Elton J. Bruins, long-time professor in the Department of Religion at Hope College, spent years collecting documents by and about Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder of Holland, Michigan and early patron of Hope College. Documents were gathered from dozens of public and private collections, making a nearly exhaustive collection of Van Raalte's writings and reflections. It is these documents that make up the "Van Raalte Papers."
Digitizing the Van Raalte papers was supported by the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York. The project was done in partnership with Heritage Hall at Calvin University, which also digitized its Van Raalte collections.
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Will and Testament of Catharina Christian Harking
Signed by the Living Children of Catharina and Albertus
A document which is apparently the last will and testament of Catharina Christian Harking, widow of Albertus van Raalte [Sr.]. The document is signed by the living children of Catharina and Albertus: Petrus Johannes Albertus [b. 1798], Albertus Christiaan, [b. 1811], [?] van der Linde, N. M. A. Van Raalte [b. 1806], C. A. Van Raalte, Johanna Kikkert [?], J. B. van Raalte, and Gerrit J. Harking van Raalte [b. 1818].
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Letter from A. M. C. Van Hall to Ds. H. J. Budding
A. M. C. Van Hall
A letter of (A. M. C.) Van Hall to Ds. H. J. Budding, responding affirmatively that De Reformatie, Hendrik P. Scholte's publication contains too much pride, resentment, and acrimony. Van Hall also says that a letter of Ds. A. C. Van Raalte was enclosed with this letter.
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Judicial Actions Against Van Raalte's Followers at Zwolle, the Netherlands.
A. C. van Plettenberg and Henry ten Hoor
Judicial actions against Van Raalte's followers at Zwolle, the Netherlands.
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Letter from G. Groen van Prinsterer to M. J. Koenen
G. Groen van Prinsterer and Nella Kennedy
In this letter, G.Groen van Prinsterer wrote to M. J. Koenen, in which Groen protested the quartering of soldiers in the homes of the Afscheiding people. This action went against article 212 of the constitution.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to his wife, Christina de Moen Van Raalte, stating that he got to Hellendoorn and then went on to Rijssen. On Saturday he preached at Enteren. He preached Sunday at a hamlet south of Rijssen. Today, Monday, he left for Deventer. Since she may be writing him, she should address the letter to Egbertus ten Tooren in Ommen who would know where to forward her letter.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to his wife, Christina de Moen Van Raalte, saying, "I completed the business in Hellendoorn on Saturday and on Saturday, moreover, I rode to Ommen. I preached in the vicinity of Ommen on Sunday and on Monday. We saw neither the mayor nor the policeman. On Tuesday we walked fifteen minutes farther to a place which is under the authority of another mayor. We did this because the authorities in Ommen were looking for us, and thus they searched for us in vain." p. 25. He then went on to Stegeren for a Classis meeting "because some seeds of dissension had been sown in the congregations as a result of which some people were led astray in part due to ignorance,...", p. 25 He then says to Christina he understands why things like this"often weight heavily upon you." He is traveling all week but hopes to be home by Friday. He traveled by horse and buggy but had to leave the buggy behind due to the high waters of the river Vegt.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Hendrik P. Scholte
A. C. Van Raalte and Elisabeth Dekker
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Hendrik P. Scholte, in which A.C.V.R. informs Scholte that there are now 21 congregations in Overijssel. He was sorry that Mrs. Scholte had a difficult delivery. Van Raalte has been suffering from rheumatic pains.
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Minutes of the Classis in Ommen Starting on December 27, 1837
A. C. Van Raalte, E. Dunnewind, and Gerrit W. Sheers
Minutes of the Classis in Ommen, of which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, was a leading member, beginning on this date and continuing through 25 January 1844.
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Nine Letters Between A. C. Van Raalte and Hendrik Scholte
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Nine letters of A. C. Van Raalte to Hendrik P. Scholte, 1837 to 1844.
