Voth, Unruh, and Banman families collection
Overview
This collection contains materials on German-Russian Mennonite families who immigrated to Kansas in 1874. Specifically, the Heinrich (H.) Banman, David P. Unruh, and the C. R. Voth families and their descendants Waldo O. Voth and Emma Unruh Voth are represented, as well as their ancestors, friends, siblings, and other family members. The collection includes photographs, diaries, ledgers, scrapbooks, serials, books, and papers, with a portion of the earlier material in German.
Dates
- Creation: 1865 - 2009
Creator
- Voth, Waldo O., 1911-2000 (Person)
- Voth, Emma Unruh, 1909-1996 (Person)
Language of Materials
German and English.
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
History of the Mennonite community in Kansas
Mennonites from Southern Russia, of German descent, immigrated to Kansas in 1874. They mostly settled in the Goessel, Marion County, Kansas area, with the red turkey wheat that they brought with them and planted. They maintained their way of life in Kansas, which emphasized adult baptism and a sin-free lifestyle. They worked on farming grains and other products, teaching school, developing their community, and choosing peaceful options for service during wartime. The Mennonites in Kansas, in general, were religious objectors (also referred to as conscientious objectors) to serving in the military. They helped to establish the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Bethel College, Bethesda Hospital, Crossroads Co-operative Association, and area schools.
Extent
22.75 Linear Feet (24 boxes + 5 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Scope and Contents
The collection includes photographs, diaries, ledgers, scrapbooks, serials, books, and papers, with a portion of the earlier material in German. Materials are organized by individual or by family group, starting with the Banmans, then the Voths, then the Unruhs, and some materials from the Schmidt family. Additionally, some materials are arranged by organization, such as church or school, or more generally by the community of Goessel, Kansas. The bulk of the collection reflects Waldo O. Voth's personal and professional lives. Oversize materials have been physically separated and are located at RH MS Q441, RH MS R434, and RH MS R435. These materials are described at the end of each relevant series. Photographs, housed separately at RH MS-P 1455, reflect a similar arrangement as the textual materials by family group. Oversize photographs are located at RH MS-P 1455(f).
Physical Location
RH MS 1455
Physical Location
RH MS-P 1455
Physical Location
RH MS-P 1455 NEGATIVES
Physical Location
RH MS-P 1455(f)
Physical Location
RH MS Q441
Physical Location
RH MS R434
Physical Location
RH MS R435
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, Voth-Unruh-Banman-Gaeddert estate, 2013, 2014.
Separated Materials
Educational directory (Marion County, Kansas) Marion County, Kansas: publisher not identified, 1962-1963, 1963-1964, 1966-1967. Located at Spencer Research Library at RH Ser C1513.
Wichita Eagle and Beacon Publishing Company, Exploring Kansas restaurantsWichita, Kansas: Wichita Eagle and Beacon, [1973]. Located at Spencer Research Library at RH D9837.
Directory of Civilian Public Service: May, 1941 to March, 1947.Washington, D.C.: National Service Board for Religious Objectors, [1947?]. Located at Spencer Research Library at RH C12317.
Gingerich, Melvin Service for PeaceAkron, Pennsylvania: Mennonite Central Committee, 1949. Located at Spencer Research Library at RH C12318.
Anderson, Clay Shepherd of the HillsBranson, Missouri: Shepherd of the Hills Historical Society, [1973]. Located at Spencer Research Library at RH D9838.
Wedel, David C.The Story of AlexanderwohlGoessel, Kansas: Goessel Centennial Committee, [1974]. Located at Spencer Research Library at RH C12319.
Processing Information
Occasionally, folders were labeled by family members. When rehoused into new folders, the original label was rewritten on the new folders in quotation marks. Biographical information on people represented in this collection is from obituaries in the collection, and/or information found on findagrave.com. The information has been given only as an approximate reference; dates or specific information may vary. Many of the items were not dated. A "circa" date has been given by the processing archivist only to give a rough idea of the timeframe of the item. The "circa" date should be interpreted as a very general approximation.
Subject
- Voth family (Family)
- Unruh family (Family)
- Banman family (Family)
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Voth, Unruh, and Banman Families Collection
- Subtitle
- Voth, Unruh, and Banman families collection
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by lmw. Finding aid encoded by lmw.
- Date
- 2018-08-20
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/3617747474
- Preferred citation
-
Voth, Unruh, and Banman families collection, RH MS 1455, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository