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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Minutes of the Classis of Holland
S. Bolks and A. C. Van Raalte
Minutes of the Classis of Holland, held in Zeeland. There are now twelve churches on the register. Rev. Seine Bolks is elected president and Albertus C. Van Raalte is clerk.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
William Buursma
The major discussion which took place at this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church was the proposed building program. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte noted that the present log church was musty and at the perimeter of the village. The cost of the new building would come to $2,500 approximately. The names of Consistory members present were not given.
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A. C. V. R.'s Postage Bill for the Period of January 1, 1853 to March 23, 1853
Holland Post Office
A.C.V.R.'s postage bill for the period of January 1, 1853 to March 23, 1853. The total bill came to $6.56. From this accounting, it is recorded that A.C.V.R. subscribed to several periodicals including the New York Observer, the Christian Intelligencer, the Allegan Record, the Grand River Eagle, the Grand Rapids Inquirer, the Missionary Herald, the Free Democrat, and the United Presbyterian.
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Report in De Hollander
Nella Kennedy
Rev. Van Raalte exhorted the congregation in the afternoon service to help suffering widows and orphans in the Netherlands. People there are hit by catastrophes: cholera, cattle pest, floods, and high cost of living. This is not the case in the colonies, so all pastors are charged with the task to collect monies; these will be sent to the Netherlands.
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News Note in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
A news note in De Hollander said that "They estimate the majority of people supportive of the drinking law to be about 20,000 votes. Ottawa county registered only 755 votes, of which 427 voted for and 821 voted against the proposal, the rest of the votes were abstentions."
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Report in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
It was reported in De Hollander on this date that: "The feast of the Declaration of Independence (4th of July) was celebrated in our Colony with fitting joy. The Revs. Van Raalte and Van der Meulen gave speeches appropriate to the occasion in the afternoon in Holland and Zeeland."
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Report in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
It was reported in De Hollander on this date that a group of people gathered in Grand Rapids to form a society to assist poor Netherlanders to come to America. G. [Gijsbert?] Haan opened the meeting with prayer. C. Steketee was elected secretary and J. Bijlsma, treasurer.
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"Aanmerkingen Tegen K. S., in De Beantwoording Mijner Vragen, in No. 52 Van The Hollander, Van 24 November 1853"" is a 16 Page Pamphlet Signed by Ten Men Who are Protesting the Distribution of Richard Baxter's Book, Call to the Unconverted"
A. Krabshuis, J. van Anrooi, M. Naaije, P. Verlee, K. van Zenten, J. Karelsen, J. Hellenthal, A. Steketee, L. Schaddelee, J. v.d. Luijster, and Henry ten Hoor
"Aanmerkingen Tegen K. S., in de Beantwoording Mijner Vragen, in No. 52 van The Hollander, van 24 November 1853" is a 16 page pamphlet signed by ten men who are protesting the distribution of Richard Baxter's book, Call to the Unconverted. The men who signed the pamphlet were A. Krabshuis, J. van Anrooi, M. Naaije, P. Verlee, K. van Zanten, J. Karelsen, J. Hellenthal, A. Steketee, L. Schaddelee, and J. v.d. Luijster. [Abraham Krabshuis, the stepfather of Isaac Cappon, was a longtime opponent of Van Raalte.]
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A. C. V. R.'s Application for U. S. Citizenship and Certificate of American Citizenship
George Martin
A.C.V.R.'s application for U. S. citizenship and certificate of American citizenship. George Martin was the presiding Circuit Judge before whom A.C.V.R. appeared on October 4. The certificate is dated October 17.
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Report in De Bazuin Announcing the Birth of Albertus and Chrisitina's Daughter
Henry ten Hoor
A report appeared in the April edition of De Bazuin that a daughter was born to Albertus and Christina Van Raalte on this date. The baby was healthy. The baby's name was not in this report but her name was Anna Arendina Harking Van Raalte. Unfortunately, she died on 6 March 1854.
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Report in De Hollander Informed the Holland Community the Recent Election Results for Holland Township
Henry ten Hoor
A report in De Hollander, p. 3, informed the Holland community the recent election results for Holland township. Henry D. Post was elected supervisor, 132-4; Hendrik van Eijk, township treasurer, 131-5; Pieter van den Berg, township clerk, 134-2; Post and van Eijk were also elected as justices of the peace. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was elected school inspector by a vote of 135-1. Post was also elected as highway commissioner. Jan van der Luijster Jr. and Teunis Keppel became "directors of the poor." Elected constables were Jacob Liesveld, Jan Kolvoord, Berend L. van Lente and Homer E. Hudson.
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The 1853 Tax Bill of A. C. V. R.
Treasurer's Office Township of Holland and H. Van Eyck
The 1853 tax bill of A.C.V.R. H. Van Eyck is now township treasurer. The bill came to $174.51.
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Minutes of the Classis of Holland
C. Van Der Meulen and A. C. Van Raalte
Minutes of the Classis of Holland, "held in the church building of the Zeeland Congregation." Rev. Klein was in from Milwaukee and preached the sermon. Cornelius Vander Meulen was elected president and Albertus Van Raalte, clerk. Major items for discussion were: how soon should a widow marry; it was agreed that it is "proper for a woman to wait nine months and the man three months, but consider it inadvisable to make a law to that effect." there was a balance of $166 in the school fund; a commission was appointed for the acquisition of funds to assist the coming of immigrants; Klein and Lankester are appointed from Wisconsin; a member of the Holland church inquired if a member of a church could be a Freemason; "All look upon it as works of darkness, and thus unlawful for a (church) menber." 144 contributions from congregations are asked for to help brother William Van de Luister, who lost his barn and harvest to fire; a question was raised about the orthodoxy of the book by Richard Baxter, Call to the Unconverted; Van Raalte reported on his attendance at the meeting of the General Synod.
