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 Report in The Allegan Journal
A report in the Allegan Journal, p. 2, stating that a number of young men from Holland arrived in Allegan on their way to Kalamazoo to join a regiment there for military duty.
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Report in the New York Evangelist
In the issue of the New York Evangelist published on this date, the publication reported on matters in the Holland Colony that had been reported in the Christian Intelligencer. The prospects of the Holland Academy have improved. A Second Dutch Reformed Church has been organized. "...Domino [Albertus C.] Van Raalte, and [Philip] Phelps [Jr.], and others, who have the welfare of the Church and the community at heart, felt that the time had come to raise the standard of a new society there, in the name of Christ." The congregation was organized on 20 July.
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The "Annual Public Exercises of the Holland Academy." Held at the Opening of the New Gymnasium, July 17, 1862."
The "Annual Public Exercises of the Holland Academy. Held at the Opening of the New Gymnasium, July 17, 1862." began with prayer offered by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. It was a very long program in which many academy students were presenters and singers. Among the names of the students are Nathan D. Ward, William A. Shields, William Moerdyk, William B. Gilmore, William Visscher, Dirk Van Raalte, Peter Moerdyk, Enne Heeren, and Gerrit Dangremond. It must have been a joyful occasion for this opening the gymnasium/chapel that Philip Phelps Jr. and the students had constructed.
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Letter from Christina, the Daugther of Rev. Albertus and Christina Van Raalte, to Her Mother
Christina and Nella Kennedy
Christina, the daughter of Rev. Albertus and Christina Van Raalte, is working now for a dressmaker in Kalamazoo. She wrote to her mother about her work. She greets members of her family and hopes to hear from them soon. She mentioned Marinus Oggel who is living in Kalamazoo.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Corresponded with Rev. Giles Van De Wall
Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte corresponded with Rev. Giles Van De Wall, a former teacher in the Holland Academy, who became a missionary in South Africa. Hyma in his biography of Van Raalte, Albertus C. Van Raalte and His Dutch Settlements in the United, referred to this letter on pages 224 to 227 and page 259. Van Raalte seemed to be considering a position elsewhere such as the mission field. He informed van de Wall about many current affairs in the Colony including politics, the Civil War, and other matters. This is an important letter.
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Col. Orlando Moore Signed the Enlistment Papers of Benjamin Van Raalte Who Became a Member of the Twenty-Fifth Michigan Regiment.
Orlando Moore
Col. Orlando Moore signed the enlistment papers of Benjamin Van Raalte who became a member of the Twenty-Fifth Michigan Regiment
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An Incomplete Letter from Mrs. Johanna Maria Oggel to Mrs. Christina Van Raalte
Johnna Marian Oggel and Nella Kennedy
In an incomplete letter to Mrs. Christina Van Raalte from her daughter, Mrs. Johanna Maria Oggel, Mrs. Van Raalte is informed that her daughter has been very busy with her baby and is hampered by an inexperienced hired girl. Johanna noted that the Van Raalte home must be rather quiet since Christina left [to work in Kalamazoo]. The Oggels are disappointed that his sister, Dina, is engaged to a person they do not approve of. Johanna refers to her husband as the "Dom."
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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, reporting on Holland men enlisting in the Civil War.
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A Sermon by Albertus C. Van Raalte, Which Was Translated and Published in The Banner
A. C. Van Raalte
A sermon by Albertus C. Van Raalte, which was translated and published in The Banner, October 3, 1947, pp. 1100-01, was based on Ephesians 6:4. The subject matter was Christian Education.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Corresponded with Rev. Christian Vander Veen
A. C. Van Raalte
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte corresponded with Rev. Christian Vander Veen saying he would not be present next Thursday in Grand Haven because of the imminent departure of his boys [into military service].
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Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte Wrote a Lengthy Letter of an Autobiographical Nature to His Nephew, Simon van Velzen, Jr.
