correspondence with A.A. Kroeker. – 1914–1937.
  9. Trip diary. – 1965.
  10. Excerpts from Jake E. Kroeker diaries. – 1967–1976.
  11. Funeral service for Jacob A. Kroeker (1878–1945).
  12. Genealogical records.
  13. Correspondence with sister Nettie Kroeker. – 1947–1977.
  14. Correspondence re Kroeker family reunion. – 1963.
  15. Personal correspondence. – 1941–1976.
  16. “Mother Kroeker’s Literature.” (A.A. Kroeker’s mother 1856-) Photocopy of letter from Department of Agriculture. – 1873. Obituary, tribute.
  17. A.A. Kroeker history.
    • Marriage certificate. – 1920.
    • Teacher’s interim certificate – 1913.
    • Speech on handing down directorship to A.A. Kroeker and Sons. – Undated.
    • Speech on occasion of A.A. Kroeker’s honorary life membership in Vegetable Grower’s Association of Manitoba. – Undated. Bill of sale for Kroeker’s Corn Drying Plant. – 1936.
    • Birth certificate.
    • Obituary.
  18. “An Evening to Remember.” In honour of Abram & Elizabeth Kroeker, sponsored by the Mennonite Brethren Historical Society of Canada. 2 copies. – 20 November 1987.
  19. Confidential transcripts of taped interviews to be viewed only with permission of the archivist. (legal size)
  20. Negatives of excerpts of a diary of Jacob Wiens about the exodus from Russia. – 1876.

    Series II: A.A. Kroeker Bible school and institutional records.

  21. Small blue notebook: addresses, notes about beginning of Herbert and Bethany Bible Schools.
  22. Notes on Mennonite Brethren Bible College fund-raising trips to Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Camp Arnes notes.
  23. Mennonite Brethren Bible College brochures, correspondence, fund-raising records. – 1944–1950.
    “Was erwarten unsre gemeinden von unserem College?”
  24. Reports on Winkler Bible School. – [193-]
  25. Correspondence with A.H. Unruh. Includes “Einweihung Winkler” by A.H. Unruh. – 1936–1944.
  26. Winkler Home for the Aged Incorporated ground breaking ceremony. – 1969.
  27. Correspondence, programs, handbooks, financial statements, receipts, and lists of contributors for the Winkler Bible School. – 1926–1939.
    List of the founding brethren of the school and their financial contributions. – 1926.
  28. Correspondence, programs, handbooks, financial statements, receipts, and lists of contributors for the Winkler Bible School. – 1940–1947, 1952.
  29. Report of the Mennonite Brethren Bible College (“des Schulkomitees der Canadischen MB Konferenz.” – 1948.
  30. Correspondence regarding A.A. Kroeker’s travels to the Ontario constituency on behalf of MBBC. – 1947.
    Correspondence regarding a record album to portray activities at MBBC. – 1946–1947.
  31. Correspondence regarding Ben Horch’s itinerary and work in “Gesang-Kurse” in the churches and a hymn-book for the churches. – 1943–1945.
  32. Correspondence regarding the Evangelical Teacher Training Association. – 1934–1943.
  33. Programs, songs, general information about the Winkler Bible School. – 1939–1943, undated.
  34. Chalk talks and object lessons. – 1939–1942.
  35. Twenty Homiletical Studies by William M. Smith. – Undated.
  36. Songs, probably sung at the Winkler Bible School. – 1928, undated.
  37. Songs with music. – Undated.
  38. Reports, correspondence and plays regarding Bible Schools. – 1941–1943.
  39. Correspondence regarding Bible Schools. – 1940–1954.

    Series III: A.A. Kroeker sermon notes.

  40. Brown memo book: Notes on farm work, sermon notes (A.H. Unruh and others).
  41. Brown ring-binder: notes on building Camp Arnes chapel.
  42. Brown notebook: Sermon notes (G.D. Huebert, A.H. Unruh, J.A. Toews).
  43. Black notebook: Sermon notes.
  44. Black notebook: Sermon notes. – 1920.
  45. Black ring binder: Sermon and Sunday School notes. – 1945–1955.
  46. Sermon notes and Sunday School information. – 1923–1944.
  47. Sermon notes. – 1942–1957.
  48. Sermon notes, Christian Education notes.
  49. Sermon notes, speeches.

