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 Letter of Dirk Van Raalte to His Father, A. C. V. R.
Dirk Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Dirk Van Raalte to his father, A.C.V.R., informing him that General Lee had surrendered to General Grant. Dirk hoped that he and Ben would be home in five months. Dirk also mentions some business affairs of A.C.V.R.'s son, Albertus.
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This is the Date of Receipt Provided by "Wagenmaker Schaaf" for a Large Order of Supplies by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte
"Wagenmaker Schaaf"
This is the date of receipt provided by "Wagenmaker Schaaf" for a large order of supplies by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. There are thirteen items that are listed on the receipt. The order seems to be supplies for Van Raalte's horses.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker and William Buursma
Elder de Bruin was chosen chairman of the meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present. A committee had called on the pastor about the membership book and requested him to attend the consistory meetings. Rev. Pieter Oggel will be asked to conduct Bible readings on Sunday evening and every other month hold a prayer service. He would be paid $3.00 for each event.
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Meeting Minutes of the Congregation of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the congregation of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, only 44 members were present. At least 100 members should be present for a meeting to call a minister, it was decided.
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Meeting Minutes of the Congregation of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the congregation of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, it was not possible to move ahead with the calling of a minister because the attendance ranged only from 50 to 60 members. But a committee was appointed to plan for the building of a parsonage. The committee consisted of [?] Hofman, [Engbertus?] van der Veen, [Isaac] Cappon, [?] Benneken [Binnekant?], K[ommer] Schaddelee, and G. W. Kooijers. The meeting was closed as well as opened with the singing of a psalm, and with prayer by the pastor.
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Meeting Minutes of the Congregation of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the congregation of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, it was decided to form a slate of six ministers. The slate consisted of E. Winters, R. Pieters, [?] Donner, [Peter] de Pree, [Pieter] Oggel, [Anthony] Brummelkamp, [?] van der Werp, and [?] Bruikelaar. After a vote was cast the last two names were dropped. After another vote, the trio would consist of E. Winters with 35 votes, Peter de Pree with 13, and J. H. Donner with 6. At the next meeting, one person would be chosen from this trio.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Kamper was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present. The clerk, Gerrit Wakker, reported that the censure was not read in church last Sunday upon instruction of the committee that was dealing with this person. The man admitted his guilt and hoped to improve his behavior. The consistory wished to ascertain the correct number of members and would request the pastor to be present at the next meeting.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Broek was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The consistory dealt with routine matters and concluded the meeting with giving the pastor a raise of $50 this year.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Wilterdink was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Not much business was conducted due to the absence of several members. [There was no mention of the death of President Lincoln.]
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present, not much business was conducted due to the small attendance. The written report of Isaac Cappon and Kommer Schaddelee was ruled out of order because the committee had made a few decisions without the approval of the consistory apparently.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Keppel was chosen as chairman of the consistory meeting at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present at first. Rev. Pieter Oggel was inclined to accept the consistory's invitation that was proposed at the meeting of 20 November but not at this time. Later in the meeting the pastor arrived. He presented the names of male members for a total of 175. Discussion followed about the possible necessity of establishing another congregation in view of the growing population. Pastor Van Raalte concluded the meeting with prayer.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Broek was appointed chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. A committee reported on the funds pledged for minister's salary, new parsonage, and travel expenses. There seemed to be some lack of unanimity on the part of members about the direction in which the consistory was moving in reference to calling a minister. A congregational meeting would be called in two weeks.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Keppel was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Two elders reported that they rebuked a member for his abuse of strong drink. Again receipts have been inadequate for the care of the poor. A house near the church became available for purchase so the consistory will meet with the building committee on August 22.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Labots was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The proposal to build a parsonage on the church grounds was rejected. A committee was appointed to find a suitable location and another committee was appointed to make plans for the parsonage for a building either of wood or stone. The poor fund was in arrears $200 but the consistory refused to ask the county or township for assistance to share in this responsibility. It was considered the Christian duty of the congregation to take care of its poor.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder de Bruin was elected chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The committee for the search of property for the new parsonage said that it was not able to find a suitable site and recommended that the parsonage be built on the northwest corner of the church grounds. "Both the entrance and exit on 9th Street and 10th Street are unhindered." The report was accepted. Eight people resigned their membership in the congregation and the names of two non-members were removed. [Would the members who resigned join the new Christian Reformed Church now called the Central Ave. CRC? That congregation was formed this year.]
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Labots was chosen as chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. It was decided to rotate the chairmanship so that one did not have to be chosen at each meeting. Plans for the new parsonage were approved with the estimated cost to be about $2,500. The building committee must now canvass the congregation for pledges and funds. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Tolk requested a piece of land on which to build a house "for as long as he and his wife live." [Could this be the Mrs. Tolk who lost her life in the Holland Fire of 1871?] The Graafschap congregation would like some financial help for their parsonage.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder de Bruin was chosen as chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. New members were received and some members transferred elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Hermanus Doesburg transferred their membership to Grand Haven. Jan Dinkeloo was admitted to the Lord's Table although his membership had not yet arrived from Kalamazoo. The Board of Education of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church informed the consistory that it had not yet received an offering from Pillar Church. There was a discussion about a Union League in which some members had membership.Te Roller was asked to refrain from communion because of his membership in the group, an organization offensive to some people in the congregation.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Labots was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present. The sole item of business was discussion of the proposal to purchase a home owned by man named Thomson. A committee was appointed with the power to act and not to exceed the sum of $1,200.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Wilterdink was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present. A member was censured for abusing strong drink. The clerk was to prepare a statement to be read at church next Sunday stating that "A member of the congregation has been placed under censure, on the ground of drunkenness, playing billiards, and frequenting saloons." It will also be announced that the Holland Academy needed better support from the congregation.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present, the meeting was opened with prayer by Elder Keppel. Routine matters were dealt with.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Kamper was appointed as chairman of the meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. New members were received and two were transferred to the Second [Hope] Reformed Church. It was decided to pay W. Brouwer $5.00 per month for the daily tolling of the bell. But consistory felt that the community should also accept responsibility for paying him since daily tolling was a public service.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present, clerk Gerrit Wakker reported on a family in which the wife refused to go back to her husband. It was reported that a member had misused strong drink. The building committee was not ready to report.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present and Elder Kamper chosen as chairman, the report of the building committee was received and the committee dismissed. "...It was decided to leave the building situation in its present state...." Delegates to the classis meeting were appointed.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Broek was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present. It was discovered that the house and lot behind the church were not for sale. The consistory rejected having an organ in the church "under the present circumstances"
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Elder Keppel was chosen chairman of the consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. New members were received. The janitor will be given $26 more each year. Brower will receive $5 per month for ringing the bell. The clerk, Gerrit Wakker, will be paid $5 for writing materials. Delegates to classis were also appointed.
