Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859

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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A Rough Draft of a Letter of A. C. V. R. to the Rev. John Garretson

A. C. Van Raalte

A rough draft of a letter of A.C.V.R. to the Rev. John Garretson, secretary of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in New York. Hyma makes several references to this letter, pp. 158-59, 207-09, and 261. [On what basis does Hyma date the letter in 1852 except for the fact A.C.V.R. mentions five years of knowing the RCA? Dr. E. William Kennedy's notations indicate that he judges the letter to have been written Jan./Feb., 1852.]
Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to David Demarest Published in the Christian Intelligencer

A. C. Van Raalte

A letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Rev. David Demarest, pastor of the Second Reformed Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey, in which he profusely thanks the women of the Second Reformed Church for the two boxes of clothing which they sent. The letter was published in The Christian Intelligencer onThursday, August 12, 1852. The clothing arrived in good order. Van Raalte said that he called in the pastors of the Holland Colony and their wives who assisted him in the distribution of the articles of clothing for the most needy of the various congregations. In V.R.'s remarks, he said, "The first years of a new settlement are hard, above all in getting clothing; and above this, the failure of the last crops did bring on hard times; therefore we rejoice in the fatherly care of God's providence, and are appreciating very much those gifts.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte and J. Labots

At this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church attended by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Wilterdink, Hekhuis, Appeldoorn, and Labots, elders and deacons, de Weerd and Wilterdink, the pastor proposed that the cemetery be divided into two parts. One part would be for public graves and the other part sold to individuals or families. The consistory approved the idea. Consistory would give Brother P. de Vries seventy-five cents a week to support the child of his brother-in-law. Affairs in the congregation seemed to be peaceful because no names were mentioned of people who could not take communion which was being celebrated soon.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, and William Buursma

The Doesburg affair again took up the entire time of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church at its meeting on this date. The issue now was whether or not Editor Doesburg had made a sincere confession but had been pressured to do so by Rev. Martin Ypma of Vriesland. The consistory presented a statement on the whole situation to the congregation on 16 May. The members at this meeting were Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders H. Broek, G. J. Hekhuis, J. A. Wilterdink, J. Broersma, and J. Labots and deacons A. de Weerd, G. W. Wilterdink, A. Plugger, P. van den Berg, and Keppel.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, and William Buursma

At this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church attended by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Wilterdink, Hekhuis, and Labots and deacon Keppel, [Kommer?] Schadelee appeared to prove that Brother de Vries did not need to have seventy-five cents a week for the care of the orphan, P. van der Tak. Consistory reversed itself on the decision made at a previous meeting and relinquished the care of the child to Schadelee. Consistory nominated two more elders to serve on Consistory to meet the current needs of the congregation. A discussion was held how to support parents living farther away to send their children to the [Pioneer?] school. The issue was coming up before Holland Classis also.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, and William Buursma

At a meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church with Rev. Albertus Van Raalte, elders H. Broek, J. A. Wilterdink, D. J. Hekhuis, J. Labots (clerk) and deacons A. de Weerd, A. Plugger, and Keppel present, the Consistory dealt mainly with the slander of the pastor and Consistory by the person who had published the article in De Hollander, "The Pope and His Cardinals." The author was anonymous and may have been either a member of this church or the Zeeland church. Whoever the author was, the editor, Mr. Doesburg, should be admonished.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, and William Buursma

The male members of the congregation of the First Reformed Church attended a meeting on this date. The congregation approved of the nomination of Brothers Rijdsma and Jonker as elders of the congregation. Their names would be published on three consecutive Sundays. The Pioneer School now referred to as the institute, was reported to be "developing powerfully..." The school must be considered a gift to the entire colony. Hence all congregations should support the school. The funding of the bell for the village was yet incomplete. Nearly $40 was still needed to cover its cost.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, and William Buursma

The Consistory of the First Reformed Church met on this date. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders H. Broek, Wilterdink, Hekhuis, Broersma, Labots, and deacons de Weerd, Wilterdink, van den Berg, and Keppel were present. The entire meeting was taken up with a discussion about the weekly newspaper, De Hollander, which involved V.R. who was to have control of the contents. The Doesburgs who put out the paper had questions about this.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, and William Buursma

Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders H. Broek, Hekhuis, Wilterdink, Broersma, and Labot, and deacons, A. de Weerd, Wilterdink, Plugger, v/d Berg, and Keppel were present a this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church. Van Raalte asked the members how he would write on the spiritual condition of the congregation because the annual report of the denomination called for this information. The elders and deacons were somewhat pessimistic about the current state of affairs but V.R. felt that he could write many good things on this subject. The consistory members were still troubled about Doesburg's paper.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, and William Buursma

The Consistory of the First Reformed Church consisting of Rev. Albertus Van Raalte, elders H. Broek,J. A. Wilterdink, W. Appeldoorn, G. J. Hekhuis, J. Labots, and deacons, A. de Weerd, G. W. Wilterdink, and T. Keppel at this meeting heard from three members of the congregation who felt that the Consistory had not done enough to restore and honor the name of the pastor due to the controversy raised by Editor Doesburg in his paper. Van Raalte's response that it was simply necessary for him to bear this all patiently with warm love.
Advertisment for Dr. Benjamin Smits Sugar Coated Pills for Fever and Ague and Other Ailments in De Hollander

A. C. Van Raalte and Jan Pieter Verhave

In this issue of De Hollander, there appeared an advertisement for Dr. Benjamin Smits sugar coated pills for fever and ague and other ailments. The ad contained an endorsement by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte who said: "We expect more sickness, since the danger is great and we have no doctor. However, we must thank God that we had your good 'Indian Vegetable Pills.' These are difficult to come by here." Van Raalte requested that 60 boxes be sent him. The name of Dr. Thomas De Witt, pastor of the Marble Collegiate Church, is given as a reference.
Letter by "A Friend of the Truth" Published in De Nieuwsbode

"A friend of the truth" and Nella Kennedy

A letter published this date in De Nieuwsbode, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, was sent by an unidentified person who called himself "A Friend of the Truth." The writer was tired of hearing so much of the Holland Colony in Michigan and what a Godly place it was. There was not enough emphasis placed upon education in Holland? or Wisconsin? From what the letter indicates is that the writer is a farmer who is working hard to eliminate "the formidable sons of the forest."
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

William Buursma

At a meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Wilterdink, Broek, Hekhuis, Appeldoorn, and Labots, elders, and de Weerd, Wilterdink, Plugger, van den Berg, and Keppel, deacons, were present. The Consistory first dealt with the problem of a pig. Mr. Pilon entered a complaint against Deacon de Weerd that de Weerd had slaughtered one of his pigs, which de Weerd denied. The matter was settled by de Weerd paying Pilon two dollars, Van Raalte gave one dollar and the other Consistory members provided the other dollar for a total of four dollars which Pilon requested. Many other matters were under consideration including the decision that Rev. van Raalte will preach on New Year's day when pews will also be rented. Principal Taylor of the school and his family may choose any bench they desire.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

William Buursma

At a meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, presided. Members present were elders H. Broek and J. Labots and deacons, A. de Weerd, Wilterdink, A. Plugger, P. van den Berg, and T[eunis] Keppel. The M. Mulder family wished to join the congregation but questioned the liturgy on the matter of infant baptism. Mulder understood "sanctified in Christ" to mean baptismal regeneration. Van Raalte explained that neither circumcision in the Old Testament nor baptism in the New Testament seals regeneration. Mulder accepted this understanding of the sacrament. In a dispute between Mulder and Schrader, Consistory asked the gentlemen to reflect on the matter for eight days and hopefully come to a peaceful settlement. Consistory approved Van Raalte being present next Sunday, the 12th, at the installation service of Rev. Smit in Drenthe.
Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

William Buursma

At a meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided; elders present were Hekhuis, Labots, and Broek and deacons, Wilterdink, de Weerd, Plugger, and van den Berg. The Consistory again dealt with problems. A committee judged that van Tongeren had taken eight cords of bark from Plugger unjustly. C. Smit was admonished not to take trees from property not belonging to him and stop his thievery. The problem between Brouwer and Kuipers was not yet settled. Schrader and van Putten's problem was settled in the presence of Jan Binnenkant.
Some References Made to Albertus C. Van Raalte in "The Acts and Proceedings of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America, Convened in the City of Albany [New York], June 1851

