Inventory of the John H. Lohrenz Family Papers, 1904-1990
Processed by Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies staff; machine-readable finding aid created by
James Ryan
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies
Fresno Pacific University
1717 S. Chestnut Avenue
Fresno, California, 93702
Phone: (559) 453-2225
Fax: (559) 453-2124
Email: kennsrem@fresno.edu
URL: http://sunthree.fresno.edu/affiliation/cmbs
© 1999
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the John H. Lohrenz Family Papers, 1904-1990
Record Group No.: M174
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, California
Contact Information:
- Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies
- Fresno Pacific University
- 1717 S. Chestnut Avenue
- Fresno, California, 93702
- Phone: (559) 453-2225
- Fax: (559) 453-2124
- Email: kennsrem@fresno.edu
- URL: http://sunthree.fresno.edu/affiliation/cmbs
- Processed by:
- Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies staff
- Encoded by:
- James Ryan
© 1999 Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: John H. Lohrenz Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1904-1990
Record Group No: M174
Creator:
Lohrenz, John H., 1893-1971
Extent: 3.2 linear ft.
Repository:
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies (Fresno, Calif.).
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], John H. Lohrenz Family Papers, M174, Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Fresno, Calif.
Biography
John H. Lohrenz was born 2 March 1893 in Moundridge, Kansas. He was baptized and joined the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church
in Hillsboro, Kansas, in 1907. After attending local public schools, Lohrenz enrolled at Tabor College in 1910. He received
his B.A. degree from that school in 1918. During that same year he married Maria Klaassen. Maria Klaassen was born 28 November
28 1892 in Hillsboro, Kansas. She became a member of the Gnadenau Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church (Hillsboro, Kan.) at a
young age. After attending public schools, she was among the first students to enroll at the new Tabor College and Academy
(Hillsboro, Kan.), where she attended from 1908-1910. Klaassen then taught in local public schools from 1910-1913. She returned
to Tabor Academy in 1914 and graduated from there in 1916 with a teacher's certificate, after which she resumed public school
teaching. In anticipation of mission work, Klaassen enrolled at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, Kansas, for one year
of study and training. Following their marriage the Lohrenzes moved to Bluffton, Ohio, where John enrolled at Bluffton College
and Mennonite Seminary. He received an M.A. degree from there in 1919. His thesis was entitled "History of the Mennonite Brethren
Church of North America." A revised version of this thesis was published under the title
The Mennonite Brethren Church (Hillsboro: Board of Foreign Missions, 1950). Also in 1919 the Lohrenzes co-authored the book
Glaubenshelden in der Christlichen Heidenmission (Hillsboro: Mennonite Brethren Publishing House). After graduation from Bluffton, J. H. Lohrenz served as an itinerant evangelist
among Mennonite Brethren congregations in Kansas and Oklahoma. On May 9, 1920 J. H. and Maria Lohrenz were ordained as Mennonite
Brethren missionaries to India, where they began serving later that year. The Lohrenzes spent four terms in India from 1920-
1957, most of that time on the Shamshabad field in Andhra Pradesh state. John H. Lohrenz distinguished himself in India as
an administrator, evangelist, educator and writer. As a teacher of Bible in the Shamshabad Bible Institute he prepared a series
of Bible doctrine lessons that were eventually published as
The Doctrinal Teachings of the Bible (Shamshabad: A.M.B. Mission, 1964). The book was published in the English, Telugu and Marathi languages. In India Maria Lohrenz
taught Sunday schools and Bible classes and assisted her husband during evangelistic tours. She was the principal of the Shamshabad
and Hughestown schools for many years. Maria Lohrenz also performed some medical work, serving for some time in the Shamshabad
Mission Hospital. During their first furlough from India (1928-1929) the Lohrenzes attended the Kansas City Baptist Theological
Seminary. Both of them received B.D. degrees from that school in 1929. Following their retirement from active missionary work
the Lohrenzes moved to Fresno, California, where they became members of the Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1959 the
Board of Foreign Mission sent J. H. Lohrenz to visit Mennonite Brethren churches in South America. Maria Lohrenz died in Fresno
on July 19, 1962. Her husband published a brief biography of her life in 1963, entitled
A Life For Christ in India (Hillsboro: Board of Foreign Missions). John H. Lohrenz married Susie Richert in 1963. Richert was born 19 March 19 1897
at Goessel, Kansas. She became a member of the Corn (Okla.) Mennonite Brethren Church in 1909. Richert graduated from the
Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola) in 1920 and received a B.A. degree from Tabor College in 1924. She was a primary school
teacher in California for many years and retired in 1961. Shortly after their marriage, J. H. and Susie Lohrenz visited India
for several months of preaching and teaching during 1963. Back in Fresno, Lohrenz conducted weekly devotional services in
the Twilight Haven Rest Home for several years. John H. Lohrenz died in Fresno on 5 March 1971. Susie Lohrenz died in Fresno
during the spring of 1991.
Scope and Content
This record group contains correspondence, sermon notes, unpublished manuscripts, course notes, diaries, notebooks, transcripts
and grade sheets, financial records, official documents, clippings, genealogy data, Bibles and other miscellaneous papers
of John H. Lohrenz and his wives, Maria Klaassen Lohrenz and Susie Richert Lohrenz. A letter of 1956 June 3 signed by Theodore
Roosevelt Schellenberg, Assistant Archivist of the United States, is located in the correspondence files.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1904-1990 and undated
Box 2
Correspondence: South America visit, 1959
Correspondence: Susie Richert, 1923-1963
Correspondence: Susie Richert with Sophia and Mary Richert, 1921- 1924
Sermons: J. H. Lohrenz, 1932-1955
Box 3
Sermons: J. H. Lohrenz, 1956-1970 and undated
Sermon notebook: J. H. Lohrenz
Sermons for broadcast on radio station HCJB: J. H. Lohrenz
Unpublished manuscripts: J. H. Lohrenz
Biographies of Indian Christians
Tabor College course notes: J. H. Lohrenz, 1948
Lecture notes: J. H. Lohrenz
Diary: J. H. Lohrenz, 1962-1964
Box 5
Diaries: Maria Lohrenz, 1918-1962
Student class notes: J. H. Lohrenz
Student papers: J. H. Lohrenz, 1928-1929
Homiletics notebooks: J. H. Lohrenz
Box 6
Lesson book: J. H. Lohrenz
Transcripts and grade sheets: J. H. and Maria Lohrenz, 1914- 1929
Student papers: Maria Lohrenz, 1918-1929
Lecture notes: Maria Lohrenz
Mennonite Encyclopedia project, 1949
Personal finance record, 1938-1946, 1950-1956
Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary Mission Memorial Court
Selected poems and articles: J. H. Lohrenz
Twilight Haven, 1965-1971
Biographical information: J. H. Lohrenz
Clippings from Zionsbote regarding A. J. Huebert in India
Official documents, 1917-1963
Lohrenz family history information
Klaassen family history information
Richert family history information
Box 7
Wedding: J. H. Lohrenz and Maria Klaassen, 1918
Funeral: Maria Lohrenz, 1962
Wedding: J. H. Lohrenz and Susie Richert, 1963
Funeral: J. H. Lohrenz, 1971
Album: Maria Klaassen, 1906-1910
Remembrance book: Maria Lohrenz, 1949
Paloma Sunday school: Susie Richert, 1941-1942
Box 8
Annotated Telugu Bibles: Maria Lohrenz
Box 9
Welcome and farewell addresses, 1928-1964
