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Giesbrecht, Herbert (1925–1992)

Proper Title

Herbert Giesbrecht fonds

Dates of Creation

1944–1992

Physical Description

2.2 m textual material and 5 tapes

Biographical Sketch

Herbert Giesbrecht was born in 1925 in Wohldemfurst, Kuban colony in Russia. His family immigrated to Canada in 1926 when he was 11 months old. At first they lived in Saskatchewan but in 1933, they moved to Yarrow, British Columbia and later to Vancouver. He received his education in Vancouver and in 1948 he graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in English and Mathematics. He later attended the Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg where he earned a Th.B. in 1955. He went on to complete three graduate degrees – an M.A. in Special Education from San Francisco State University (1956), an MLS in Library Science from the University of Minnesota (1967), and an M.A. in English from the University of Manitoba (1978).

Herb Giesbrecht was the first librarian at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College and served there for 35 years. He was ordained as a lay minister in the Elmwood MB Church in 1970.

In the late 1950s, while teaching English and serving as librarian for MBBC, Herb, on his own, began collecting what was later to become the beginning of the archival holdings of the Mennonite Brethren in Canada. His early collection consisted of yearbooks, pamphlets, photos and clippings. He notes: “These materials interested me and yet were not to be catalogued in the usual way and so I simply put them aside in the anticipation of a future archive collection.” The material eventually grew into the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies and finally, in 1979, into a new 1500 square foot facility.

Giesbrecht’s specific contributions to the archival scene are many. Besides being the motivating force which eventually prodded the conference to establish an archives, he also developed a classification scheme for archives, presently in use at other MB archives in California and Kansas. He was instrumental in developing a preliminary subject heading list which has been used to index the Zionsbote, Wahrheitsfreund, and the Mennonitische Rundschau. For genealogists the obituary files, which Giesbrecht began, comprise a ready source of information for family research.

After his retirement from MBBC in 1990, Herb worked for 6 months at the Centre for MB Studies cataloguing the Ben and Esther Horch Music Collection consisting of at least 900 books (hymnals, choral works and books on music), numerous orchestral scores, octavos and audio tapes. He began research on several projects, specifically related to the Harder and Giesbrecht family histories. His life ended shortly after he and his wife, Margaret Martens Giesbrecht, had completed a short term MCC assignment in Akron, Pennsylvannia in the fall of 1991. He died in Winnipeg, Manitoba on January 12, 1992.

Based on article “Herb Giesbrecht Retires” by Ken Reddig, Mennonite Historian, March 1990; Mennonite Brethren Herald and Mennonitische Rundschau obituaries, and personal memory of Alf Redekopp, CMBS Archivist. (1995)

Custodial History

The Herbert Giesbrecht fonds came to the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies at various times. In 1986, he donated Colloquia, written by Erasmus in 1683, now in the J.A. Toews Library. On 6 June 1994, his wife Margaret, of Winnipeg, donated genealogical material about the Giesbrecht and Harder families, collected by Herb Giesbrecht, now in the Katie Peters Genealogical Collection files. In August 1994, Margaret Giesbrecht donated her husband’s original papers and printed materials now found in the Herbert Giesbrecht personal collection fonds. Other related materials are the Archival Studies Literature collected and organized by Giesbrecht, and Mennonite Brethren Bible College Records of the Librarian, 1956–1989, (0.38 cm of textual records), found under B242.8.  In April 2005, Margaret Giesbrecht again made a donation of Herbert's sermons and Sunday School outlines.

Scope and Content

The Herbert Giesbrecht fonds consists of articles and compilations by Giesbrecht and papers he wrote as an English student. Also included are Giesbrecht’s notes on Mennonite Brethren Bible College board minutes 1944–1950, his place of employment. Course outlines for the various subjects taught by Giesbrecht are in this fonds. There is also a small file of correspondence relating to the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. A one-hundred page document, created by Giesbrecht, on the history of Mennonite Brethren missions demonstrates his interest in that subject.

A large portion of this fonds consists of a collection of research material, filed alphabetically according to subject, of interest to Giesbrecht but not created by him. Some of these files also contain a small amount of material written by Giesbrecht. The tapes, now located in the CMBS tape collection, consist of a sermon (1976), a presentation on Anabaptism (1975), several MBBC chapel presentations (1976), and a symposium on the subject of influences upon MB theology (1981).

