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 John Van Vleck to Mr. and Mrs. Abner Hasbrouck
A letter to Mr. and Mrs. Abner Hasbrouck from the Rev. John Van Vleck, thanking them for their "liberal gift for our Institution." The school has wonderful students. He teaches six hours a day and has to study at least three. "By the untiring efforts, mainly by Rev. Van Raalte, $6,000 have been raised for this purpose [of a suitable building]. The building has been put up at the cost for building, furniture, etc, etc of $7,000. The extra $1,000 I have paid. There is also due me for board, books and cloathing (sic) of the students about $600." There are 40 students; all but one are pennyless. The sale of lumber brings very little return and the crops were poor.
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Meeting Notes for the Board of the Regents of the Holland Academy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was among those who attended this meeting of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy. Rev. Adrian Zwemer arrived tardily at the meeting due to a funeral he conducted but he was chided for his tardiness nevertheless. Rev. John Van Vleck requested a report of the treasurer, Rev. Van Raalte, about the building account. The board acknowledged the indebtedness it had to Van Vleck. Does this minutes denote some tension between Van Raalte and Van Vleck?
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News Item "Holland Harbor--Loan Effected" in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle Taken from the Ottawa Clarion
A very partisan, pro-Republican news item in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle, p. 2, entitled, "Holland Harbor--Loan Effected." The writer blames the Democrats for money squandered on the project while John Roost, a good Republican, is helping to save the day.
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News Item in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle
A news item in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle, p. 3, that Jan [John] Roost has returned from his fund raising tour for the Holland Harbor from the East where he sold $5,000 worth of Harbor bonds. He is credited with "indefatigable perseverance" for his work. Since he is a "whole hearted Republican," his name is being mentioned as a candidate for the Michigan legislature.
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The Minutes of the Holland Township Board
The minutes of the Holland Township Board of this date noted that A. C. Van Raalte raised $1,000 for the Holland Harbor from a person in the Netherlands.
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Notice for a Speical Township Meeting in De Hollander
C. Doesburg
A notice for a "Special Township Meeting!!" scheduled for March 29 in the "Orphan House" for the purpose of "taking a vote of the taxable inhabitants to borrow money on the credit of said Township, and issue bonds and coupons for the payment thereof at some future time not less than five years from the date of said bonds with interest payable annually at the rate of seven per cent per year;..." for raising funds for the Holland Harbor.
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Letter from Isaac Ferris to A. C. Van Raalte
Isaac Ferris
A letter of Isaac Ferris, Chancellor, and RCA minister] to A.C.V.R. who has been conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the unversity for A.C.V.R.'s efforts in the "cause of Education & especially a Christian Education..." A.C.V.R. humbly acknowledged the recognition and appreciates the esteem he receives from God's people.
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News Item in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
A news item in De Hollander informed the public that Mrs. A. C. Van Raalte was chair of meeting on Jan. 11 to discuss the decoration of the new Pillar Church.
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Excerpts from the Minutes of the Classis of Holland
Pieter J. Oggel and Nella Kennedy
Excerpts from the minutes of the Classis of Holland in which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was mentioned several times. He and others gave addresses at the beginning of the session. Rev. Pieter J. Oggel replaced V.R. as permanent clerk. The Classis decided to stop the system of rotation for president and elect them instead. V.R. was elected president. He also read the list of gifts to the Academy since the last meeting of the Classis.
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Notes on the Meeting of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy
P. J. Oggel
A meeting of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy was held on this date. Those in attendance were Rev. John Van Vleck, Rev. Giles Vande Wall, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen, Rev. Adrian Zwemer, Rev. G. J. Nykerk, and Rev. Pieter J. Oggel. Vande Wall was elected president and Van Raalte, treasurer. The by-laws were set forth. It was resolved that the minutes would be kept in English. The all-day and evening sessions dealt with many issues.
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The Minutes of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy
P. J. Oggel
The minutes of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy reported that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was among those who were in attendance. Gerrit Bolks of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, presumably the son of Rev. Seine Bolks, applied for admission.
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Letter from Henry D. Post to A. C. Van Raalte
Henry D. Post
A letter of Henry D. Post to Van Raalte apparently. The content of the letter deals solely with the religious feelings of Post who is explaining why he is not more open in the expression of his Christian faith. Post concludes his letter, saying, "I thank you for your kind feelings for me, and hope you may yet see your prayers in my behalf answered."
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Letter of John Roost in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle
John Roost
A letter of John Roost in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle, October 12, 1858, p. 2, defending himself against charges for the alleged misuse of funds in selling bonds for the Holland Harbor. He resents being called a black Republican.
