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Willms, Abram P. (1882–1959)

Proper Title

Abram P. Willms fonds

Dates of Creation

predominantly 1933–1959, 1982

Physical Description

40 cm textual material and microfilm

Biographical Sketch

Abram P. Willms was born on March 17 1882 in Rueckenau, South Russia. He received his early education at Fuerstenwerder and was also tutored privately by teacher Jakob G. Thiessen. On June 15 1903, he married Anna Reimer. They had four sons and six daughters. In 1908, Willms was baptized and received into the membership of the Rueckenau Mennonite Brethren Church where he served as church secretary and as a Sunday school teacher for many years. In 1909 Willms was called to be a minister and he was ordained in 1913.

On June 24 1925, Willms and his family arrived in Acme Alberta where they farmed. They moved to Coaldale where he preached in the MB Church for many years. After his first wife died in 1946, he married Helena Funk on July 27 1947.

On November 19 1959, he died in Coaldale Alberta, after a lengthy illness.

Custodial History

The Willms collection was donated to CMBS in July, 1994 by Mary Thiessen, Calgary.

Scope and Content

The Abram P. Willms fonds consists of a collection of poetry created by Willms. There are nine volumes numbered Heft II, Heft III, Heft IV, Heft V, Heft VIII, Heft XII, Heft XIII, Heft XXI, Heft XXII. Also in the collection are photocopies of Willms’ poetry that include poems from missing volumes VI and XXIII. In June 1982, a microfilm was done by Ken Reddig of Willms’ autobiography, “Etwas aus meinem Leben” and Willms’ poetry. Missing on the microfilm are volumes II, VI, and XXIII.

Notes

  • Volume 1133.
  • Title based on contents of the fonds.
  • Accession number is 1994–34.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: 139.

File List

Volume 1133

  1. Four poems entitled “Frühling,” “Winter Ode,” “März,” and “Herbst,” (original manuscripts). – Undated.
  2. Poetry photocopied from Heft VI. – 1943–1945.
  3. Poetry photocopied from Heft IX. – 1948–1949.
  4. Poetry photocopied from Heft X. – 1949–1950.
  5. Poetry photocopied from Heft XI. – 1950–1951.
  6. Poetry photocopied from Heft XII. – 1951–1952.
  7. Poetry photocopied from Heft XIV. – 1953.
  8. Poetry photocopied from Heft XV. – 1953–1954.
  9. Poetry photocopied from Heft XVII. – 1954–1955.
  10. Poetry photocopied from Heft XVIII. – 1955.
  11. Poetry photocopied from Heft XX. – 1956.
  12. Poetry photocopied from Heft XXI. – 1954–1957.
  13. Poetry photocopied from Heft XXIII. – 1957–1958.
  14. Poetry photocopied from Heft XXV. – 1958–1959.
  15. Poetry photocopied from Heft XXVI. – 1959.

Collection of 9 volumes (notebooks) which are numbered: Heft II, Heft III, Heft IV, Heft V, Heft VIII, Heft XII, Heft XIII, Heft XXI, Heft XXII.

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