Notes

  • Volumes 958–964.
  • Title based on contents of fonds.
  • The accession numbers are 1986–1, 1994–28, and 1994–42, 2005-012.
  • Finding aid for tapes: NA-01–043, NA-04–15, NA-04–29, NA-04–52, and NA-14–26.

Series Descriptions

I. Herbert Giesbrecht tributes.
1990–1992.
1 folder of textual material.

  • This series contains tributes by Ken Reddig, David Ewert, and an article about Giesbrecht called “Reflections of a reticent bibliophile,” author not stated. Also included is a memorial card.
  • Title based on contents of series.
  • Location: Volume 959, file 1.

II. Herbert Giesbrecht compilations and research files.
1944–1985.
12 cm of textual material.

  • This series contains articles written by Giesbrecht, papers written when Giesbrecht was a student, and a small folder of correspondence. Also included are research files, by Giesbrecht, which include his reflections on education at MBBC and a history of Mennonite Brethren Missions.
  •   Title based on contents of series.
  •   Location: Volume 959, files 2–15.

III. Herbert Giesbrecht course outlines and teaching notes.
1956, predominantly undated.
7 cm of textual material.

  • This series contains outlines and notes created by Giesbrecht for the classes he taught at Mennonite Brethren Bible College.
  •   Title based on contents of series.
  •  Location: Volume 960, files 16–22.

IV. Herbert Giesbrecht research subject files.
n.d.
1.5 cm of textual material.

  • This series consists of research files on subjects, alphabetically arranged, about theological and  current popular issues.
  • Title based on contents of series.
  • Location: Volume 960, files 23–95; Volume 961, files 96–231; Volume 962, files 232–337; Volume 964, files 338–459.

V. Herbert Giesbrecht sermons and Sunday School outlines.
1970-1991.
22 cm of textual material.

  • Title based on contents of series.
  • Language in English with some German.
  • Location: Volume 958, files 1–18; Volume 963, files 1–18.

File List

Series I: Herbert Giesbrecht tributes. Volume 959.

  1. Tributes to Herbert Giesbrecht and other articles. – 1990–1992.

Series II: Herbert Giesbrecht compilations and research files. Volume 959.

  1. Articles and compilations by Herbert Giesbrecht. – 1966-[198-].
    • 2:1 Herbert Giesbrecht articles and bibliographic essays. – 1985.
    • 2:2 Some selections aids for Church-related college libraries. – 1985.
    • 2:3 In the beginning: the establishment of the Mennonite Brethren Bible College. – 1984.
    • 2:4 Review: Economics with wit and style (The age of uncertainty – Galbraith).
    • 2:5 Review: F.F. Bruce, The Gospel of John: Introduction, exposition and notes – 1985.
    • 2:6 The Evangelist John’s Conception of the Church as delineated in his Gospel.
    • 2:7 From small beginnings. – 1976.
    • 2:8 A Giant in the land: recent literature on C.S. Lewis. – 1973.
    • 2:9 Review: In search of my brethren: a review of Jacob P. Bekker’s Origin of the Mennonite Brethren Church. – [19-].
    • 2:10 In search of discipline: ethical covenants and codes in the local church. – 1976.
    • 2:11 Review: Pries, George David. A place called Peniel: Winkler Bible Institute. – 1925–1975.
    • 2:12 A bibliography of J.A. Toews’ published writings. – 1979.
    • 2:13 The Church College Library – possiblities unlimited. – 1966.
    • 2:14 Obscenity in literature and art. – [197-].
    • 2:15 In the college library. – 1966.
    • 2:16 Church growth and Christian spirituality. – 1985.
    • 2:17 The minister’s library. – 1983.
    • 2:18 Skit: Scene 1 [Payment by faculty member for the coffee]; Scene 2 [Faculty meeting after coffee break]. – [198-].
    • 2:19 Dramatic reading: The college parish: an ancient dialogue overheard again recently.
    • 2:20 Seeking a faith to live by: a review of modifying influences upon the faith confessed by the Mennonite Brethren Church. – 1980.
  2. Correspondence, four letters. – 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991.
  3. Dicken’s place in permanent literature. – [196-].
  4. Is Milton a Christian? – [196-].
  5. The Pilgrim’s progress. – [196-].
  6. Patterns of imagery in G. Meredith’s “A Ballad of Past Meridan.” – 1962.
  7. Five papers by Herbert Giesbrecht.
    • 8:1 “Verbal Communication – and the Christian Student.”
    • 8:2 “A Review of Chapters 3 and 4 of C.P. Snow’s The Two Cultures: and a Second Look.”
    • 8:3 A Brief Consideration of Surrey’s Blank Verse.
    • 8:4 The Literary Criticism of William Haxlitt.
    • 8:5 A Brief Analysis of Several Poetic Translations of The Seafarer.
  8. Shakespeare’s use and adaptation of source material in Othello – 1969.
  9. Some reflections on the significance of the Ingeld-Freawar episode in Beowulf. – 1969.
  10. The uses of love in Julius Caesar. – 1969.
  11. To see again : the theme of illusion and reality in F.P. Grove’s, Fruits of the Earth. – 1972.
  12. Influence of Education upon the Theology of our Mennonite (Canada) Symposium. – 1980.
  13. Notes on College board minutes. – 1944–1950.
  14. History of Mennonite Brethren Mission.

