Difference between revisions of "Friesen, Martin W. (1912-2000)"

From GAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search
[checked revision][checked revision]
(CSV import - 20130823)
(Minor revision by Gerald Ens)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
−
[[File:FriesenMartinW.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Martin W. Friesen.  
+
[[File:FriesenMartinW.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Martin W. Friesen. Source: ''Preservings''.'']]    Martin W. Friesen: educator and Mennonite historian; born 1 October 1912 in Grunthal, [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]], to [[Friesen, Martin C. (1889-1968)|Martin C. and Elisabeth D. (Wiebe) Friesen]]. He was the eldest of nine children. Martin W. Friesen grew up in a Mennonite community in southern Manitoba. His father was the [[Bishop (Ältester)|bishop]] of the [[Chortitzer Mennonite Conference|Chortitza Mennonite Church]] of Manitoba when the group decided to leave Canada for Paraguay in 1927. Martin W. Friesen worked closely with his father in providing leadership to this immigrant group. Even before the group reached [[Paraguay]], they had planned the education system for the future [[Menno Colony (Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay)|Menno Colony]]. Martin and his father did much to organize the colony's social and economic life in the early settlement period in Paraguay.
  
−
Preservings photo.'']]    Martin W. Friesen: educator and Mennonite historian; born 1 October 1912 in Grunthal, [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]], to [[Friesen, Martin C. (1889-1968)|Martin C. and Elisabeth D. (Wiebe) Friesen]]. He was the eldest of nine children. Martin W. Friesen grew up in a Mennonite community in southern Manitoba. His father was the bishop in the [[Chortitzer Mennonite Conference|Chortitza Mennonite Church]] of Manitoba, when the group decided to leave Canada for Paraguay in 1927. Martin W. Friesen worked closely with his father in providing leadership to this immigrant group. Even before the group reached [[Paraguay|Paraguay]], they had planned the education system for the future [[Menno Colony (Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay)|Menno Colony]]. Martin and his father did much to organize the colony’s social and economic life in the early settlement period in Paraguay.
+
Although for the first 25 years education of the children in the colony very much followed their earlier tradition of a school in every village which taught very basic reading, Bible and catechism, it was Friesen who eventually organized a summer school for teachers. This "upgrade" for teachers enabled them to introduce additional subjects from [[Germany]]'s school curriculum during the 1950s. During this same period, Martin W. also started a Bible School in Menno Colony, a forerunner of what soon became the ''Vereinsschule'', then the ''Zentralschule'', and finally ''Escuela Secundaria'' (High School) in [[Loma Plata (Menno Colony, Boquerón Department, Paraguay)|Loma Plata]].
  
−
Although for the first 25 years, education of the children in the colony very much followed their earlier tradition of a school in every village which taught very basic reading, Bible and Catachism, it was Martin W. Friesen, who eventually organized a summer school for teachers. This “upgrade” for teachers enabled them to introduce additional subjects from Germany’s school curriculum during the 1950s. During this same period, Martin W. also started a Bible School in Menno Colony, a forerunner of what soon became the <em>Vereinsschule</em>, then the <em>Zentralschule</em>, and finally <em>Escuela Secundaria</em> (High School) in Loma Plata.
+
Martin W. Friesen was also the archivist and historian for the Menno Colony in Paraguay. Among his most important historical works were: ''Kanadische Mennoniten bezwingen eine Wildnis: 50 Jahre Kolonie Menno – erste mennonitischen Ansiedlung in Suedamerika'' (Loma Plata, Parguay, 1977), 173 pages, and ''Neu Heimat der Chaco Wildnis ''(Altona, Manitoba, 1987), 502 pages. In 2009 the Historical Committee of the Menno Colony published [[English Language|English]] translations of these books.
  
−
Martin W. Friesen was also the archivist and historian for the Menno Colony in Paraguay.  Among his most important historical works were: <em>Kanadische Mennoniten bezwingen eine Wildnis: 50 Jahre Kolonie Menno – erste mennonitischen Ansiedlung in Suedamerika</em> (Loma Plata, Parguay, 1977) 173 pages, and <em>Neu Heimat der Chaco Wildnis </em>(Altona, Manitoba, 1987) 502 pages.
+
Martin W. Friesen was married to Elizabeth Thiessen in 1938 in Paraguay. After 62 years of service in South America in the Menno Colony, Martin died on 7 November 2000 in [[Loma Plata (Menno Colony, Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay)|Loma Plata, Paraguay]].
  
−
Martin W. Friesen was married to Elizabeth Thiessen in 1938 in Paraguay. After 62 years of service in South America in the Menno Colony, Martin died on 7 November 2000 in [[Loma Plata (Menno Colony, Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay)|Loma Plata, Paraguay]].
 
