Rev. I. Marguerite Miller Fonds

Title: Rev. I. Marguerite Miller Fonds

Dates: 1936-2000

Extent: .5m textual records + photographs and other material.

Repository: The United Church of Canada Archives Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Conference and All Native Circle Conference

Retrieval Numbers: Accession: 02-30; I.D.: 3340; Location: PP36

Historical Note

Rev. Ida Marguerite Miller (1914-2001) served the United Church of Canada for over forty years. I.M. Miller was the eldest child born to Ray and Blanche Miller of Starbuck, Manitoba, the first and only girl of five. She was raised and educated in Starbuck. Upon the recommendation of the Starbuck United Church, Miller moved to Winnipeg in 1937 to begin Deaconess training at United College.

In 1939, Marguerite completed her training, the last woman to graduate from United College’s Deaconess program, and she was designated into the United Church’s Deaconess Order. Her first appointment, under the Board of Home Missions, was as a dietician at the Norway House Indian Residential School in Norway House, Manitoba, where she served for two years. In 1940 she was relocated to the Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School. On a leave of absence from the Deaconess Order she returned to Winnipeg, attended Winnipeg Provincial Normal School. During this time Marguerite decided that she wanted to pursue Ordination so instead of another appointment with the Deaconess Order she taught grade school in Newton Siding and Bird’s Hill because she could earn more money than she could as a Deaconess, allowing her to reach her goal of further study more quickly.

Marguerite returned to United College for theological studies. As a student, she served Edrans, Manitoba. Miller was ordained on June 8, 1949, and was the sixth woman ordained as a minister by the Manitoba Conference of the United Church. Rev. Miller’s settlement charge was Kenville, Manitoba. After serving Kenville, Harlington and Durban for three years, she served Foxwarren from 1953 to 1960. In 1961, she moved to High Bluff and served that charge for over fifteen years. Rev. Miller then served Hartney-Lauder until her retirement in 1983.

During her career, she was also president of Manitoba Conference in 1976, and was always an active member of Presbytery. In 1977, Rev. Miller was awarded an honourary Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Winnipeg. Outside of the church, she was involved in local and provincial horticultural associations and held many other interests including history, curling, square dancing, and gardening. Rev. I. Marguerite Miller passed away in Winnipeg on November 28, 2001. Her memorial service was held in Starbuck United Church.

Scope and Content

The surviving records of Rev. I. Marguerite Miller include: a Booklet containing a list of Marriages performed by Rev. Miller at High Bluff, dating from 1962 to 1979; a Manuscript entitled ‘My experiences of a Mission field’, date unknown; Notes and reflections regarding church membership and regulations, dates unknown; Christmas greeting and messages from Rev. Miller to High Bluff congregants, dating from 1962 to 1979; Certificates and degrees awarded to Rev. Miller by United College, University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba, and the United Church of Canada, dating from 1948 to 1983; Material pertaining to graduation from United College, including award certificates, order of services, and convocation photographs (3 black/white photos), dating from 1939 to 1949; Material pertaining to honourary Doctorate of Divinity degree, including correspondence, program, presentation speech, cards and photographs (6 black/white photos); Member’s call from High Bluff-Oakland United Church to Rev. Miller, dating from 1961; Correspondence and agreements from the Hartney-Dand- Lauder Pastoral Charge regarding Rev. Miller’s call to Hartney, dating from 1979; Material pertaining to the Lauder homecoming celebration, including correspondence, notes and order of service, dating from 1981; Tribute material from Dand United Church, including a poem and letter, date unknown; Photograph albums, pertaining to the anniversary celebration of Rev. Miller’s ordination (including 17 colour photos dating from 1999), the Hartney and district Centennial celebration (including 81 colour photos dating from 1982, orders of service and historical profiles), and two albums of a personal nature (containing over 300 black/white photos, including 19 photos from Norway House and Norway House Residential school, c1939, the remainder of unknown dates), Correspondence and clippings regarding residential schools, dating from 1991 to 2000; Correspondence pertaining to church and personal matters, dating from 1936 to 1991; a Yearbook from the Winnipeg Provincial Normal School, dating from 1943 to 1944; biographical profile of Rev. Lydia E. Gruchy, dating from 1995; and

Reference/biographical material, including photos (4 black/white and 18 colour), clippings, certificates, a transcript of a lengthy oral history, and artefacts (a beaded frame) and an oil painting of Lauder United Church.

The 19 photos related to Norway House Residential School have been described and digitized. See “Rev. I. Marguerite Miller Fonds: Photographs Related to Indian Residential Schools” for details.

Related Material in this Repository

Biographical file is held by the Archives.

Custodial History

The records of Rev. I. Marguerite Miller came to the archives of the Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as part of a transfer of records in 2002.

Documentation Digitization

Relevant items in this fonds related to Indian Residential Schools are included in The United Church of Canada Archives Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Conference and All Native Circle Conference 2014 Index of IRS Related Records and were digitized for submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Contact the Keeper of the Archives for more information.

Language:  The materials are in English.

Restriction on Access:  Some restrictions may apply.

Accruals: No further accruals are expected.