Harold and Enid Schmidt fonds

Title: Harold and Enid Schmidt fonds

Dates of creation: 1941-1967

Physical description: 2 cm of textual records; 32 photographs

Biographical sketch: Harold Schmidt (1920-2001), son of Abraham and Clara (Snyder), lived all his life on the family farm near Baden, Ontario. In 1934 his father died, and his education was cut short to help run the farm. Later he completed high school, took some university courses, and worked in a bank. He became a member of Shantz Mennonite Church. During the Second World War he was in Alternative Service at Montreal River (Jul-Nov 1941) and Mount Seymour (beginning Jun 1942), working first as a cook's assistant and later doing camp office work. In 1946, he married Enid Culp (1920-2011), a nurse and daughter of Alvin and Alma Culp of Vineland, Ontario. In 1947, he was elected secretary/treasurer of the Mennonite Aid Union of Ontario, a position he held until 1999. In addition to a number of other business and volunteer commitments, Schmidt acquired and ran six cattle and dairy farms in the Baden area. Enid played a supporting role in his many involvements.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives in 2015 from the estate of Enid Schmidt by Ralph Shantz.

Scope and content: Letters written from Harold to Enid from Alternative Service camps; Enid's Mennonite Nurses Association forms, and photographs.

Notes: For photographs related Harold and Enid Schmidt, search the photo database.
An interview with Harold Schmidt about his experiences in Alternative Service is located in Hist.Mss.22.1.16.
Further materials related to Harold and Enid Schmidt may be found by searching the Archives.
Original archival description created 2015 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
 

File list:

1. Correspondence, Harold Schmidt to Enid Culp from Montreal River, Mount Seymour and Baden, 1941-1945
2. Mennonite Nurses Association mailing, 1945
3. Alternative Service photographs, [between 1941-1944]
4. Mennonite World Conference photographs in postcard form, Amsterdam, 1967
5. Western trip photographs, 1956; miscellaneous photographs