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Four Letters
A. C. Van Raalte, S. van Velzen, Brummelkamp, and Henry ten Hoor
Letters of A. C. Van Raalte and others: June 1, 1837: A.C.V.R., S. van Velzen and Brummelkamp to Reverend J. H. Budding. Budding. July 12, 1837: A.C.V.R. to Budding. October, 1838: A.C.V.R. to Budding. Jan. 9, 1839: A.C.V.R. to Budding.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to his wife, Christina Van Raalte, while he is attending the synod meeting. V.R. has received letters from Christina. He is sorry that she is not very cheerful. Albert is still ill. There is a "situation" in the congregation which was troubling Christina. The synod meeting probably won't be concluded until the middle of next week.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Calvin College Archives
A letter of Ds. Albertus C. Van Raalte, to his wife, Christina Johanna Van Raalte-de Moen. He continues his preaching tour but plans to be home the 15th or soon afterwards. He conducted family visitation and went to Hofwijk and Rijssen. He still has considerable travel plans. His sister-in-law Naaltje is still very ill. He is eager to see his wife and children. Things are peaceful in Genemuiden and the soldiers have left.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Simone Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to his wife, Christina, written while he is attending a classis meeting in Groningen. Along with the meeting, he is attending to other duties although he would rather be home and working in his own congregations. In his letter he refers to the Rev. Hendrik de Cock and his wife with whom he seems to be on very good terms. Rev. de Cock was the primary leader of the Afscheiding.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Leonard Sweetman
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte, to his wife, Christina de Moen Van Raalte, "written in haste in a dark corner and while the disputation is going on," stating that Simon van Velzen was elected chairman and Hendrik P. Scholte, secretary. Van Raalte was depressed with the difficulties in the synod. V.R. hopes that little Albertus has recovered from his cold.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Leonard Sweetman
A letter of Ds. Albertus C. Van Raalte, to his wife, Christina Johanna Van Raalte-de Moen. He reports that he preached in Den Ham last Saturday. He leaves for Dedemsvaart tomorrow, then on to Hellendoorn and the Rijssen area. A week from Tuesday he has to appear in court in Deventer. "Van Rees has told me that our soldiers are lodged with Jan van der Haar, and that a notification of our fine has arrived." A.C.V.R. hopes that his wife will not be discouraged because it is his call to preach even if he is fined for doing so. He has not heard further from his sister, Neeltje.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Leonard Sweetman
A letter of Ds. Albertus C. Van Raalte, to his wife, Christina Johanna Van Raalte-de Moen, giving more reports on his preaching tour to various locations.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Christina de Moen Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Leonard Sweetman
A letter of Ds. Albertus C. Van Raalte, to his wife, Christina de Moen Van Raalte, reporting that he arrived safely at the Brummelkamps. On Sunday he preached to a thousand people.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Rev. H. J. Budding
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Henry ten Hoor
A letter of the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to the Rev. H. J. Budding, informing him that the August 16 date was approved for thanks, fasting, and prayer at the gathering of the Overijssel churches on August 6. Also the assembly agreed that a meeting of the church be held the first Monday of September in Amsterdam. It was Van Raalte's duty to inform all the provincial church assemblies of this decision. And third, the assembly of South Holland requested the Rev. Hendrik P. Scholte to prepare a draft of a church order. However, there was difference of opinion about the need for a new order.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte and Others to Rev. H. J. Budding
Albertus C. Van Raalte, S. van Velzen, Antoine Brummelkamp, and Henry ten Hoor
A letter to the Rev. H. J. Budding, Middelburg, from Albertus C. Van Raalte, S. van Velzen, and Anthony Brummelkamp. These gentlemen are calling the churches of the Afscheiding to a day of thanks, fasting, and prayer for August 16 after approval by the Provincial Church Assembly.
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Letter from E. Van Unen to Waarde Broeder
E. van Unen, Simone Kennedy, and Ellie Dekker
A letter of E. van Unen to Waarde Broeder. A translated quote of the letter states: "Dominee Van Raalte visited us on Thursday and it was especially uplifting. The worthy continues to visit us and displays his loyalty as a servant of the Evangelie and is not ashamed to show his bond/ties with us." The rest of the letter is about how they are often fined and then jailed but they continue to struggle forward.
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Correspondance About Van Raalte in 1973
Note: these documents have been inventoried again and each document has its individual file. 28 February 2002. This file contains my correspondence with Dr. Cornelis Smits who provided these documents. E.J.B. Several official documents and letters relating to the Afscheiding sent to me by Dr. Cornelis Smits. (our correspondence is part of the file.)
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Legal Documents Relating to the Marriage
Accompanying the marriage contract of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte and Christina de Moen are hand-written copies of legal documents proving the birth of Albertus C. Van Raalte, the death of his father, the permission for the marriage by Van Raalte's mother, the exemption from the militia, Christina J. de Moen's birth, deaths of her parents, Benjamin de Moen and Johanna Maria W. Menzel, burial of Christina's grandparents, banns of Albertus and Christina in Amsterdam, and the banns of Albertus and Christina in Hattem. These items are also filed individually.
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Registration of Marriage Between Frans Van Raalte and Johanna Van Langerak
Amsterdam Government and Nella Kennedy
On this date, the marriage of Frans Van Raalte and Johanna Elizabeth van Langerak was registered in the town of Amsterdam.
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Pamphlet Called, "The Secession in Heemse and Environs Based on Various Official Documents"
H. U. Bouwman, J.P. D. Groen, and Nella Kennedy
In a pamphlet published by H. U. Bouwman in 1938, entitled, "The Secession in Heemse and Environs Based on Various Official Ducuments," there is a report that a Rev. H. Wineke preached in the home of Derk Plasman. Egbert Dunnewind may have been present. [Both gentlemen with their families may have emigrated to the Holland Colony.] The document is a good source for the history of the Afscheiding movement. The name of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte is mentioned often in this pamphlet.
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A Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Groen van Prinsterer
W. De Clercq and Henry ten Hoor
A letter of W. De Clercq to Mr. and Mrs. Groen van Prinsterer, in which the writer talks about the Separation movement of 1834, how he feels about it, about Albertus C. Van Raalte, and other contemporary issues.