Series III: Herbert Giesbrecht course outlines and teaching notes. Volume 960.

  1. Life of Christ.
  2. Bible Study Outlines.
  3. Major Christian writers.
  4. Supplementary materials for major Christian writers.
  5. Christian Evidences.
  6. English 11: Neo-classic and Romantic Literature.
  7. Unclassified material (Some notes by Herbert Giesbrecht).

Series IV: Herbert Giesbrecht subject files. Volumes 960–962, 964.

  1. Abortion.
  2. Abraham.
  3. Actors and Acting.
  4. Acts of the Apostles.
  5. Advent (Second) of Christ.
  6. Affliction – Pain.
  7. Affluence and the Christian.
  8. Aged – needs and accomplishments.
  9. Agnosticism.
  10. Aids.
  11. Alcoholism and the Christian.
  12. Ambition – Christian.
  13. Amos – Book of.
  14. Anabaptism and Anabaptists.
  15. Andrew.
  16. Angels.
  17. Antisemitism.
  18. Anxiety.
  19. Apertheid.
  20. Apocalyptic Literature in the Bible.
  21. Apocryphal Gospels.
  22. Apologetics.
  23. Archaeology.
  24. Arts and religion.
  25. Art – Fine Arts.
  26. Astronomy.
  27. Athletics.
  28. Ballet.
  29. Baptism.
  30. Behaviorism.
  31. Bible.
  32. Bible – Authority and Inspiration.
  33. Bible – Difficulty and Discrepancy.
  34. Bible – Versions and Translations.
  35. Biblical Criticism.
  36. Bilingualism.
  37. Biography.
  38. Biological Engineering.
  39. Broadcasting – Religious.
  40. Business.
  41. Business – Time.
  42. Canadian History.
  43. Capital Punishment.
  44. Caring.
  45. Carols.
  46. Cartoons.
  47. Censorship.
  48. Central America.
  49. Character (Moral).
  50. Charismatic Groups.
  51. Chastity.
  52. Children and Church Conversion.
  53. Children’s Literature.
  54. China.
  55. Christ.
  56. Christian and Business.
  57. Christian and Law (Litigation).
  58. Christian Commitment (Surrender).
  59. Christian Discipleship.
  60. Christian Ethics.
  61. Christian Freedom.
  62. Christian Graces.
  63. A Christian Mind (Perspective).
  64. Christian Social Ethics.
  65. Christian Stewardship.
  66. Christianity and the Christian Faith.
  67. Christmas Birth of Christ.
  68. The Church.
  69. Church and the Political Order/State.
  70. Church and the Poor/Poverty.
  71. Church Colleges.
  72. Church Discipline.
  73. Church History.
  74. Church Leadership (Pastoral).
  75. Church Outreach.
  76. Church Unity.
  77. Colossians.
  78. Communes and Communal Living.
  79. Communication of God’s Revelation.
  80. Communion – Lord’s Supper/Passover.
  81. Communism.
  82. Community – Sense of.
  83. Comparative religions.
  84. Computers and Culture.
  85. Conduct.
  86. Confession of Faith.
  87. Confession of Sin.
  88. Conflict Resolution.
  89. Conscience.
  90. Consequences in Life.
  91. Contentment – Acceptance/Submission.
  92. Conversion.
  93. Conviction.
  94. Cooperation and Conciliation.
  95. Copyright.
  96. I Corinthians.
  97. Corruption in Government.
  98. Counselling – Pastoral and Psychological.
  99. Courage – Moral.
  100. Courtesy.
  101. Creation.
  102. Creativity (Artistic).
  103. Crime and Punishment.
  104. Criticism.
  105. Cross of Christ.
  106. Cults and Sects.
  107. Culture and the Christian Faith.
  108. Current Events: 1960–1970.
  109. Cynicism.
  110. Dance and Dancing.
  111. Daniel.
  112. David.
  113. Death and Dying.
  114. Death/Trial/of Jesus Christ.
  115. Death of the Righteous.
  116. Decision – Importance of.
  117. Demonic Influence and Possession.
  118. Denominations.
  119. Depression.
  120. Detective films/novels.
  121. Determination.
  122. Determinism.
  123. Discipleship.
  124. Disappointment.
  125. Discrimination – Social or Racial.
  126. Divine – God’s Plan.
  127. Divine Revelation.
