FREE digital copy of “Table of Contents” and “Every Name Index” based on all newsletters published 1983-2017.
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The Archives
A number of resources related to our family history and genealogy, in the form of books and charts, are stored in three archive locations. Questions about any of them should be directed to the association secretary Betty Sherk, 6 Loyalist Court, Newcastle, ON, Canada L1B 1A8
Betty can be reached at 647-225-0650 or via email esherk18@gmail.com.
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Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society
The Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society (LMHS) at Lancaster, PA, has been designated as the “official” repository for Schürch Family Archives in the United States. Historians and genealogists are encouraged by the Schürch Family Association of North America (SFANA) to donate their family records to LMHS.
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When such records are given to LMHS, they will be safely stored in a climate-controlled room, accessible only by LMHS staff, but available to the public. It should be noted that records are to be marked as part of the Schürch Family Association of North America Archives and will be stored as part of the Schürch Family Association of North America Archives within the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society (LMHS) Collections.
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The first records donated to LMHS as part of the Schürch Family Archives have been nine Stammbaum der Schürch (Schürch Family Lineage Charts) given to the Association by Ueli Schürch of Unterseen, Switzerland, dating back as early as 1350. Copies of the 2006 Schürch Family Bus Tour Itineraries have been given as part of Archives collection, along with a copy of the Family Bible Record of Code E136 Peter Scherch.
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Although appropriate records for the Schürch Family Association of North America Archives may be sent directly to LMHS (attn: Julia Wiker, 2215 Millstream Road, Lancaster, PA 17602), it is recommended that at this time they be sent to Betty Sherk for placement at LMHS. Her address is 6 Loyalist Court, Newcastle, ON, Canada L1B 1A8. Betty can be reached at 647-225-0650 or by -mail: esherk18@gmail.com.
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Click here to see the listing of the Schurch related articles.
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Fort Erie Historical Museum
Ridgeway is the oldest area of Schürch family settlement in Niagara. In recent years, George Sherk, long time Canadian treasurer for the SFANA volunteered at the museum, cataloguing artefacts and photos from the archive of his former employer, Fleet Industries. He was also active in the museum's Sesquicentennial project focusing on collecting oral histories.
To officially establish this archive location in March 2007, several items were donated including Don Tait's composite map of Bertie, Humberstone and Willoughby Townships showing the locations of Sherk farms and cemeteries, charts of the descendants of Benjamin and Esther Sherk drawn by Corrine (Sherk) Sahs, newspaper clippings, oral histories, and a CD of Code H records from Stephen D. Shirk. Records already existing at this facility included research files from John Becker.
Contact Information: Family genealogists may contact the archivist at the museum regarding donations. A Gift Form will be completed and signed.
Fort Erie Historical Museum, Box 339, 402 Ridge Road, Ridgeway, ON L0S 1N0. Phone: (905) 894-6851. www.museum.forterie.ca.
Questions regarding the Canadian archives can be directed to Margaret Sherk, 6882 First Line W., R.R. #1, Elora, ON N0B 1S0, or margaretsherk1@outlook.com.
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Click here to see the list of resources that are stored at Fort Erie.
Mennonite Archives of Ontario at Conrad Grebel University College
At MAO, published books will be catalogued into the Conrad Grebel Library in accord with standard library practices, but special Schürch archival records and papers (unpublished files) will be filed under the researchers name. It is important that the donor advise the MAO upon donation that the records are part of The SFANA Collection.
The initial donation in 2007 included records of the Sherk reunion held in Waterloo region in 1900 and 2000, celebrating the 100 and 200 year anniversaries of the arrival of Joseph Sherk in Waterloo region. This record consists of registration lists, newspaper accounts and photos (with many participants identified) and other related items.
Research papers and books related to the Schürchs already exist in the MAO.
Contact information: Family genealogists and historians who have records for placement 1 SFANA (Canada) archives may contact any of the Association Officers or Laureen Harder-Gissing at Mennonite Archives of Ontario, Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6. Phone: (519) 885-0220 x 24238. Email: marchive@uwaterloo.ca .
See Laureen Harder-Gissing for an overview of the collections and parameters for donations. The archives is generally open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. It is imperative to make an appointment.
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Click here to see the list of resources available at Conrad Grebel.