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Description
In a lengthy letter (of ten pages in translation) to his brother-in-law and wife, Rev. and C. G. de Moen, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte reports on the Van Raalte family and on his work. He wrote the letter in stages because he felt so weary from all his duties. He reported that he preaches three times a week and catechises every Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. Business matters also take up much time. The two oldest sons are farming. The Van Raaltes have several people to help with housework. Mrs. Van Raalte seems to be doing better than he is. V.R. is also trying to float a loan from a person in the Netherlands for the Holland harbor. The revival of 1857 which emanates form the Fulton Street Prayer Meeting in New York is sweeping the country, which gratifies V.R. very much. Rev. Pieter Oggel is doing well in Grand Haven and may be called to Pella, Iowa. V.R. just preached in Grand Haven and was now very tired from riding home on his horse the twenty five miles from Grand Haven. The letter reveals much about Van Raalte.
Date
6-7-1858
City
Holland, Ottawa, Mich[igan]
Source
The original documents are held in the Theological University Archives, Kampen.
Rights
This digitized material is intended for personal research/study only. The original documents may not be reproduced for commercial use in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the Theological University Archives, Kampen.
Recommended Citation
Van Raalte, Albertus C.; ten Hoor, Henry; and Kennedy, Nella, "Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to His Brother in Law Rev. de Moen and His Wife" (1858). Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859. 47.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/47
Notes
In Dutch; translation by Dr. Henry ten Hoor; further editing by Nella Kennedy, April, 2005.
Description of the document and reference to the Theological University Archives, Kampen, by Dr. Elton J. Bruins.
About the collection:
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.