Sociology of Mennonites, Hutterites and Amish: A Bibliography with Annotations, Vol. 2, 1977-1990

Kamala S. Narayanan is Serials Librarian at the Douglas Library,
Queen’s University.

This book is a companion to Smucker’s 1977 publication The Sociology
of Canadian Mennonites, Hutterites and Amish, which is referred to as
Vol. 1. While the first volume consisted primarily of citations relating
to Canadian Mennonites, Hutterites, and Amish, the present volume is
much broader in scope, in that it includes materials from both the U.S.
and Canada, as well as from Europe.

Vol. 2 is organized only slightly differently from the previous volume.
There are four main sections: “Bibliographies and Encyclopedias”;
“Mennonites”; “Hutterites”; and “Amish.” Each of the latter
three is further arranged by kind of material: “Books and
Pamphlets”; “Graduate Theses”; “Articles” (from journals and
chapters from books); and “Unpublished Sources” (cited for
Mennonites only). Three appendixes appear at the end of the book. A name
index and a subject index are also included.

This handy bibliography lists 400 items (mostly published since 1977,
though there are a few justified exceptions). It is important to note
that, while information on Mennonites and the Amish is more readily
available, the same on Hutterites is scarce. The 53 items listed will,
in combination with the ones in the previous volume, prove very useful.

The appendixes, though brief, may assist in further research, but the
availability of the materials mentioned therein is not apparent. The
appendixes do provide a little insight into the present-day status and
activities of these groups. Appendix A summarizes the Mennonite Church
Member Profile II, which is the result of a current survey that will
help identify trends in the beliefs of Mennonites today. This survey is
expected to be published in a book. Appendix B lists helpful sources
(e.g., major Mennonite and Amish research libraries, bookstores,
yearbooks, and handbooks relating to these groups). Appendix C lists
special collections of Amish material.

Only some of the books published in the U.S. before 1977 that were
missing from the earlier volume are included in this one. Several other
books may have been deliberately excluded (the author’s criteria for
inclusion or exclusion are not clearly stated). Just as in the previous
bibliography, the writings of prominent Mennonite sociologists and other
authors have been cited. Evidently books on sociological, religious, and
historical aspects were chosen, though some fiction titles have also
been included. Some books could have been included but are not. And
there is no mention of the journals Mennonite Historian or The Journal
of Mennonite Studies, both of which are Canadian.

The bibliography is mostly in essay form. There is no consistency in
the annotations. Some books and articles are annotated in great detail,
while others receive only brief mention. A lot of effort has been put
into the arrangement of the material into subsections (books and
pamphlets, etc.) for each group, but the user may well find this system
cumbersome. Since there are not many items, they could all have been
listed in a single alphabetical sequence under each group. The author
index is convenient, although a spot-check reveals some errors. The
terms used in the subject index are too broad and vague, and at times
serve no purpose.

In publishing this bibliography, which reflects 10 years of research,
Smucker has further extended his service to students of Mennonites. The
information gathered in this volume, as in the earlier one, is not
restricted to academic/research interest only. A bibliography is a
welcome addition to any collection, and an annotated one has a distinct
advantage: it enables readers to choose more easily the books they wish
to consult.

Despite the inconsistencies prevalent in this book, there is no doubt
that, when used in conjunction with its predecessor, it will become a
valuable tool for sociologists, historians, and theologians—in fact,
for anyone interested in studying or conducting research on these
fascinating people.