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte wrote a lengthy letter of an autobiographical nature to his nephew, Simon van Velzen, Jr. in which he speaks very openly about his sorrow for not being admitted to the ministry in the Reformed orHervormde Kerk of the Netherlands in which his father had ministered his entire life. "I myself hate it that I can no longer enter the pulpits of my father, to have become a disgrace to my still-living mother and for my family." The letter gives great insight into Van Raalte's thinking at this time in his life. The letter was published in the 1863 edition of Compleete uitgave van de officieele stukken betreffende den uitgang uit het Nederl. Hen,. Kerkgenootschap van de Leeraren H. P. Scholte, A. Brummelkamp, S. van Velzen, G. F. Gezelle Meerburgen Dr. A. C. van Raalte, Kampen, 1884, pp. 531-545.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Christian Vander Veen
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
In a letter to Rev. Christian Vander Veen, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte reported that "our boys" were leaving this day for their military service. Van Raalte is changing a meeting date to just prior to the classis meeting. The meeting will be in his home.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Dirk Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte wrote this letter to his son, Dirk, who is serving in the Civil War and working in a hospital. The letter does not indicate where Dirk is stationed. Van Raalte advises his son to observe the patients carefully and to learn as much as he can about illnesses and medicine as Van Raalte himself has done. Van Raalte says, "You know that I am sort of a half-doctor and therefore can give you good counsel."
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Corresponded with Rev. Christian Vander Veen
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte corresponded with Rev. Christian Vander Veen [who was pastor in the First Reformed Church of Grand Haven] about an individual named Kupper who apparently had a reputation for dishonesty.
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A Business Agreement Between John Roost and Albertus C. Van Raalte
A. C. Van Raalte and Mary Otterness
A business agreement between John Roost and Albertus C. Van Raalte was executed in Van Raalte's handwriting. The document is identified as "John Roost to Albertus C. Van Raalte, Bond & Contact to Convey Certain lands, Executed Dec. 15/1862."
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Brother Kamper was appointed chair in view of the absence of the pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The book devoted to the salary of the pastor was examined. There was still a shortage in the salary fund. The matter of assessments on all members including the new ones is to be pursued.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, 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 presided, the committee on church grounds reported that the work on the grounds were mainly completed. The drought and the lack of teams were holding up completion of the project. The expenses were almost covered. The membership of Mrs. [not Miss] Hendrika Zwaluwenberg Pieters was transferred to Drenthe [where her husband was now the minister]. "Brother Wilderdink requests enlightenment concerning I Corinthians 11:27. The chairman obliges to his complete satisfaction." A member of the congregation asked permission to switch from Dr. Ledeboer to Dr. van den Berg for medical treatment. Brother Plugger was appointed to handle this delicate situation.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
In a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, he reported that the Holland Classis decided to assess the members of each congregation 75 cents "for the maintenance and extension of this Institution so important to us." [I think we can assume that the assessment was for the Holland Academy where college classes were inaugurated by Rev. Philip Phelps just that fall.]
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, 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 presided, it was reported that "A committee was appointed to make final disposition of a matter not yet completed, namely, the business of the parochial school, which has ceased to exist." The consistory decided that the church grounds had to be covered with sod to stop the erosion of sand. If erosion continued, the church building was in danger of sagging. The consistory men were called upon to make a contribution to the project and four of them would supply horses or oxen. If there was still a shortage, it would be covered by church funds "in the bank."
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, 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 presided, the committee that had been appointed to disband the parochial school reported. A teacher, Mrs. van de Linde, was owed $151.34 for back salary. There were several debts that also had to be cleared up. "The president proposed that the report of the committee be approved and that they be dismissed, with thanks, for the concern and labors they have offered on behalf of the school during the period of its existence."
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus Van Raalte presided, it was reported that often during the preaching, people were disturbed by latecomers. Suggestions to rectify the problem were put forward.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, 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 presided, the major item for discussion was the dispute over land between A. Visscher and the brothers G. and J. van Putten. There were still problems with the Kommer Schaddelee family. New members were received.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, 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 presided, more discussion was held about the Kommer Schaddelee family. The consistory approved of building a horse stall at the church "for the convenience of the pastor." Three gentlemen came into the meeting and discussed difficulties over the sale of land. It was reported that H. Slag still maintained a Baptist position.
