Guide to the Heinrich P. Wieler [German-Russian Mennonite schoolteacher] diaries and archive M2848
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2022
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
Multiple languages
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Heinrich P. Wieler [German-Russian Mennonite schoolteacher] diaries and archive
source:
Mark Funke Books
Creator:
Wieler, Heinrich P.
Identifier/Call Number: M2848
Physical Description:
2.2 Linear Feet
(4 manuscript boxes, 1 half manuscript box, and 1 card box)
Date (inclusive): 1912-2002
Scope and Contents
This collection consists primarily of five diaries written by Heinrich P. Wieler, from 1912 to 1926. Wieler was a German-Russian
Mennonite schoolteacher who later emigrated to the United States. The diaries focus on local conditions during the years of
World War I, the Russian Revolution, the Russian Civil War and the start of Soviet rule. The diaries are in German and Russian,
and later English translations of the diaries are included. The collection also contains official documents, photographs,
correspondence, newspaper clippings, notebooks, research notes, ephemera, hand-painted glass mottoes, and other materials.
The languages in the collection include German, Russian, and English.
Biographical / Historical
Heinrich P. Wieler, (1891-1984) was a German-Russian Mennonite schoolteacher from Russia. He lived in Mennonite settlements
along the Volga River and in Siberia. During the early years of Soviet rule the Wieler family, along with several others,
chose to flee Russia due to increasing persecution. The group made their way across Russia and crossed the border into Poland.
Through the help of German Mennonite organizations the Weiler family traveled to a refugee camp in Germany and traveled by
the SS Muenchen to the United States, arriving in New York on August 7, 1923. In 1924 the Weiler family settled in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, where Heinrich Weiler (now Henry Weiler) worked as a watchman for the Armstrong Cork Company as well as starting
a hand-painted glass mottos business.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials
are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy. Selected video from this collection has
been digitized and is available in the Special Collections reading room.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Heinrich P. Wieler [German-Russian Mennonite schoolteacher] diaries and archive (M2848). Department
of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Russian Germans
Soviet Union -- Emigration and immigation
Mennonites
Mennonites -- Soviet Union
Mark Funke Books
Box 2, folder 2
Diary (English translation)
1912-1915
Box 2, folder 3
Diary (English translation)
1912
Box 2, folder 4
Diary (English translation) (1 of 2)
1916-1919
Box 2, folder 5
Diary (English translation) (2 of 2)
1916-1919
Box 2, folder 6
Diary (English translation)
1916-1919
Box 3, folder 1
Diary (English translation)
1920
Box 3, folder 2
Excerpts of translated diaries
Box 3, folder 3
Journals with no dates or page numbers
Box 3, folder 4
Miscellaneous poetry from diaries (printouts)
Box 3, folder 5
Miscellaneous photocopied journal pages
Box 3, folder 7
Diary (printout)
1916-1917
Box 3, folder 9
Diary (photocopy)
1921-1923
Box 3, folder 10
Diary excerpts (photocopy)
Box 4, folder 6
Henry P. Wieler written reactions to Communism
Box 4, folder 7
Henry P. Wieler written reactions to Communism (photocopies)
Box 4, folder 8
Miscellaneous documents
1919-1993
Scope and Contents
Includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, travel documents, official documents, citizenship papers, and other
materials.
Box 4, folder 9
Historical travel and citizenship documents
Box 4, folder 10
Wieler family history
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs, newspaper clippings, notes, and other materials.
Box 5, folder 2
Photocopies of photographs
Box 5, folder 3
Correspondence with family
1970-1979
Box 5, folder 4
Estapenco (Henry Wieler's glass-painting business) - printed samples
Box 5, folder 5
Hand-painted glass mottoes - catalog
Box 5, folder 6
American Historical Society of Germans from Russia
2002
Box 5, folder 7
Information about Mennonites
1951-1993
Box 5, folder 8
Articles about Mennonites in Russia, written by Lawrence Klippenstein
Box 5, folder 9
Information about U.S. troops in Russia during the Russian Civil War
Box 5, folder 10
Two audiocassettes from Henry Wieler oral history interviews
Box 6
Hand-painted glass mottoes
Scope and Contents
20 glass mottoes hand-painted by Henry Wieler. The mottoes are attached to metal chains and have a paper tag from Central
Pennsylvania Village Crafts with price, date, and theme information.
