The fonds contains the surviving records of John R. Johns. It includes approximately 890 sermon transcripts written and used by Johns in Canada (Silver Plains, MacGregor, Winnipeg, Morris, MB; Central Butte, SK; Victoria, Vancouver, BC) and the United States (Lake Crystal, Little Falls, Mankato, Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Waseca, MN; Newark, NJ; Seattle, WA; Due West, SC; also possible TX and CA locations) primarily in the early and mid twentieth century (1912 – 1973). These sermon transcripts are usually complete transcripts rather than outlines. The majority of the sermons do not have either dates or locations associated with them (72% without dates, 86% without locations). Some of the sermons are revised versions of one another. The fonds also includes approximately 127 prayers written and used by Johns. Many of these prayers appear in various editions – both written and typed copies of most prayers exist, with minor or no alterations. Most of the ephemera pertains to the custodial history of the Johns sermons, particularly relating to their treatment by a Grade 7 class at Pipe Creek Christian School (TX) in 2004. Some biographical documents chiefly originating from members of Johns’s extended family are also found in the ephemera.

This series is made up of only one folder, which contains records pertaining to the curatorial history of the Johns fonds. Such records include biographical and curatorial material gathered by Pipe Creek Christian School, correspondence between Pipe Creek Christian School, John’s relatives and the United Church archives and two congregational letters written by Johns that could not appropriately be placed elsewhere. The folder comprising this series is labelled 121-14 in the fonds.

The collection contains records pertaining to – and generated by – Ridd’s activities as a social activist, a United Church minister in Manitoba and an academic (first as a student and later as a professor) at United College, Drew University and the University of Winnipeg. The records in this collection illuminate Ridd’s life from the beginning of his post-secondary education (the early 1950s) through to his death (2003). These records take on a number of physical forms, most frequently including newspaper clippings, magazine and journal articles, photocopied excerpts from books, briefs and reports, correspondence, sermons, course lecture outlines and handouts and class notes and assignments.
Relating to Ridd’ activities as an academic, the collection contains records from courses Ridd took as a student of English and Theology in Manitoba in the 1950s, as well as Ridd’s years spent as a doctoral candidate at Drew University. The collection also contains a large number of records originating from or utilized in the numerous Religious Studies courses taught by Ridd as a professor at United College and the University of Winnipeg. Records pertaining to Ridd’s research interests – various 19th and 20th century authors, the history of “western” consciousness and thought, religion and ethics – as well as records pertaining to the purpose and function of a university are found in the collection.
Relating to Ridd’s activities as a United Church adherent and minister, the collection contains records generated by Ridd as a minister at Emerson – Dominion City pastoral charge in Manitoba in the late 1950s and early 1960s as well as at Eastside Terrace Methodist Church in Paterson, New Jersey in the mid-1960s. Ridd’s sermons and the historical development of the United Church’s presence in Emerson – Dominion City charge are particularly prominent. A large number of documents generated by Ridd’s presence on numerous United Church committees (meeting in Winnipeg) throughout his adult life are also present in the collection. These records focus particularly on the relationship of the church to social, cultural and civic issues at the local, national and international level.
Relating to Ridd’s activities as a social justice activist, the collection contains a very large group of records collected or generated by Ridd as he monitored – and attempted to intervene in – various issues. The following areas are most numerously represented in the collection: human rights violations in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala; American foreign policy and perceived imperialist tendencies (especially in Central America and the Gulf); media critiques and propaganda; the cost of living in Winnipeg (including housing costs and taxation); Canadian federal and provincial government spending and budgets; Canadian social assistance (including the “safety net” of pension, healthcare and Child and Family Services) and unemployment in Canada; the Free Trade Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement; energy developments (especially nuclear energy) and the state of the environment; abortion, feminism and homosexuality in Christian perspectives; the Canadian economy and economic injustice; peace and conflict (particularly the Middle East); the Winnipeg Jets and the Thin Ice coalition; education (including teaching liberal arts, the purpose of education and religious education in schools); treatment of First Nations groups in Canada and the role of the Church in civic and social issues.
The majority of the records in this collection were not originated by Ridd. Rather, the collection is comprised largely of documents collected by Ridd. These documents – frequently – have been annotated or interacted with by Ridd and, in many cases, indicate the nature of Ridd’s interests and opinions. Documents in the collection originated by Ridd frequently draw on or make reference to the material contained in his collected records. Thus each series in the collection contains three types of indications of Ridd’s concerns: 1) records collected from various sources by Ridd, 2) Ridd’s annotations or markings on the collected records, and 3) documents originated by Ridd himself.
A stress on interrelationship is also apparent in the collection. Ridd’s work in one area of his life frequently appears to have overlapped with his interests in another area. As a result, identical records sometimes appear at multiple locations within the collection (a magazine article pertaining to a certain social issue could, for example, also be found as an inspiration for a sermon or as a class handout for a university course).

The records of the Education and Justice Unit held by the Archives include records of the Justice Committee (1987 -1998); records of the Education Committee (-1994 - 1998); and the Communication Committee (1998 - 2004).

The material in this series is comprised of a wide variety of types of records, especially news media sources. Most of the records included in this series were collected, rather than originated, by Carl Ridd. The series contains records that pertain to conflict, violence and war with a strong focus on Canadian and – especially – American involvement. Prominent topics covered in the series include ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, wars in Vietnam and Yugoslavia, Canadian foreign policy and involvement in international conflicts, Ridd’s anti-war stance (brought on more by the nature of the conflicts than pacifist theology), violence in society, the Cold War and the role of the United States as an imperialist nation or rogue state in international affairs.

The series is comprised of a variety of records, including letters to the editor by Ridd and others as well as many records originating from news media sources. Many of the records in this series have been collected, rather than originated, by Carl Ridd. The series gathers together records that exemplify or explain Ridd’s media critiques. Prominent issues identified in the series include honesty in the media, freedom of the press, government use of media, ownership of the media, close readings of news stories and the production of propaganda. Ridd’s media critiques are drawn from coverage of events happening in Canada and around the world.

This series contains a wide variety of types of records. Many of the records in this series have been collected, rather than originated, by Carl Ridd. This series gathers together records that describe and monitor social (and social justice) conditions in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada. Prominent topics at the national level include treatment of First Nations groups, responsible lifestyles, changes in Canadian agricultural practices, a “Human Context for Science and Technology” conference, civil disobedience and repression of civil disobedience, safety issues relating to food irradiation, Canadian food production, Canadian labour history and rights. Prominent topics at the provincial level include Hogwatch Manitoba and education (including religious teachings in schools). Prominent topics at the civic level include Winnipeg’s inner city, housing options for low-income families, mosquito fogging, future plans for development in Winnipeg, a demonstration against American aggression towards Grenada in 1983 and “squeegee kids."

A wide variety of types of records make up the series, including a large number of records originated by Carl Ridd and a smaller body of records originated by students. Many of the records in this folder have been collected, rather than originated, by Ridd. The series has been divided into three sub-series: Ridd as a professor, Ridd as a student and academic or scholarly matters.

The material in this series is comprised of a wide variety of types of records. Many of the records in this series have been collected, rather than originated, by Carl Ridd. The series contains records that pertain to issues arising from both the Canadian federal government and Manitoba provincial government. Prominent topics in the series include changes to healthcare and social services, Canadian foreign policy (especially in a violent world), the state of democracy in Canada (often from a concerned perspective), scandals and decadence amongst politicians, Canada’s New Democratic Party and the nature of Canada’s constitution (especially regarding challenges to Canada’s unity). See also series #3 (“Economic Issues”) and # 9 (“National and Civic Social Justice Issues in Canada”).