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Letter from John Roost to A. C. V. R.
John Roost and C. Greenfield
A letter from John Roost to A.C.V.R. Roost is apparently selling bonds [for the Holland Harbor?] and discusses business matters with A.C.V.R.
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Article in De Hollander
Henry ten Hoor
Information on proposed Holland Harbor work appeared in this issue of De Hollander. The Harbor Commission estimated the cost to come to $21,518.20. The four member of the commission whose names were appended to this report were N. Vijn, W. H. Flietsra, H. D. Post and A. C. van Raalte.
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Notice in De Hollander
C. Van Der Meulen, P. J. Oggel, A. C. Van Raalte, and Henry ten Hoor
On this date a notice appeared in De Hollander that the next meeting of the Classis of Holland was 2 September, at the Zeeland church. Rev. [Pieter] Oggel would deliver the sermon. C. Van Der Meulen, P. J. Oggel, and A. C. Van Raalte sent this notice to the paper on 2 September.
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Indenture from Albertus C. and Christina Van Raalte to the General Synod of the Dutch Church
Giles Vanderwall and H. D. Post
An indenture, recorded May 3, 1858, in which Albertus C. and Christina Van Raalte notes the conveyance of property at the cost of one dollar to the General Synod of the "Dutch Church" then known as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of North America. In effect, Van Raalte deeded the campus of the Holland Academy on which the academy was located and all buildings such as Van Vleck Hall to the Reformed Church.
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Document Fragment of a First Draft of a Petition
Van Raalte
This item is a fragment of a document that is hard to read. Evidently it is a first draft of a letter of petition possibly to the State of Michigan requesting funds for the harbor improvement project. The handwriting is very similar to that of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Hon. Jocob Howard
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to the Hon. Jacob Howard, Attorney General, protesting the decision of the court in Allegan that the majority who seceded from the Graafschap congregation in 1857 are allowed to put the building up for sale and pay the minority only a proportion of the proceeds. The minority in the Graafschap church were allowed to keep their property. The letter is signed by Albertus C. Van Raalte and four members of the Graafschap congregation who stayed with the Reformed Church: A. J.[?] Neerken, Geert Heneveld, Herman Garvelink, and Harmannus Strabbing.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Mr. Samuel Pruijn
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter to Mr. Samuel Pruijn, Esquire, Albany, New York from the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, borne by John Roost who is out East raising money for the Holland Harbor. Van Raalte had stayed at the Pruijn home when in Albany. He recommends through Roost that "Christian friends" in the East purchase $100 bonds to help raise the needed funds.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Saml B. Schieffelin
A. C. Van Raalte
"Saml B. Schieffelin Esq. Dear Sir! Bearer Mr. John Roost Supervisor of Town Holland about whom and his object I wrote you is by this introduction letter Verij much recommended to your kindness sympathy and aid by your obliged Friend A. C. Van Raalte Holland Ottawa Mich July [day obliterated by an ink spot] [1]858." Roost has been sent by the Holland Harbor Board to canvass the eastern RCA churches and friends to raise money for the harbor project.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Theodore Romeyn
A. C. Van Raalte
In a letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his good friend in Detroit, Theodore Romeyn, he speaks about an "appropriation for our Harbour." The letter is on microfilm and is in such poor condition that it is barely readable. The original needs to be viewed in order to read its contents.
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Letter of A. C. Van Raalte Published in the Detroit Daily Advertiser
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte, published in the Detroit Daily Advertiser on October 19. The colonists had not had a good year but A.C.V.R. wanted to counter act any rumors that the Colony was at the point of starvation. He appreciated the concern of many people for the residents of Holland. Their life style is very simple compared to "wealthy Americans" but the colony is doing well in spite of a poor crop that year.
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Letter of A. C. Van Raalte Published in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in which he refutes John Van Vleck's views on the conditions of the Holland Colony.
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Report "The Hollanders in Michigan" in the Christian Intelligencer and the N. Y. Courier & Inquirer
A. C. Van Raalte
A report on "The Hollanders in Michigan," p. 2, which includes the reprint of a communication in the Christian Intelligencer which was published in the N. Y. Courier & Inquirer, and a letter of A. C. Van Raalte, written September 22. Van Raalte is refuting comments made by John Van Vleck who claimed that there "was danger of privation by failure of the harvest" in the Colony. Van Vleck had written to his sister implying that conditions were difficult. A.C.V.R. gives a very positive view of the Colony.
