Susan B. Peters (1899–1992)
1915–1980.
13 cm textual material, 11 photographs, and artifacts.
Biographical sketch
Susan Bernhard Peters was born in Schoenfeld, Russia, the daughter of Bernhard and Margaretha Peters. The family emigrated to Alberta in 1924, after being dispossessed of home and property as a result of World War I. Susie worked in Vancouver in 1931, completed her high school education in 1934, and studied at the Calgary Normal School from 1934 to 1935. She then taught in several rural schools while attending summer sessions at the University of Alberta. She received her Professional Teachers Certificate in 1938. From 1945 to 1946 she worked as a Mennonite Central Committee volunteer in Europe, working with homeless boys and the elderly in England, and refugees in Holland.
From late 1946 to 1948 Peters directed MCC refugee work in Denmark. She returned to Canada and continued her teaching and studies. She received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta in 1956. From 1956 to 1962 she taught Inuit and Dene children in the North West Territories at Reindeer Station, a settlement established in 1932 to introduce reindeer farming into northern Canada. From 1962 to 1963 she worked at Fort McPherson. She subsequently worked with the Mennonite Central Committee in Jordan and in the Middle East. In 1965 she retired to Linden, Alberta.
Taken from Glenbow Archives fonds level description.
Scope and content
The Susan B. Peters fonds consists of 11 photographs (1940–1946), correspondence (1944–1956), personal effects (1915–1980), biographical material, and a plate from Mennonite Central Committee. The documents and memorabalia in this fonds were created as a result of Peters involvement with MCC. Part of the Peters fond, relating to her teaching experiences, is in the Glenbow Archives (an inventory is available in this fonds).
Custodial history
Peters’ original papers, printed materials, and photographs were donated to Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies in 1993 by Arnie Neufeld of Winkler, Manitoba and Dorothy Ratzlaff of Linden, Alberta. In 1995 Arnie Neufeld donated the original source for the translation published in “A family portrait: Stories and Adventures of the Klassen/Peters family.” Arnie Neufeld received these papers from Susan Peters, so they are filed with the Susan Peters fonds.
Notes
- Volume 1028.
- Title based on contents of fonds.
- Accession numbers are 1993–19 and 1995–81.
- An item list description prepared by Arnie Neufeld was part of this accession and is available in the collection.
Series description
Susan B. Peters fonds at Glenbow archives. – 1994.
1 mm textual material.
This series contains an inventory of the Susan B. Peters’ materials available at the Glenbow Archives, Calgary, Alberta. Also included are photocopies of MCC photos from file 41 at Glenbow.
- Title based on contents of series.
- Finding aid: Susan B. Peters list 1.
Susan B. Peters correspondence. – 1944–1979.
3mm textual material.
This correspondence is predominantly with MCC committee members, such as C.J. Rempel (Kitchener), J.N. Byler (Akron), and others. Also in this series is “Bericht ueber unsre Erlebnisse” by Susanna Toews, a relative of the Peters family.
- Title based on contents of series.
- Finding aid: Susan B. Peters list 2–4.
Susan B. Peters personal effects. – 1915–1980.
10 cm textual material.
Peters’ memorabalia of her early life and her years with MCC include report cards, permits, naturalization papers, notebooks, short diaries, and other souvenirs. This series includes a 52-page handwritten account: “Bericht ueber unsre Erlebnisse” by Susanna Toews (1880-), the original source for the translation published in “A family Portrait: Stories and Adventures of the Klassen/Peters family.”
- Title based on contents of series.
- Finding aid: Susan B. Peters list 5–6.
Susan B. Peters tributes. – 1992.
3 cm textual material.
Includes a memorial bulletin with a lengthy obituary, a funeral album and other tributes.
- Title based on contents of series.
- Finding aid: Susan B. Peters list 7.
Susan B. Peters photographs. – 1940–1946.
11 photographs.
This series contains photographs, some of boys (probably the homeless boys Peters cared for in England), some of historic sites in England and some of Susan B. Peters.
- Title based on nature of the file.
- Finding aid: The photographs are classified under NP118–1.
File list
Volume 1028
- Records pertaining to Glenbow Archives. – 1994.
- Correspondence with Mennonite Central Committee. – 1944–1946.
- Correspondence with Mennonite Central Committee. – 1947–1948.
- Correspondence with Mennonite Central Committee. – 1949–1956.
- Handwritten account: “Bericht ueber unsre Erlebnisse” by Susanna Toews (1880-). – [ca. 1945].
- Personal Effects: (See item level description in the fonds)
- * 6:1 Items 1–10.
- * 6:2 Items 11–20.
- * 6:3 Items 21–30.
- * 6:4 Items 31–40.
- * 6:5 Items 41–51.
- * Souvenir plate with crest of Mennonite Central Committee.
- Bulletin of Memorial Service of Susan B. Peters, Linden Mennonite Brethren Church. – June 23, 1992.
- Funeral Album.
NP118–1 Susan B. Peters Photograph Collection
- NP118–1–1 Photograph of Susan Peters. 8 x 14 cm. – Early 1940s.
- NP118–1–2 Photograph of Susan Peters taken in Holland. 4 x 5 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–3 Photograph of buildings in Canterbury, England. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–4 Photograph of a woman taken in Canterbury, England. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–5 Photograph of the changing of the guard in England. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–6 Photograph of the changing of the guard in England. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–7 Photograph of the changing of the guard in England. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–8 Photograph of a group of boys in England. Front lying: Ernest Hamilton, Brian Nolan, R. Hillin, John Robertson, David ___, Dani Moogan. Middle sitting: Unidentified, Al Jackson, Joe Lawton, Denneth McDuff. Standing: R. Mulherrn, David Davison, Brian Weatherby, Mountford, Parker, John Finney, Peter ___. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–9 Photograph of Susan Peters taken on the day of her departure at Taxal, England. 6 x 8 cm. – June 24, 1946.
- NP118–1–10 Photograph of three boys in England: Parker, Brian Nolan (artist), Mountford. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
- NP118–1–11 Photograph of two boys in England: Joe Lawton and Allan Jackson. 6 x 8 cm. – 1946.
