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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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps about his fund-raising efforts. "...a certain gentleman did call The Holland Academy my first wife and Mrs. Van Raalte my second wife: …"
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte, writing from Kingston, New York, to Philip Phelps, reporting on his fund-raising efforts. His long trip East is a concern to his wife because of his long absence. He stopped in New Brunswick and met some of the Academy graduates.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A brief letter to "Brother," apparently Philip Phelps from A. C. Van Raalte.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte, writing from Tappan, New York, to Philip Phelps. A.C.V.R. is on a two-month fund raising tour, visiting many people including Samuel Schieffelin.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps about fund raising efforts for the Academy. It was very difficult. "...New York is full of beggars." He mentions his visit with Schieffelin.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Phillip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, inviting Phelps to replace John Van Vleck at the Holland Academy. Van Vleck is not well and to leave the Academy.
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Letter in the Allegan Journal
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter in the Allegan Journal, p. 2, from A. C. Van Raalte "and 269 others" to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan concerning the Holland Harbor.
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Letter Written by Albertus C. Van Raalte Published in The Christian Intelligencer
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, written on this date, was published in The Christian Intelligencer 10 November 1859, p. 78. At this time, Van Raalte is canvassing churches and friends in the East to raise money for the Holland Academy. In the letter, he detailed particular needs of the school.
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Response to a Letter Sent Into The Christian Intelligencer from Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte
In the same issue of The Christian Intelligencer in which the letter from "W" [or Rev. Charles Scott] appeared, the editor offered Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte an opportunity to respond to some of the points made by "W." Van Raalte's response is entitled "Dr. Van Raalte Card." V.R. seems to indicate that Rev. John Van Vleck had provided some of the information for the "opinions" of "W." V.R. said, "Common-sense and justice teach it to be right and praiseworthy that the lovers of that institution [namely, the Holland Academy] do their utmost to pay to Rev. Mr. Van Vleck his claim on the building, of between six and seven hundred dollars; and that they try to guard the building against the damage of grading the street." Van Raalte is in the East at this time raising money for the academy.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to J. H. Donner of Leiden
A. C. Van Raalte and Elisabeth Dekker
A letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Rev. J. H. Donner of Leiden, the Netherlands who is trying to convince Donner to accept the call to the First Reformed Church of Pella. The Reformed people in Pella have largely left the congregation of Hendrik P. Scholte who did not unite with the Dutch Reformed Church. Van Raalte speaks of Scholte in very negative terms but praises the Pella settlement and the people of the First Reformed Church. Van Raalte sees Pella as a very promising field of labor.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Benjamin Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte wrote a letter to his son, Benjamin, on this date in which A.C.V.R. continues to express his concern for the state of Ben's religious life. He presses Ben to be more concerned about his soul than his farm work.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Dirk Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
In a letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his son, Derk, the father is admonishing his son to live an upright life. He hopes that Derk will write him about his studies. Derk is also admonished to be helpful to his mother.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Addressed the Classis of Holland
A. C. Van Raalte and Simone Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte addressed the Classis of Holland in Grand Rapids the previous month. The title of his address was "The Calling of the Church Concerning her Leaders." The Dutch title was "Roeping Der Gemeente Jegens Hare Opziereren." The address was printed by the Holland firm of Doesburg & Zonen.
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A Poem Composed by Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
A poem composed by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte upon the occasion of the marriage of his son, Albertus, to Helena Hofman, on this date.
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Note from A. C. Van Raalte to John Roost
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte wrote a note to John Roost who is addressed as "friend." Roost is canvassing for funds out east for the Holland Harbor project. A recent storm had damaged the project recently. Henry D. Post received his second letter and contents, presumably money he had collected. Van Raalte reported that he is busy with classis business and must soon go begging for money himself. He would rather do an exorcism than raise money, but it had to be done.
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Sermon "The Duty of the Congregation to Its Ministers" Written by A. C. Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
A sermon by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte entitled, "The Duty of the Congregation to Its Ministers," preached at the opening of the Holland Classis meeting in Grand Rapids. The minute of the Classis of Holland reads as follows: "Article V — Classical sermon. After the singing of Psalm 68:10,11, the Rev. Dr. van Raalte enters the pulpit and delivers an edifying sermon concerning the obligations of the members to their leadership. The sermon was based on Hebrews 13, and at the conclusion of the meeting, the evening session was adjourned."
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A "Memorandum of Explanation and Correction of the Map of the Village of Holland"
A. C. Van Raalte and C. J. Van Raalte
A "Memorandum of Explanation and correction of the Map of the Village of Holland" made by Albertus C. Van Raalte and C. J. Van Raalte, his wife. The document does not indicate what map and year it was made. The document is co-signed by Jacob van der Meulen and H. D. Post.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakke, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided at the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church. G. Wakker served as clerk. A couple appeared in the meeting to state that they have been reconciled in their marriage and request the censure be lifted. Consistory lifted the censure and they again can come to the Lord's table. Van Raalte gave them counsel as they departed and offered prayer. Three new members were received.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakke, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided and G. Wakker served as clerk. Kommer Schaddelee brought a matter to consistory which called for action on behalf of consistory. The consistory appointed the pastor and clerk to investigate the charges Schaddelee brought against a member of the church.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakke, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, the case of the separated couple again came up. The husband is portrayed as a very difficult man to deal with. The home in which a child has not yet been baptized is in domestic turmoil. Consistory will bring this situation to the classis before it may move to excommunicate this family. Van Raalte made an extensive report on the parochial school of the congregation. There are many problems. He feels that the consistory and congregation are lacking in support of the school. Hendrika Zwaluwenburg asked that 50 cents a week be restored to her salary as teacher in the school.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakke, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, Willem Bolhuis, Jacob Vork, and Harme Woltman were received as new members but Bolhuis was admonished to attend catechism classes in order to improve the knowledge of his faith. One couple had not yet had its child, five months old, baptized but the parents had not yet made their profession of faith. Three elders were appointed to deal with this matter.
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Meeting Notes on the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakke, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, Gabriel van Putten and Henderik Uiterwijk were received as members. In the case of man who though not yet married for six months, had a son. This must be confessed before the congregation at the time of the baptism of the baby. The couple which appeared earlier before the consistory and were restored to fellowship are again separated. A committee was appointed to deal with this situation. A committee of three was appointed to determine how to further missionary work by the congregation.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, Gerrit Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided and Gerrit Wakker served as clerk, a considerable discussion was held about a horse deal. The seller, a Mr. Mulder, claimed that Elder Teunis Keppel had no right to reneg on a deal. The consistory decided it was not competent to make a judgement and instead admonished the parties to settle their differences in a Christian manner. The entire meeting was taken up with this issue.
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Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, Gerrit Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided and Gerrit Wakker served as clerk, a couple asked for baptism for their child although they were not members of the church. "The members of the assembly express differing points of view and are not able, as is the practice of neightboring ministers, to accommodate themselves to the wishes of individuals." The father was admonished to "investigate the divine truths," be admitted as a member and then have the child baptized. A Mr. G. van Putten asked to have half of the amount he was owed for the building of the church to be paid him.
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Letter from Ben Van Raalte to A. C. Van Raalte
Ben Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Ben Van Raalte, a son of Albertus and Christina Van Raalte, wrote his father saying that he had not yet received a letter from him although his mother had. Ben reported that the hired hand had run off so he had not been able to do anything about the fence. After he finishes his work in the morning, he strips wood until 4.30 p.m. and then attends evening school. Derk brings his father up-to-date on farm matters.