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"Assessment of the Property of A. C. Van Raalte for 1853 in Town Holland Ottawa Mich."
A. C. Van Raalte
"Assessment of the Property of A. C. Van Raalte for 1853 in Town Holland Ottawa Mich." The document is in A.C.V.R.'s handwriting. Most of the property is in the form of city lots although he still owns a considerable amount of acreage apparently. He also places his own personal evaluation on his properties.
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On This Date, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Purchased Land That Was Sold for Back Taxes
A. C. Van Raalte
On this date, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte purchased land that was sold for back taxes. For thirty acres of land, he paid $7.58 and for a ten acre plot, he paid $2.48.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
The meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland dealt solely with complaints. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided. Members present were elders Hekhuis, Broek, Labots and deacon Keppel. Van Raalte was again the clerk.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
Elder Appeldoorn opened this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland with prayer. Others present were the pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Hekhuis, and Jonker and deacons, de Weerd, Wilterdink, Keppel, and Plugger. One matter was to hear the report of a committee that the evil rumors about Brother Van de Luijster were not true. The question arose whether a widow should marry before nine months passed after her husband's death. It was concluded that the remarriage of a widow not be approved before nine months had passed. Van Raalte again served as the clerk.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
A meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland was held at the home of the pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Members present were elders Jonkers, Broek, Labots, and Appeldoorn and deacons Keppel, Wilterdink, and de Weerd. Van Raalte, as usual, opened with prayer. Jonkers requested the pastor to let them know ahead of time when he would be absent from the congregation "so that appropriate measures can be taken for a good reading sermon." Labots, Plugger, and Broek were appointed as readers of sermons during the pastor's absences. Van Raalte again served as the clerk.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Broek, Labots, Appeldoorn, Jonker, and Hekhuis and deacons de Weerd, Wilterdink, and Keppel were present at the Consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church of Holland. After the opening prayer, K. L. Mulder made confession of faith but Deacon Keppel made charges against him, one being that he desired to participate in worldly amusements on the Sabbath. Mulder denied the charge but before an announcement would be made of his confession, other witnesses needed to be heard from. The Consistory, upon the request of several widows, decided to ask the Holland Classis to make a ruling on the time which must elapse before remarriage can take place.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
This meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland was concerned mainly with complaints. Jan Laarman accused Mrs. Boer of violating a purchase agreement. A committee was appointed to meet with her. Deacon Keppel reported that a member by the name of Hoffman has been spreading slanderous statements about the pastor for more than a year because Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, "for the sake of money, has brought the congregation into an impure church." Hoffman would be admonished for these statements. A Mr. Bos gave offense because of a union with his housekeeper outside the bonds of marriage. He would be barred from the Lord's Supper until he confessed his sin. A Mr. Mulder complained that the consistory dealt too lightly with a Mr. Schrader in "connection with windmill activities." Members present were elders Broek, van Appeldoorn, Hekhuis, Jonker, and Labots and deacons de Weerd, Wilterdink, and Keppel. Van Raalte served as both president and clerk at this meeting.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
Deacon de Weerd reported at a meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church that at the congregational meeting on Thanksgiving Day the members were nearly unanimous in approving the recommendation of the Consistory that each male member contribute $7.50 per year to the salary of their pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Opponents implied that was insufficient because the congregation was not providing free housing for the pastor. All payments for the salary support were to be made at Plugger's store. When someone supplied labor on the pastor's property, the pastor needed to provide a receipt. Those who wished to pay by contributing labor, that could only be done on the first Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the month.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Jonker, Labots, Wilterdink, and Broek and deacons Wilterdink, de Weerd, and Keppel attended the meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland. Mrs. Schrader brought her charges against Mulder for some questionable things he said such as wishing there were a tavern where he could relax. Issues regarding marriage and remarriage were also discussed.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
The sole purpose of this Consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church of Holland was to receive the request of Widow Broersma who wished to be married to K. Mulder. Mulder was not yet a confessing member but as a baptized member, he was under the supervision of the congregation. Although the hoped-for nine months had not yet passed, the Consistory had to acknowledge that the decision of two Dutch synods called for a waiting period of four and one-half months. The Consistory reluctantly approved the request. Members of Consistory present were elders Labots, Jonker, Wilterdink, Appeldoorn, Broek, and Hekhuis and deacons Keppel, Wilterdink, and de Weerd. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided and again served as the clerk.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
The entire meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church was taken up with the issue of the arrears in Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte's salary. He was promised $600 per year but in 1852 he received $251.00 and so far in 1853, $240.00. One reason for the arrears some felt was that so much of the offerings of the congregation went to outside causes. It was known that the pastor was also willing to receive his salary in the form of donated labor on his property so that V.R. was not forced to sell his property needlessly and at a lower price to satisfy his creditors. It was decided that every male member was obligated to work one day a month for the pastor's salary, calculated as sixty-two and one-half cents for a day's pay. That would add up to $7.50 per year. Van Raalte served as clerk of the meeting.