  128. Divorce and Remarriage.
  129. Dramatic – Readings/Skits.
  130. Dress.
  131. Drug Addiction.
  132. Earthly Aspirations.
  133. Easter.
  134. Ecclesiastics.
  135. Ecology.
  136. Education and Youth.
  137. Elders.
  138. Encouragement.
  139. Ephesians.
  140. Eschatology (last events).
  141. Esther – book of.
  142. Eternal Death.
  143. Eternity.
  144. Euthanasia.
  145. Evangelicalism – as a movement.
  146. Evangelism.
  147. Evil – it’s influence.
  148. Evolution – Biological.
  149. Evolution – Theories of.
  150. Existence of God.
  151. Extra terrestrial life.
  152. Ezekial.
  153. Failure.
  154. Faith.
  155. Faith – Assurance of.
  156. Faith Healing.
  157. Fall of Man.
  158. Family life.
  159. Fictian and the Christian.
  160. Financial Issues.
  161. The Flood.
  162. Forgiveness.
  163. Freedom – Liberty.
  164. Freedom of Choice.
  165. Friendliness.
  166. Fundamentalism.
  167. Future and Futurism.
  168. Galatians.
  169. Gambling/Lotteries.
  170. Ghandi.
  171. Generosity/Financial and Otherwise.
  172. Gift of Tongues.
  173. Gifts (Spiritual).
  174. Giving.
  175. Gluttony – Indulgence.
  176. Gnosticism.
  177. Goal – A Sense of Goal in Life.
  178. God.
  179. Gospel.
  180. Grace.
  181. Gratitude.
  182. Guidance.
  183. Guilt.
  184. Habakkuk.
  185. Healing – Miraculous and Natural.
  186. Health.
  187. Heart.
  188. Heart – Wisdom of.
  189. Heaven.
  190. Hell.
  191. Hermeneutics.
  192. Heroism.
  193. History.
  194. Holidays.
  195. Holiness of Christians.
  196. Holiness of God.
  197. Holy Spirit – Pentecost.
  198. Home.
  199. Homosexuality.
  200. Honesty.
  201. Hope.
  202. Hosea.
  203. Housing.
  204. Human Body.
  205. Human Relationships.
  206. Human Rights.
  207. Humility.
  208. Humour.
  209. Hymns and hymnody.
  210. Hypocracy.
  211. Immortality of soul.
  212. Indians – Canadian native.
  213. Individualism.
  214. Inspiration of the Bible.
  215. Integrity.
  216. Israel.
  217. Jacob.
  218. James – Epistle.
  219. Jealousy.
  220. Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  221. Jeremiah.
  222. Jewish Holocaust.
  223. Jews and Jesus.
  224. Job and Joel – Books of.
  225. John – Gospel of.
  226. John I.
  227. Jonah.
  228. Joshua.
  229. Journalism.
  230. Jubilee – Year of (Israel).
  231. Joy.
  232. Judging Spirit.
  233. Justice.
  234. Justification by Faith.
  235. Knowledge of Self.
  236. Labour – Labour Unions.
  237. Language.
  238. Laziness.
  239. Leadership.
  240. Liberation Theology.
  241. Libraries and the Church Pastor.
  242. Life and Human Engineering.
  243. Literary Criticism.
  244. Literature and the Christian.
  245. Love – Human and Christian.
  246. Love of God.
  247. Loneliness.
  248. Love Platonic.
  249. Luke, Gospel of.
  250. Lust.
  251. Luther, Martin.
  252. Lying and Cheating.
  253. Man.
  254. Man – Frailty and Fallibility.
  255. Malachi and Micah.
  256. Management.
  257. Mariology.
  258. Mark, Gospel of.
  259. Marriage – Love.
  260. Marxism.
  261. Materialism.
  262. Matthew, Gospel of.
  263. Medical Ethics.
  264. Meditation.
  265. Menno Simons.
  266. Memory – Gift, proper use of.
  267. Mennonites and Menno Simons.
  268. Mennonite Brethren Bible College.
  269. Methods of Missions.
  270. Minds – Importance of use of mind by Christians.
  271. Miracles.
  272. Missionaries – Calling of.
  273. Missions.
  274. Modern Man.
  275. Monastic orders – Monasticism.
  276. Moraliity and Legislation.
  277. Mormonism.
  278. Moses.
  279. Mother and Mother’s Day.
  280. Movies/Films and the Christian.
  281. Murder(ers).
  282. Musicians – Composers.
  283. Muslim Religion and Witness to.
  284. Mystical Union.
