Over the past year I鈥檝e听redescribed听the initial set of records听that make up the听. The work was undertaken to make the related听descriptive records听searchable via the听.听Consisting of a wealth of photographs, textual听items听and audiovisual material, the听records were听originally maintained by the Schneider family at the J.M. Schneider, Inc.听鈥媐actory. Given the Schneider family鈥檚 long-standing relationship with Kitchener-蓝莓视频, the family donated the records to Special Collections & Archives in 鈥�2000 prior to J.M. Schneider, Inc鈥檚 merger with Smithfield Foods in 2001.听 Additional donations followed in 2003 and 2004. 
As part of the redescription effort, I鈥檝e had the opportunity to take a closer look at听the听contents of the collection. In doing so, I鈥檝e paid careful听attention听to records that I know will be of听use听to those with an听interest听in the local history of the Region of 蓝莓视频.听Records related to Schneider employees who enlisted in World War II and the company鈥檚 support of听military personnel and their families听are one such example.听
During the Second World War, Schneider鈥檚 sent care packages to soldiers overseas. In a听听to deployed Schneider鈥檚听employees听he comments that the shipments are meant to 鈥渉elp satisfy some of the cravings your rations don鈥檛 supply.鈥�听An听听shares that听the 45th听round of care packages听is being prepared for shipment, providing info about听their听destinations: 鈥渢wo to India, one to Ceylon, two to Australia, Italy and all over Europe, including Germany.鈥�
This photo of Canadian soldiers, seated around a table with Schneider products on top, suggests that the contents of the company's care packages were a source of comfort for more than just the recipients. Describes as "The Boys" an inscription on the back of the photo lists the soldiers as (from left to right) "Slim" - Kitchener, Ont., LAC Keefe - Charlottetown, P.E.I., SGT Pilsworth - Englehart, Ont., CPL Morris - Fort William, Ont., CPL Sylvester - Pembroke, Ont., LAC Stewart - Toronto, Ont., LAC Dulude - Montreal, P.Q., LAC Brammer - New Westminster, B.C., LAC MacDonald - Vancouver, B.C., LAC Carr - Toronto, Ont., LAC Sloan - Hamilton, Ont., and LAC McKellar - Galt, Ont. [GA134-16-16.6-1]
Letters like these were听likely听sent to deployed soldiers at regular intervals over the course of the war.听Special Collections & Archives, however,听only has six of these letters. They were kept, presumably by Norman, when they were听sent back to Schneider鈥檚. The envelopes that accompany them include commonplace reasons for their return. Some were simply undeliverable, while others were returned for听grimmer reasons like the recipient having been killed in action.听听
Despite the small number of letters听available听to read, there鈥檚 much to be gleaned from them about the experiences, emotions听and concerns of those at home and abroad. A听perhaps surprising听through line in each of the letters听is an intentional听sense of听humour. A听听shares news of a special听听featuring photos of deployed employees.听As part of the update, he includes: 鈥淪gt. Major Max Zink will understand that the pictures are arranged alphabetically.鈥� Another light-hearted example comes from Cyril in听a听in which he听thanks Bill Schmidt for sending home an Italian gas mask for the company鈥檚 collection of souvenirs听and adds: 鈥淭hink it improved the looks of one or two members of the office staff who tried it on.鈥澨�
In addition to the听, the Schneider family collection contains听, and听听hosted by J.M. Schneider, Ltd. for ex-service personnel at the Walper House on December 4, 1946.听You can review these, along with a growing selection of other digitized records,听as part of the听听.听
