David J. Neudorf (1906– ) and Margarete (unknown)
1976–1982, photocopied 1996.
2 cm of textual records.
Biographical sketch
David J. Neudorf was born in 1906, in Osterwick, Chortitza, south Russia. He lived through many hard times such as the Russian Revolution, Stalin Terror, communal life, exile, prison, World War II, famine, slave labour camps, and separation from family. His second wife, Margarete was on the great trek to Germany with the retreating German army in 1943. She however, was sent back to Russia. Some of her relatives managed to make their way to Canada after the war, as did some of David’s children from his first marriage. Some of David’s siblings also came to Canada in the 1920s. After ten years of trying to emigrate from the USSR, David and Margarete managed to come to Canada in the late 1970s or early 1980s, through his son’s sponsorship.
Scope and content
The records in this collection contain two autobiographies. The first was begun in 1976, (according to the foreword) by David J. Neudorf and finished in 1982 (according to page 49). An appendix follows. The account ends somewhat abruptly and his second wife, Margarete, takes up the story. No creation dates are given in Margarete’s autobiography. It was probably written around the same time as her husband’s autobiography. The stories were written primarily for the immediate family to preserve some memory of their life experiences.
Custodial history
The material in this collection was written by David Neudorf and his wife. They now live in Bethania Personal Care Home where Chaplin, Gerhard Friesen, became aware of the items and arranged for the archives to copy them. Bill Schroeder (Wicklow Dr.) has read through the two manuscripts and written a brief biographical history based on his reading. The material is typed in the German language.
Notes
- Volume 1014.
- Described by Conrad Stoesz November 4, 1999.
- Accession nos. 1996–025.
- Location: “N” Small Collections, File 12,13.
File list
Volume 1014
1. David J. Neudorf, “Mein Lebens Schifflein”. – 1976–1982, photocopied 1996.
2. Margarete Neudorf, “Von Meine Kinderjahren”. – [ca. 1976–1982], photocopied 1996.
CDS.