  285. Natural Revelation.
  286. Nature Balance and Beauty in.
  287. New Age Movement.
  288. New Testament Studies.
  289. New Year.
  290. Nuclear Warfare and Protest against it.
  291. Obedience.
  292. Occult.
  293. Old Testament.
  294. Opportunity.
  295. Ordination of Ministers.
  296. Pain and Suffering.
  297. Parables of Jesus.
  298. Passover.
  299. Patience.
  300. Peace/War/Nonresistance.
  301. Peace of God.
  302. Personal Devotions.
  303. Personal Guidance.
  304. Peter the Apostle.
  305. Peter I and II.
  306. Philemon.
  307. Philippians.
  308. Photography.
  309. Plays.
  310. Poetry.
  311. Politics.
  312. Popularity.
  313. Pornography.
  314. Prayer.
  315. Pride.
  316. Preaching.
  317. Prejudice.
  318. Printing of Books.
  319. Prison – Letters of Paul.
  320. Private Education.
  321. Prophets – Old Testament.
  322. Proverbs.
  323. Prisons and Prisoners.
  324. Providence of God in Personal Life.
  325. Providence in History.
  326. Psalms.
  327. Psychology and the Christian.
  328. Psychoanalyst, Behavourism, and Psychotherapist.
  329. Public Education.
  330. Racial Prejudice.
  331. Reading Literature and the Christian.
  332. Recompense.
  333. Recreation.
  334. Reformation.
  335. Regret.
  336. Regeneration.
  337. Religion.
  338. Reading/Literature and the Preacher/Pastor.
  339. Radio and Television.
  340. Religion – Public Schools.
  341. Religion – Psychology.
  342. Religion – Statistics.
  343. Religious Freedom/Liberty.
  344. Religious – Publishing.
  345. Religious – Relics.
  346. Repentance.
  347. Resurrection of Christ.
  348. Retirement.
  349. Revival.
  350. Revolution.
  351. Riches, Earthly.
  352. Revelations, Book of.
  353. Rock Music.
  354. Roman Catholicism.
  355. Romans, Book of.
  356. Ruth, Book of.
  357. Various Saints.
  358. Salvation.
  359. Salvation Army.
  360. Satan Resistance.
  361. Sattler, Michael.
  362. Saving Faith.
  363. Science and Religion.
  364. Science Fiction.
  365. Sciences.
  366. Secularism.
  367. Security.
  368. Self Acceptance – Confidence.
  369. Self-Discipline.
  370. Selfishness.
  371. Service.
  372. Seventh-Day Adventism.
  373. Sex.
  374. Sex and Language.
  375. Silence and Sound.
  376. Simplicity of Life.
  377. Sin.
  378. Singing/Singers.
  379. Sins of Tongue.
  380. Sins of Youth.
  381. Smoking.
  382. Social Ethics and the Church.
  383. Sorrow/Grief.
  384. Sovereignty of God.
  385. Speech Power and Influence.
  386. Spiritual Discipline – Spirituality.
  387. Spirituality.
  388. Theology.
  389. Thomas the Apostle.
  390. Thought Life of Man (Mental).
  391. Time.
  392. I and II Timothy.
  393. Tithing.
  394. Tolerance.
  395. Tragedy in Human Life.
  396. Transcendental Meditation.
  397. Trinity of God.
  398. Truth and Truthfulness.
  399. Trust.
  400. Unions.
  401. Universalism.
  402. Vain Speech.
  403. Victorious Life.
  404. Video – Recording and Influence.
  405. Violence.
  406. Virtues.
  407. Wicked, The.
  408. Will of God.
  409. Winnipeg.
  410. Witnessing.
  411. Womanhood.
  412. Sports.
  413. Spurgeon.
  414. Stalin, Joseph.
  415. Stories.
  416. Story telling in Homiletics (Preaching).
  417. Style.
  418. Success.
  419. Suffering.
  420. Sunday/Sabbath.
  421. Teaching.
  422. Talent.
  423. Technology and Human Society (Survival).
  424. Television.
  425. Temperance.
  426. Temptation.
  427. Ten Commandments.
  428. Worldwide Church of God.
  429. Women/Role of in the Church.
  430. Women’s Liberation Movement.
  431. Work/Vocation/Career.
  432. Worldliness, Warnings against.
  433. Worship.
  434. Writing.
  435. Youth, Surveys of.
  436. Youth Work.
  437. Zeal.

