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.
-
Meeting Minutes of the School Board Meeting of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
At this meeting of the School Board meeting of the Holland Academy, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte but Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. was not. It was during the summer of this year that Phelps obtained the charter of Hope College from the State of Michigan. The main purpose of the meeting was to permit the treasurer to borrow money at interest to pay some debts that had to be dealt with immediately.
-
Meeting Minutes of the School Board of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. was not present at this meeting of the School Board of the Holland Academy on this date but Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was. A teacher in the Academy; Rev. T. Romeyn Beck was also present as were Rev. Peter J. Oggel, Rev. Roelof Pieters, Rev. Christiaan Vander Veen, Rev. G. J. Nykerk, Rev. Adrian Zwemer, Rev. John H. Karsten, and Elder Gerrit Wakker, the treasurer. The School Board was privileged to have the key ministers of that day on the board. If the churches of the Classis of Wisconsin and the Classis of Holland paid their suggested allotments, the debt of approximately one thousand dollars would be eliminated. Rev. Oggel was asked to visit the churches of the Classis of Wisconsin to urge their giving to the Academy. Routine student matters were also dealt with.
-
Meeting Minutes of the School Board of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
At this meeting of the School Board of the Holland Academy, both Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. and Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte were present. Rev. Roelof Pieters was elected president of the board. Rev. Peter J. Oggel reported on his visits to the churches of the Classis of Wisconsin. Some of the churches objected to "the dollar tax" but "as a whole it was encouraging" in the response of the churches to the requests for funds. New students were accepted. The student, Gardenier, apparently was not doing well in this studies but he would be allowed to go six months longer. Otherwise he probably should learn some trade.
-
"The Commencement Exercises of the Holland Academy" Program
"The Commencement Exercises of the Holland Academy" program stated that Rev. John L. See had the invocation and that the benediction was given by "Rev. Dr. A. C. Van Raalte."
-
There Was a Report on the Meeting of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the Issue of The German Reformed Messenger
There was a report on the meeting of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the issue of the German Reformed Messenger on this date. A statement of note was: "The Synod adopted measures to secure a College charter for Holland Academy, in Michigan, and an endowment of $85,000, with the view of literary and theological instruction, for the promotion of the interests of the Reformed Dutch Church in the West."
-
Two Sample Pages from a Bound Ledger in the A. C. V. R. Collection
Two sample pages from a bound ledger in the A.C.V.R. collection. The entries are not in Van Raalte's handwriting but the account is of "A. C. van Raalte." A number of people wrote in this account book because the handwriting varies. This account is on page one and two.
-
A Record of the Purchase of Property in the Holland Area by Two Persons by the Name of Jenison of the Township of Georgetown
Chal Z. Moody and Mary Otterness
A record of the purchase of property in the Holland area by two persons by the name of Jenison of the Township of Georgetown. This may have been a purchase of property held by A.C.V.R. but his name does not appear on the document.
-
A Brief News Item in the Grand Haven News
Mary Otterness, Clarence Jalving, and Nella Kennedy
A brief news item in the Grand Haven News stated that "The prospect that Ottawa County will, at an early day, be the possessor of a regularly endowed Collegiate Institute is quite flattering. Our Holland Colonists upon whose petition an act was passed, at the last session of our State Legislature, enabling them to legally convert their flourishing academic school, in the village of Holland, into a College, are manifesting a very praiseworthy liberality and zeal in the enterpise."
-
This Document is an Assignment of a Mortgage Concerning Property Matters Between Albertus and Christina Van Raalte and Samuel B. Schieffelin of New York.
J. Solis Rutterband, Sam B. Schieffelin, and Mary Otterness
This document is an assignment of a mortgage concerning property matters between Albertus and Christina Van Raalte and Samuel B. Schieffelin of New York.
-
This Document is the Satisfaction of a Mortgage Made Between Samuel B. Schieffelin of New York and Albertus and Christina Van Raalte in the Amount of $873.85
J. Solis RUtterband, Sam B. Schieffelin, and Mary Otterness
This document is the satisfaction of a mortgage made between Samuel B. Schieffelin of New York and Albertus and Christina Van Raalte in the amount of $873.85.
-
A Brief Note of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A brief note of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, about a book account.
-
A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to "General Bowen"
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to "General Bowen," about his appointment as Commissioner of Immigration. "Eighteen years ago after a severe struggle with church and state authorities on account of originating and establishing the free church, my mind was ripened into the conviction of the necessity of immigration."
