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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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and WIlliam Buursma
Many items were discussed at the meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland. The first item was a correction to the minutes of the previous meeting made by [Teunis] Keppel. He claimed that he did not assert that the preaching of the pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, had become powerless, "but that he had said that family visiting had received a higher priority than the preaching." As for the building program, "a judgment is made that the majority lack sacrificial involvement." The names of the consistory members present were again not given. Van Raalte served as the clerk at the meeting.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
The purpose of this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland was ostensibly to discuss the building program but it turned into an attack on the pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, and how he allegedly was not performing his duties as pastor of the congregation. "Some of the brethren are of the opinion the Rev. van Raalte should lay aside some other activities, for example, preaching in other congregations and his writings... They indicate that in the last few years, the power of his preaching seems to have disappeared." Van Raalte explained that he worked often into the night to the point of exhaustion. He admitted that he was not able to do the studying he should but that is due to the fact that he spends so much of "his time in the congregation is used to visits to sick and depressed members." He is also fully aware "that there will be many who dislike him, no matter what." Van Raalte promised to labor among his people to the best of his ability and "to labor with a blessing."
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Report in De Hollander
A. C. Van Raalte and Henry ten Hoor
It was reported in De Hollander by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte that gifts were received for the "Dutch needy." A gift of $14 came from the Dutch Reformed Church of Rochester, New York, and $18 from the Dutch Presbyterian Church of the same city. From Greenville, Michigan, was a donation of seven bushels of rapeseed.
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Sermon Performed by A. C. Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte and Henry ten Hoor
A sermon preached by the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in the First Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan. The sermon is four small pages. The sermon had been preached many times (at least a dozen) in the Netherlands but his handwriting this time is very hard to read. It is not clear what his text was for this sermon.
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Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Classis of Holland
M. A. Ympa and A. C. Van Raalte
Minutes of a special meeting of the Classis of Holland, held at Zeeland. The meeting concerns the secession of the Drenthe church from the Classis of Holland. The certificate of secession is dated May 15. Smit opposed the leadership of Van Raalte. Classis rules that Smit is forbidden to serve as pastor of the church and is deposed from the ministry. A letter is sent to the congregation with that information and to the Elders of the Reformed Associate Church in Martin, Michigan. Rev. Wynand Gardiner is called to serve the Kalamazoo church.
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A Letter of Adrian Zwemer to the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Published in De Hollander
Adrian Zwemer, Simone Kennedy, and Henry ten Hoor
A letter of Adrian Zwemer to the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, stating that some people in Rochester met to form an association for the purpose of raising money and assisting people in the Netherlands who wish to emigrate to America. Public meetings will be held weekly on Monday evening at the Dutch Reformed Church. Article three of the association's regulations stated that when an amount of $10 was raised it would be sent to the central association in the Colony to the Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen, Albertus C. Van Raalte and Maarten A. Ypma.
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A Bond and Contract to Convey Certain Lands to A. C. V. R. by Jan Slag and His Wife.
A bond and contract to convey certain lands to A.C.V.R. by Jan Slag and his wife. Slag had been one of the Village proprietors.
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Indenture - Rev. Albertus Van Raalte and His Wife, Christina, Conveyed Lots One, Two, Fifteen and Sixteen in Block Forty One in the Village of Holland to the Consistory of the First Reformed Church for the Price of One Dollar. This File Also Includes Excerpts from the Minutes of Various Meetings of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church.
Rev. Albertus Van Raalte and his wife, Christina, conveyed lots one, two, fifteen and sixteen in block forty one in the Village of Holland to the consistory of the First Reformed Church for the price of one dollar according to this indenture. Along with this document are excerpts from the minutes of various meetings of the consistory of the First Reformed Church.
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Minutes of the Classis of Holland
Minutes of the Classis of Holland, meeting in Zeeland. Representatives of nine churches were present. Rev. M. Ypma was elected president.
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A Bill of Lading of C. B. Albee for A. C. V. R.
C. B. Albee
A bill of lading of C. B. Albee for A.C.V.R. Albee is shipping goods from Grand Haven, Michigan, to A.C.V.R. and H. D. Post in Holland.
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A Bill of $1.00 from the American Tract Society Sent to A. C. V. R. for Two Items Which He Purchased.
American Tract Society
A bill of $1.00 from the American Tract Society sent to A.C.V.R. for two items which he purchased. One item was a testament.
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A. C. V. R. Received a Bill from W. Brouwer, the Tailor, for Work Done for the Van Raalte Family.
W. Brouwer and Nella Kennedy
A.C.V.R. received a bill from W. Brouwer, the tailor, for work done for the Van Raalte family. Again Brouwer uses the stationery of his former business in Arnhem.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
William Buursma
The Consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church was well attended but little business was conducted due to the absence of the clerk. Persons present were Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Broek, Hekhuis, Appeldoorn, Labots, and Jonker and deacons Wilterdink, Plugger, and Keppel.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
William Buursma
The Consistory of the First Reformed Church met with consistory representatives of other congregations in the Classis of Holland concerning the problems that Editor Doesburg and his paper, De Hollander, were causing in the Holland Colony. Other communities represented were Graafschap, Drenthe, and Overisel. The group came to the decision that Doesburg needed to be rebuked. If he did not repent of his actions, he would be disciplined and refused the Lord's Supper. "Brother" [Jan?] Binnekant was also to be rebuked for publicly insulting Rev. Van Raalte. If he did not publish an apology, he, too, would be disciplined. Doesburg was commanded to make known the names of all persons who published items in De Hollander and they would also be disciplined.
