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 Minutes of the School Board of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present at this meeting of the School Board of the Holland Academy because he was leaving in a few days for the Netherlands with his wife. Neither was Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. present. It was decided to keep C. Gardenier in school and provided with funds from the board. These minutes use the the phrase "our college" twice. Routine student matters were dealt with. The board was encouraged that the elimination of the debt was a possibility.
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Meeting Minutes of the School Board of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
Although the year is not given in these minutes of this meeting of the School Board of the Holland Academy, the minutes follow those of 17 April 1866. Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. was present but Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not due to his trip to the Netherlands that summer. Rev. Christiaan Vander Veen was elected president. After the meeting of the Classis that followed this meeting, it appeared that the debt would be wiped out. Routine matters were dealt with.
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A Report on the April 18 and 19 Meeting of the Classis of Holland Appeared in De Hope On This Date
Adrian Zwemer and Henry ten Hoor
A report on the April 18 and 19 meeting of the Classis of Holland appeared in De Hope on this date. Among the many items of business, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was requested to bring Christian fraternal greetings to the Synod of the Christian Separated Reformed Church in Netherlands because he and Mrs. Van Raalte were leaving shortly for the Netherlands and to represent the Classis sat the meeting of the Evangelical Alliance. The secretary of the Tract Society of New York presented a report on the work of the society. Rev. Adrian Zwemer, Clerk of the Classis, wrote this report.
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Meeting Minutes of the Congregation of the First Reformed Church
William Buursma and Althea Buursma
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided at the congregational meeting of the First Reformed, opening the meeting with prayer after the singing of Psalm 103.1. All retiring elders and deacons were reelected. The financial condition of the congregation was reported. The Holland Academy had received $252.95 that year and $159.00 had been collected for the Graafschap parsonage. Pew rents that afternoon brought in $2,294.15. Disbursements to the poor came to $1,676.00 for the year. Several people at the meeting gave gifts to eliminate the debt in the poor fund. The pastor suggested that due to the size of the congregation, it should split in two or that the congregation establish a "missionary post." A committee will be appointed to consider this proposal of the pastor. "The meeting was closed by Dr. van Raalte."
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A Copy of the "First Catalogue and Circular of Hope College, Incorporated A.D. 1866, at Holland, Ottawa Co., Michigan; with a Catalogue and Circular of the Holland Academy. 1865--6."
Council. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Company, Printers. 1865
A copy of the "First Catalogue and Circular of Hope College, incorporated A.D. 1866, at Holland, Ottawa Co., Michigan; with a Catalogue and Circular of the Holland Academy. 1865--6." Published by the Council. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Company, Printers. 1865. Since Philip Phelps is principal, the material was published in Albany, New York. On pages 41-48 of the Academy Circular, Phelps gives a detailed history of the development of the institution. In the introduction to first catalogue of Hope College, Phelps wrote, "There has been no concealment of the Denominational aspect of the enterprise. Why should there be? A College is not injured by Denominationalism, but by the failure on the part of its ecclesiastical parent to provide what may be requisite to render it respectable and attractive in the eyes of strangers."
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R. N. Goodsell Again Corresponded with Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte About Business Matters Concerning the Holland Harbor Board
R. N. Goodsell and Mary Otterness
R. N. Goodsell again corresponded with Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte about business matters concerning the Holland Harbor Board.
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R. N. Goodsell Wrote Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte About Some Business and Contract Matters
R. N. Goodsell and Mary Otterness
R. N. Goodsell wrote Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte about some business and contract matters. John Roost is mentioned in the letter.
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An Extensive News Article in The Grand Haven News
Sanford Howard and Mary Otterness
An extensive news article in the Grand Haven News, p. 1, on "The Dutch Colony in Michigan, by Sanford Howard from the office of the State Board of Agriculture, Lansing, Michigan, September 8, 1865, on agriculture as practiced by the Dutch in western Michigan. The writer is very positive about the accomplishments of the Dutch.
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In the Autobiography of Ray Nies (1877-1950), There is the Story That the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Had Invited His Father Over for Dinner
Ray Niles
In the autobiography of Ray Nies (1877-1950), there is the story that the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte had invited his father over for dinner. Father Nies demurred saying he did not have clothes good enough to wear to the Van Raalte home. Van Raalte insisted and Nies attended a dinner there. After the blessing and before food was partaken, Van Raalte reportedly said that Nies had provided food for the Van Raalte sons on a battlefield after a big battle. Dirk and Ben were hungry and Nies had divided what food he had with the Van Raalte sons. The dinner was in honor of Nies who had provided for the sons.
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The Rev. Pieter Jan Oggel, Son-in-Law of Albertus and Christina Van Raalte, Wrote a Note to in De Hope That the Rev. A. B.Veenhuizen, an Associate of Van Raalte in the Theological School in Ommen, Was Coming to Holland to Teach Modern Languages at Hope College and to Edit This Paper. Also, a Statement of Purpose of This New Publication
Pieter Jan Oggel, Simone Kennedy, and Nella Kennedy
The Rev. Pieter Jan Oggel, son-in-law of Albertus and Christina Van Raalte, wrote a note to in De Hope that the Rev. A. B. Veenhuizen, an associate of Van Raalte in the theological school in Ommen, was coming to Holland to teach modern languages at Hope College and to edit this paper. Currently he is serving a congregation in Pultneyville, New York. Also in this issue, volume one, number one, is the statement of purpose of this new publication. It is designed to serve the Dutch-speaking population. "Ecclesiastically we hope not to be involved in polemical writing... .The columns of this paper are not open to vile correspondence or personal insults." Since the sponsor of the paper is Hope College, the paper is so-named.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Paid Taxes On Fifteen Parcels of Property for a Total of 137 Acres (?) of Land or He Purchased This Property That Was Sold for Unpaid Taxes in Ottawa County On This Date
Ottawa County
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte paid taxes on fifteen parcels of property for a total of 137 acres (?) of land or he purchased this property that was sold for unpaid taxes in Ottawa County on this date. It is likely the latter because he normally paid taxes on his property in January of a given year. The two receipts do not describe the nature of the transactions.