Series V: Herbert Giesbrecht Sermons. Volume 958.

  1. Genesis. -- ca. 1971-1991.
  2. Exodus. -- n.d.
  3. Deuteronomy. -- ca. 1982-1990.
  4. Judges. -- n.d.
  5. I and II Samuel. -- ca. 1966.
  6. I and II Kings. -- n.d.
  7. Chronicles of Ezra. -- n.d.
  8. Book of Esther. -- ca. 1982.
  9. The Psalms. -- ca. 1970-1980.
  10. The Prophet Isaiah. -- 1974.
  11. The Book of Job, Prophet Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos. -- n.d.
  12. Gospel of Matthew. -- ca. 1967-1978.
  13. Gospel of Mark. -- ca. 1969-1988.
  14. Gospel of Luke. -- ca. 1972-1991.
  15. Gospel of John. -- ca. 1961-1990.
  16. Acts of the Apostles. -- ca. 1966-1979.
  17. Romans. -- ca. 1971.
  18. I and II Corinthians. -- ca. 1978-1989.

Herbert Giesbrecht Sunday School Outlines. Volume 963.

  1. Galatians. -- ca. 1979-1989.
  2. Ephesians. -- ca.1969-1987.
  3. Philippians. -- ca. 1972-1987.
  4. Colossians. -- ca. 1972.
  5. Thessalonians. -- ca. 1987-1989.
  6. Timothy. -- ca. 1971-1982.
  7. Titus and Philemon. -- ca. 1972.
  8. Hebrews. -- ca. 1972.
  9. James. -- ca. 1979-1991.
  10. I Peter. -- ca. 1986.
  11. I John and Revelation. -- ca. 1974-1988.
  12. Topics beginning with C. -- ca. 1970-1982.
  13. Topics beginning with D-H. -- ca. 1977-1979.
  14. Topics beginning with J-N. -- ca. 1971-1989.
  15. Topics beginning with P-W. -- ca. 1972-1991.
  16. Sunday School outlines and studies. -- n.d.
  17. Sunday School outlines and studies. -- n.d.
  18. Miscellaneous topics. --n.d.
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