-
A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, reporting that Ds. Oggel is ill and cannot meet his classes in the Academy.
-
A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, informing him that he will be preaching at First Reformed Church next Thursday morning.
-
A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, asking him to purchase some writing paper for him.
-
A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, reporting that Ds. Oggel is again unwell and cannot teach that day.
-
A Property Transaction Between A. C. V. R. and Robbertus M. De Bruijn from A. C. V. R.'s Account Book
A. C. Van Raalte
A property transaction between A.C.V.R. and Robbertus M. de Bruijn from A.C.V.R.'s account book.
-
A Letter by A. C. Van Raalte Published in De Verzamelaar
A. C. Van Raalte; Simone Kennedy; and De Versamelaar, Hope College Collection, Joint Archives of Holland
A letter written by the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte on this date was published in De Verzamelaar on May 25 in which Van Raalte proposes the construction of a Mission Ship. The purpose of the ship is to send it to various regions to make mission settlements. Since Rev. Peter Oggel had pledges of $5,000 for the founding of the college, the new college will have a special task to focus on outreach. The proposed ship will be 300 ton; the keel is scheduled to be laid on June 24; certain pieces of lumber are still needed; please drop them off at the Slag shipyard. On May 24, the Rev. Philip Phelps wrote the editor that the Synod of Chicago asked that the minutes of the academy be published in both Dutch and English. Phelps would see to that. The mission project is jointly supported by the Classes of Holland and Wisconsin. Further fund raising plans were underway. "The Mission Ship shall not only be used to bring teachers and their families to their destinations, but also to establish new mission settlements. On its first journey it will call at a port in the Netherlands." The theology department of the college will have a Professor of Missions. The Board of Missions of the Reformed Church in America will be intimately involved in the entire project.
-
"Albertus C. Van Raalte to Samuel B. Schieffelin Bond May 20th, 1864."
A. C. Van Raalte and Mary Otterness
It reads on the back of this document: "Albertus C. Van Raalte to Samuel B. Schieffelin Bond May 20th, 1864." Payments of interest during the following years were recorded also in this document.
-
In a Personal Account Book, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Recorded Sales of Land to Samuel B. Schieffelin of New York, Aldred Plugger of Holland, and John Peters.
A. C. Van Raalte and Mary Otterness
In a personal account book, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte recorded sales of land to Samuel B. Schieffelin of New York, Aldred Plugger of Holland, and John Peters.
-
A Sermon Preached by A. C. Van Raalte, Entitled, "A Day for Repentance and Prayer."
A. C. Van Raalte and Gordon Spykman
A sermon preached by A. C. Van Raalte, entitled, "A Day for Repentance and Prayer." It was published in Pioneer Preacher, by Gordon Spykman, pages 100 to 105.
-
Letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Dirk Broek
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, Dirk Broek, Albertus T. Broek, and John Y. Broek
In a letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Dirk Broek, a student at New Brunswick Theological Seminary at this time, V.R. informs Broek that he is to present himself for the examination next Wednesday [date ?].
-
A Letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to His Wife, Christina
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his wife, Christina, while he is on a trip south to visit their son, Dirk B. K., who has been wounded. The Confederate Army has been ripping up the railroad between Nashville and Atlanta so at this moment, V.R. is not sure if he will be able to get to the hospital where Dirk is a patient. He adds a postscript the next day saying that he was writing Dirk and ordering him to stay where he is until he is healed. V.R. plans to return to Michigan.
-
In a Letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Dirk Broek
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
In a letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Dirk Broek, a student at New Brunswick Theological Seminary at this time, V.R. informs Broek about his upcoming Classis examination. John H. Karsten will also be examined. Van Raalte urges young Broek to learn to preach without notes.
-
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Writes His Wife, Christina, a Second Time On This Date.
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte writes his wife, Christina, a second time on this date. V.R. has been told that he will not be able to get through the lines upon orders of a general who wants no civilians to be permitted to cross lines. V.R. met a [Rev. Cornelius Van] Santvoord, a chaplain in the Tennessee hospital, a person he knew previously. (Van Raalte may have met him when V.R. was canvassing the East for the Holland Academy in 1859-60.) V.R. learned through him who the doctor was who amputated Dirk's arm. Dirk had also suffered face wounds but the doctor was surprised how quickly his wounds healed.
