Center For Mennonite Brethren Studies

A History of the Center

The Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies has its origins in a Mennonite historical library founded by the Mennonite Brethren Historical Society of the West Coast (now the California Mennonite Historical Society) in 1965. Among the newly-organized Historical Society's first acts in that year was a cooperative agreement with Fresno Pacific College and the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary to establish such a Mennonite historical library in the Hiebert Library. The Historical Society appointed I. G. Neufeld as its first librarian in 1965. The next several years were marked by Neufeld's vigorous efforts to build the collection.

The college and seminary participated in this project from the beginning by offering space in Hiebert Library and limited funding. In 1971 the two schools made their relationship to the historical library more official by appointing I. G. Neufeld as their archivist. Neufeld served in this capacity until his resignation for health reasons in 1973.

At about this same time, representatives from the Historical Society, college and seminary began discussing the establishment of a more far-reaching Mennonite Brethren library and archives in Fresno. They formulated a proposal calling for an entity similar to that created by the Historical Society in 1965, but organized separately from it and with stronger ties to the schools and the Mennonite Brethren Conference. This proposal became a reality in 1974 with the organization of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies.

J. B. Toews, former president of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, became the new Center's first director. Among his first projects was the creation of a conference-wide archival program, which had not existed prior to this time. Under an agreement ratified in 1975, the Center in Fresno became the official archives of the General Conference and Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Two other official MB archives were also designated as part of this agreement: The Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies in Winnipeg, Manitoba, became the archives for all Canadian national and provincial conference records, while the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies in Hillsboro, Kansas, became the archives for all records of the United States, Central District and Southern District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Church records.

Despite its expanded mandate, the Fresno Center operated without an archivist from 1973 until 1976. Adonijah Pauls, then director of the Hiebert Library, carried those responsibilities on a provisional basis until the appointment of Rachel Hiebert as part-time archivist in 1976.

During Hiebert's eight years as archivist, the Center's collections grew rapidly. In her first annual report of 1976, she noted that the Center held roughly 1500 library volumes and 18 linear feet of archival records. In her last annual report of 1984, she could account for over 5200 cataloged books and periodical titles, and over 450 linear feet of archival records. This growth necessitated new facilities for the Center. In 1980 it moved from a small room in the northwest corner of Hiebert Library into a much larger space on the east side of the library.

The Center for MB Studies underwent a major transition in personnel during the 1980s. J. B. Toews retired as Director in 1982 and was replaced by Paul Toews. Rachel Hiebert retired as archivist in 1984 and was replaced by Kevin Enns-Rempel, the Center's first full-time archivist.

The Center has continued to grow in recent years, and currently houses over 18,000 cataloged library volumes and over 800 linear feet of processed archival records.