David D. Demarest

Some references made to Albertus C. Van Raalte in "The Acts and Proceedings of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North america, Convened in the City of Albany" [New York] June, 1851.
The Roll Book for Superintendents of Sabbath Schools

General Synod's Board of Manager's of the Sabbath School Union of the Prot. Reformed Dutch Church
Report Published in De Hollander

Simone Kennedy

A report was published in De Hollander on this date that Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen was lost in the forest when he was returning from a visit and a preaching engagement in North Holland. The Zeelanders were just about ready to search for him when he rode into town.
Jan Kolvoord of Groningen, Michigan, Wrote a Response to the Letter of "A Friend of the Truth" That Had Appeared on 3 January 1851 in De Nieuwsbode of Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Jan Kolvoord and Nella Kennedy

Jan Kolvoord of Groningen, Michigan, wrote a response to the letter of "A Friend of the Truth" that had appeared on 3 January 1851 in De Nieuwsbode of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. But it was a friend of Kolvoord who forwarded Kolvoord's letter to the editor of De Nieuwsbode. This person, by way of introduction to the Kolvoord letter, said that he was disappointed that De Hollander's editor made no response to the criticism of the January letter. Kolvoord was quite critical of the Holland newspaper as to how little it had to offer the reader. Kolvoord himself said that this so-called Friend of the Truth was really an enemy of the truth.
Letter from Charles Noble to A. C. Van Raalte

Charles Noble

A letter to A.C.V.R. from Charles Noble, Surveyor General's Office, Detroit. Noble discusses some property matters. It may deal with the land that Nathaniel Silsbee sold Van Raalte. Noble also pledges A.C.V.R. his support for the proposed harbor improvement. Another document with this letter is a receipt for $28.84 signed by Lyman Bleuw? and dated June 18, 1851.
Letter from Henry Pennoyer to A. C. Van Raalte

Henry Pennoyer

A letter to A.C.V.R. from Henry Pennoyer, Ottawa County Treasurer, at Grand Haven, regarding tax matters.
The Account of Henry D. Post with Post & Company

Post & Company

The account of Henry D. Post with Post & Company. The company received $728.75 from Chicago for "Pearl Ashes." Walter J. Taylor is mentioned as well as Hessel O. Yntema in addition to other persons in the Colony.
A Business Document of Henry D. Post Who Assigns to A. C. V. R. a Sum of $2,000

Henry D. Post

A business document of Henry D. Post who assigns to A.C.V.R. a sum of $2,000 if default shall be made in the performance of the following covenants to wit:" Post's handwriting is usually very good but many words in this document are difficult to decipher. The document deals likely with the collapse of Post and Company in which Post and A.C.V.R. were partners.
A Call from the Graafschap Consistory Was Made to the Rev. Helkius de Cock Who Lived in the Netherlands

H. Strabbing, H. Schrotenboer, J. Rutgers, Steven Lukas, J. F. van Anrooy, M. Naejas, Harry Boonstra, and Nella Kennedy

A call from the Graafschap Consistory was made to the Rev. Helkius de Cock who lived in the Netherlands. The writer of the document said that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte did not sign the call for some unknown reason. Elders who signed were H. Strabbing, H. Schrotenboer, J. Rutgers, and Steven Lukas; and deacons, J. F. van Anrooy and M. Naeijghe document also included responses to the seven questions which de Cock had asked about Graafschap, its environs, the state of the parsonage, etc
Minutes of the Classis of Holland

C. Van Der Meulen and A. C. Van Raalte

The minutes of the Classis of Holland, meeting in the Zeeland Church. Nine churches are now listed as members of the Classis, although Graafschap and Kalamazoo were not represented. The Holland and Zeeland congregations had seven and ten representives; eleven came from the other churches. Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen was elected president. [The minutes of the classis meetings are much more extensive now that Van Raalte is the clerk.]