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A List of the Taxes on A. C. V. R.'s Property for the Year 1852
Jacob Labots
A list of the taxes on A.C.V.R.'s property for the year 1852. It includes all the village lots which he owns in addition to the lands outside the village. Jacob Labots is the township treasurer. {Is this the first accounting of the village lots A.C.V.R. came to own?}
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A Copy of Albertus C. Van Raalte's Intention to Become a United States Citizen
Eli P. Matson
A copy of Albertus C. Van Raalte's intention to become a United States citizen. His intention to become a citizen was made 6 April 1847.
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Indenture Between Albertus C. Van Raalte and Christian Johanna, His wife, and the Consistory of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Holland
Anna F. Post, Henry De Post, and Wm. N. Angel
An indenture between Albertus C. Van Raalte and Christian Johanna, his wife, and the consistory of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Holland. The Van Raaltes receive one dollar for the lots one, two, fifteen and sixteen in block 41 from the congregation for the site on which they plan to build a church. The indenture was witnessed by Anna F Post and H[enry] De. Post. As Justice of the Peace, Post also handled the transaction. The consistory members who signed were elders: H. Broek, J. A. Verhorst, Jeltje Broersma, Gerrit Jan Hekhuis, J. Labots, J. A. Wilterdink, and W. V. Appeldoorn. The deacons were: A. De Weerd, G. W. Wilterdink, A. Plugger, and P. VandenBerg.
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A Description of a Piece of Property Conveyed to Walter T. Taylor
Henry D. Post
A description of a piece of property conveyed to Walter T. Taylor. The handwriting appears to be that of Henry D. Post.
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A. C. V. R.'s Tax Bill for the Year, 1851
Hoyt G. Post
A.C.V.R.'s tax bill for the year, 1851. [The tax bill is misdated, January 28, 1822! and is written by Hoyt G. Post, township treasurer.] Also a sample of many tax receipts dated October 6, 1851 and a document, Dulicate No. 47, dated March 14, 1851, which lists many of A.C.V.R.'s properties.
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Minutes of the Classis of Holland
J. J. Schepers and A. C. Van Raalte
Albertus C. Van Raalte informed the Classis of Holland on April 29, 1852, that he had received a letter from the Rev. J. J. Schepers written on February 18 which requests that the Classis install Schepers as pastor of the congregation. However, the congregation does not promise "to unite with the Albany denomination." But Van Raalte and the Classis feel that this congregation had no right to leave the congregation in Graafschap and without authorization appointed Schepers as pastor.
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A Call Was Extended by the Reformed Church of Graafschap, Michigan, to the Rev. A. G. De Waal, Pastor of the Seceded Congregations at Axel, Zaamslag, and Ten Neusden
H. Strabbing, A. J. Neerken, Pieter Boven, G. F. van Anrooy, M. Noeije, P. T. Moerdyk, and Nella Kennedy
A was call extended by the Reformed Church of Graafschap, Michigan, to the Rev. A. G. de Waal, pastor of the Seceded congregations at Axel, Zaamslag, and ten Neusden. He received 32 of the 43 votes cast. The congregation consisted of 51 families. There was a parsonage with five acres of land. The call was signed by the elders, H. Strabbing, A. J. Neerken, and Pieter Boven, and deacons, G. F. van Anrooy and M. Noeije.
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Letter from Walter T. Taylor to the Editor of De Hollander
Walter T. Taylor and Henry ten Hoor
A letter written by Walter T. Taylor, teacher in the Pioneer School, to the editor of De Hollander, in which he defends a Samuel Clark, a Democratic candidate for Congress. Taylor knew Clark since both came from Western New York. Clark's younger brother was a student in Taylor's Latin School in Geneva, New York. An "evil report" has been circulating about Clark in the Colony and Taylor wants to set the record straight. It may be assumed possibly that Clark is running for Congress from Michigan.
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"Synodical Reports on the State of the Churches," by Cornelius C. Van Arsdale, Printed in The Acts and Proceedings of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America, Convened in the City of Williamsburgh [New Yorkl, June, 1852, pp. 228-233.
Cornelius C. Van Arsdale
"Synodical Reports on the State of the Churches," by Cornelius C. Van Arsdale, printed in The Acts and Proceedings of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America, convened in the city of Williamsburgh [New York], June, 1852, pp. 228-233. The writer of the report makes a reference to the Holland Classis churches and members on page 231. The immigrants are able to "rejoice in the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, to a degree unparalleled by any similar number of immigrants that have ever visited our shores." These people are reported to have agreed "to devote a tenth part of all their income to religious purposes."
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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, meeting in Zeeland. The enrollment of members is now much smaller because the minister and one or two elders represent a congregation or two elders do. Rev. Bolks is now in the Grand Haven congregation. Rev. Klein came from Milwaukee. Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen presided.
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A Translation of the News Items in the Sheboygan Nieuwsbode Over the Disagreement Between A. C. Van Raalte and His Consistory with the Editor of De Hollander.
Vander Sluys and P. T. Moerdyk
A translation of the news items in the Sheboygan Nieuwsbode over the disagreement between A. C. Van Raalte and his consistory with the editor of De Hollander. A.C.V.R. and the consistory were referred to as the Pope and his Cardinals.