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
−
Gerbrandt, Henry J.  “Martin W. Friesen 1912-2000, Historian.”  <em>Preservings</em> No. 19 (December 2001): 66.
+
Friesen, M. W. ''Canadian Mennonites Conquer a Wilderness: The Beginning and Development of the Menno Colony, First Mennonite Settlement in South America''. Translated by Christel Wiebe. Loma Plata, Paraguay: Historical Committee of the Menno Colony, 2009.
 +
 
 +
Friesen, M. W. ''New Homeland in the Chaco Wilderness''. Loma Plata, Paraguay: Historical Committee of the Menno Colony, 2009.
 +
 
 +
Gerbrandt, Henry J. "Martin W. Friesen 1912-2000, Historian." ''Preservings'', no. 19 (December 2001): 66.
  
 
GRANDMA (The <strong>G</strong>enealogical <strong>R</strong>egistry <strong>an</strong>d <strong>D</strong>atabase of <strong>M</strong>ennonite <strong>A</strong>ncestry) Database, 5.03 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2007: #530499.
 
GRANDMA (The <strong>G</strong>enealogical <strong>R</strong>egistry <strong>an</strong>d <strong>D</strong>atabase of <strong>M</strong>ennonite <strong>A</strong>ncestry) Database, 5.03 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2007: #530499.
 
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=January 2008|a1_last=Huebert|a1_first=Susan|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
 
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=January 2008|a1_last=Huebert|a1_first=Susan|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
 +
[[Category:Persons]]

Latest revision as of 19:54, 23 June 2025

Martin W. Friesen. Source: Preservings.

Martin W. Friesen: educator and Mennonite historian; born 1 October 1912 in Grunthal, Manitoba, to Martin C. and Elisabeth D. (Wiebe) Friesen. He was the eldest of nine children. Martin W. Friesen grew up in a Mennonite community in southern Manitoba. His father was the bishop of the Chortitza Mennonite Church of Manitoba when the group decided to leave Canada for Paraguay in 1927. Martin W. Friesen worked closely with his father in providing leadership to this immigrant group. Even before the group reached Paraguay, they had planned the education system for the future Menno Colony. Martin and his father did much to organize the colony's social and economic life in the early settlement period in Paraguay.

Although for the first 25 years education of the children in the colony very much followed their earlier tradition of a school in every village which taught very basic reading, Bible and catechism, it was Friesen who eventually organized a summer school for teachers. This "upgrade" for teachers enabled them to introduce additional subjects from Germany's school curriculum during the 1950s. During this same period, Martin W. also started a Bible School in Menno Colony, a forerunner of what soon became the Vereinsschule, then the Zentralschule, and finally Escuela Secundaria (High School) in Loma Plata.

Martin W. Friesen was also the archivist and historian for the Menno Colony in Paraguay. Among his most important historical works were: Kanadische Mennoniten bezwingen eine Wildnis: 50 Jahre Kolonie Menno – erste mennonitischen Ansiedlung in Suedamerika (Loma Plata, Parguay, 1977), 173 pages, and Neu Heimat der Chaco Wildnis (Altona, Manitoba, 1987), 502 pages. In 2009 the Historical Committee of the Menno Colony published English translations of these books.

Martin W. Friesen was married to Elizabeth Thiessen in 1938 in Paraguay. After 62 years of service in South America in the Menno Colony, Martin died on 7 November 2000 in Loma Plata, Paraguay.

Bibliography

Friesen, M. W. Canadian Mennonites Conquer a Wilderness: The Beginning and Development of the Menno Colony, First Mennonite Settlement in South America. Translated by Christel Wiebe. Loma Plata, Paraguay: Historical Committee of the Menno Colony, 2009.

Friesen, M. W. New Homeland in the Chaco Wilderness. Loma Plata, Paraguay: Historical Committee of the Menno Colony, 2009.

Gerbrandt, Henry J. "Martin W. Friesen 1912-2000, Historian." Preservings, no. 19 (December 2001): 66.

GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 5.03 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2007: #530499.


Author(s) Susan Huebert
Date Published January 2008

Cite This Article

MLA style

Huebert, Susan. "Friesen, Martin W. (1912-2000)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2008. Web. 19 Jan 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Friesen,_Martin_W._(1912-2000)&oldid=180914.

APA style

Huebert, Susan. (January 2008). Friesen, Martin W. (1912-2000). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 January 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Friesen,_Martin_W._(1912-2000)&oldid=180914.



©1996-2026 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

Retrieved from "https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Friesen,_Martin_W._(1912-2000)&oldid=180914"