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A News Item in The Allegan Journal
Mary Otterness
A news item in the Allegan Journal, p. 3, reporting that Henry D. Post visited the editor last week. "The Hollanders are wide- awake on the subject of a railroad, and confident of the construction of a lake shore line within the next few years, thus bringing them in constant communication with the large cities of the west....The Hollanders are an energetic people and will undoubtedly push foward their railroad enterprises to successful completion."
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An Indenture Stating That Pieter F. Pfanstiehl and His Wife, Helena Meulenbroek, Sold 1,440 Acres to A. C. V. R. for the Price of $2,160.00
Henry D. Post
An indenture stating that Pieter F. Pfanstiehl and his wife, Helena Meulenbroek, sold 1,440 acres to A.C.V.R. for the price of $2,160.00. Henry D. Post was the notary for Ottawa County.
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A Copy of a Contract Between A. C. V. R. and the Harbor Board of Holland Township, Stating That A. C. V. R. is Purchasing the Swamp Lands Held by the Board for $3,500
The Harbor Board of the Township of Holland and Van Raalte
A copy of a contract between A.C.V.R. and the Harbor Board of Holland Township, stating that A.C.V.R. is purchasing the swamp lands held by the board for $3,500. The swamp lands had been given the Harbor Board by an Act of the Michigan Legislature on February 14, 1859.
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A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps. He encourages Phelps in his fund raising efforts. He then adds some personal notes: "I am growing old and stiff and dull. By keeping me in the harness I will be finished up and soon obliged to retire. Old men have to learn to die by inches." A.C.V.R. is now 54!
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A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, saying, "I received your 2nd letter and saw your struggle in the Intelligencer;" Phelps is apparently out in the denomination to gain support for budding Hope College.
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A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps: "...I am very glad that our friend, Sam B. Schieffelin, did take a scholarship of $2500...Such are messengers from Heaven to cheer us on."
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A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps Concerning Various Matters
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps concerning various matters, several of which are difficult to understand. "The First Church declined at present to call a second pastor... Mrs. Van Raalte has been shut up most of the time with slow fevers; I am able only to do half work..."
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![A Note Read: "Received Holland Mich. Nov. 18. 1865 from A. C. Van Raalte Forty Three and 82/100 Dollars in Full for Principal and Interest for the [ ? ] Note. Homer E. Hudson by H. D. Post His Atty." by A. C. Van Raalte](https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1340/thumbnail.jpg "A Note Read: \"Received Holland Mich. Nov. 18. 1865 from A. C. Van Raalte Forty Three and 82/100 Dollars in Full for Principal and Interest for the [ ? ] Note. Homer E. Hudson by H. D. Post His Atty.\" by A. C. Van Raalte")
A Note Read: "Received Holland Mich. Nov. 18. 1865 from A. C. Van Raalte Forty Three and 82/100 Dollars in Full for Principal and Interest for the [ ? ] Note. Homer E. Hudson by H. D. Post His Atty."
A. C. Van Raalte
A note read: "Received Holland Mich. Nov. 18. 1865 from A. C. van Raalte Forty three and 82/100 Dollars in full for principal and interest for the [ ? ] note. Homer E. Hudson by H. D. Post his atty."
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![Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Sent a Confirmation to H[ermanus] Doesburg, Clerk of Ottawa County by A. C. Van Raalte](https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1310/thumbnail.jpg "Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Sent a Confirmation to H[ermanus] Doesburg, Clerk of Ottawa County by A. C. Van Raalte")
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Sent a Confirmation to H[ermanus] Doesburg, Clerk of Ottawa County
A. C. Van Raalte
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte sent a confirmation to H[ermanus] Doesburg, clerk of Ottawa County, that he officiated at the marriage of Gerrit Brouwer and Fenna [?] Gesina Jacoba Frantsen on 26 April 1865 in the presence of Harm ten Have and Christina Johanna Van Raalte. With a P.S. in Dutch, greeting and blessing.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Corresponded with Rev. Christian Van Der Veen
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte corresponded with Rev. Christian Van der Veen. Van Raalte wrote about John H. Karsten who did not seem interested in a proposal to do mission work.
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A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte and Mary Otterness
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps. A.C.V.R. discussed several business matters with him. "I am in need of selling [lots] to defray my expenses and taxes..." He may sell some lots for professorial residences west of Zwemer's house.
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A Page from A. C. V. R.'s Account Book Describing Property Transactions with Four Persons, Including William A. Cornell.
A. C. Van Raalte and Mary Otterness
A page from A.C.V.R.'s account book describing property transactions with four persons, including William A. Cornell.
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A Page from A. C. V. R. 's Account Book Which Includes the Information of a Property Transaction with Pieter F. Pfanstiehl of Holland, a Well-Known Businessman of the Colony
A. C. Van Raalte and Mary Otterness
A page from A.C.V.R.'s account book which includes the information of a property transaction with Pieter F. Pfanstiehl of Holland, a well-known businessman of the Colony.
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A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben
Ben Van Raalte, Clarence Jalving, and Nella Kennedy
A letter to A. C. Van Raalte from his son, Ben, who reported that Dirk is now discharged. "It is quiet and peaceful here - quite a contrast from last summer and spring. Sherman's army has left for Richmond.... The death of the President is heavily mourned - that was a great loss."