    Series IV: A.A. Kroeker Sunday school records.

  50. History of Canadian Mennonite Brethren Sunday School (1895–1952).
  51. Duotang: “Mennonite Brethren Sunday School Instructor for Sunday School Teachers of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference.” – 1952–1955. Other Sunday School materials.
  52. Sunday School material and reports.
  53. Correspondence and program of the Mennonite Brethren Bible College Sunday School Course. – 1947–1951.
  54. “A brief report on the beginnings of DVBS in connection with the Winkler Bible School and the beginning of Camp Arnes.” – Undated.
  55. Questionnaires, minutes regarding the Sunday School Committee. – 1944–1945.
    Correspondence, presentations, and minutes regarding Sunday School Convention in Winkler. – 1939.
    Correspondence regarding Sunday School Convention in Gem, Alberta. – 1958.
  56. Correspondence of the Sunday School Committee. – 1937–1939.
  57. Correspondence of the Sunday School Committee. 1940–1942.
  58. Correspondence of the Sunday School Committee. – 1942–1945.
    Charts of Sunday schools in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. – 1944.

    Series V: A.A. Kroeker church and institutional related records.

  59. Records regarding historical marker of first Mennonite Brethren Church in Canada. – 1963.
    List of Winkler Mennonite Brethren members in 1895.
  60. Records regarding construction of North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church. – 1956.
  61. Correspondence and reports re church building at Newton. – 1944–1945.
  62. Church related materials. Winkler “Jahresbericht.” – 1945. Act to incorporate the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba. – Undated.
    The Public Schools Act. – 1928.
  63. Reports, correspondence, financial statements regarding Bethel Hospital, Winkler. – 1941–1945.
  64. List of members in the Winkler MB Church. – Undated.
    Letter to encourage membership giving in the Winkler MB Church. – Undated.
    Short paper about MBs in the past and present. – Undated.
  65. Questionnaire, correspondence, reports about city missions. – 1937–1947.
  66. Kodachrome safety color film for 16 mm camera of the church, baptism, and home of Joe Wiebe in Ashern. – Mailed in 1959.
  67. Ansco color safety film 108 for 16 mm camera of Camp Arnes. – 1952.
  68. Mennonite Symphony Orchestra. – 1944–1961.
  69. Correspondence regarding Gimli Camp. – 1937–1939, 1951.
  70. Correspondence and reports regarding Camp Arnes formerly known as LWMC (Lake Winnipeg Mennonite Camp). – 1939–1960.
  71. Sunday School Committee, Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America
    correspondence and reports. – 1937–1950.
  72. Sunday School Committee, Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America
    correspondence and reports. – 1951–1956.
  73. Sunday School Committee, Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America
    correspondence and reports. – 1945–1951.
  74. General By-Law No.1 The Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (in German and English). – 1941.
  75. Correspondence re. questionnaire on A.A. Kroeker 1981.
  76. Tape interview transcripts re. A.A. Kroeker with interviewer Bert Friesen after 1980. (This file includes interviews with Dave Redekop, Mrs. John Janzen, Alfred Kroeker, Catharina Fehr, Mrs. Wolkof, Frank Brown and a Mr. Goerz.)
  77. Summary of unrecorded interviews re. A.A. Kroeker / written by Bert Friesen after 1980.
  78. Camp Arnes history and minutes. 1949–1950, 1973, 1981.
  79. Bethel Hospital minutes 1935–1942.
  80. Winkler Bible School minutes 1926–1929, 1981.
  81. Winkler Home for the Aged, Inc. minutes 1965–1972.
  82. Excerpts from J.E. Kroeker diary 1929–1935.
  83. Excerpts from Manitoba MB Conference yearbooks re. A.A. Kroeker 1933–1944.
  84. Material on A. A. Kroeker collected by Nettie Kroeker.
  85. Correspondence between A.A. Kroeker and Peter, Helen, Jake and Alice 1976.
  86. A.A. Kroeker personal reminiscences and other material 1972.

NP117 Abram A. Kroeker Photograph Collection

Audio Cassettes: