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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De Hollander Published a Long Report on the Meeting of the Classis of Holland That Met in Holland on September 3 and 4
An Observer and Simone Kennedy
The Masonic controversy was now underway. De Hollander published a long report on the meeting of the Classis of Holland that met in Holland on September 3 and 4. Several ministers were quoted: [Peter?] de Pree, Jacob van der Meulen, H. Uiterwijk, Jan Broek, Chr. Van der Veen, John van der Meulen, and Dr. Philip Phelps. De Pree quoted Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte who spoke to the masonry issue at a classis meeting six years ago: "Do not make foolish decisions, but try to protect what we have.' The Rev. Van Raalte then proposed a resolution in which he urged First Church to work individually on the Freemasons in their church." Elder Keppel made it clear that the permission to use the sanctuary of First Reformed Church was allowed but the consistory did not invite Edmond Ronayne to speak.
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The Report of the Committee on Missions of the Particular Synod of Chicago: Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte Left a Legacy to the Classical Board of Benevolence in the Amount of $700 to Support the Cause of Foreign Missions.
Committee on Missions
The following information appeared in the report of the Committee on Missions of the Particular Synod of Chicago: Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte left a legacy to the Classical Board of Benevolence in the amount of $700 to support the cause of foreign missions.
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Both De Hollander and De Grondwet Made Note of the Fact That the Memorial Tablet in Honor of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte Would be Unveiled "Tomorrow Night (Wednesday)" at First Reformed Church at 7.30 P.M.
Simone Kennedy
Both De Hollander and De Grondwet made note of the fact that the memorial tablet in honor of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte would be unveiled "tomorrow night (Wednesday)" at First Reformed Church at 7.30 p.m.
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De Grondwet Published a Report That the Photographer, B. P. Higgins, Had Life-Size Portraits of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte and Rev. Roelof Pieters on Display in His Photography Shop
Simone Kennedy
De Grondwet published a report that the photographer, B. P. Higgins, had life-size portraits of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte and Rev. Roelof Pieters on display in his photography shop.
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De Grondwet Reported on the Unveiling of the Memorial Tablet in Honor of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte
Simone Kennedy
De Grondwet reported on the unveiling of the memorial tablet in honor of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Rev. Roelof Pieters read scripture and Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. offered prayer. "The Rev. Dr. Phelps spoke on the work done by Dr. Van Raalte to further education." Another sentence read: Elder Broek called to mind a few incidences in the life of Van Raalte, starting in 1835, when he became a minister." The committee was thanked by the "Honorable D. B. K. Van Raalte, his youngest son, who spoke on behalf of the rest of the family." Elder Teunis Keppel offered the closing prayer.
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De Grondwet Reported That R. Kanters Purchased a Slab of Black Marble in Chicago for the Memorial to be Placed in the First Reformed Church in Honor of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte
Simone Kennedy
De Grondwet reported that R. Kanters purchased a slab of black marble in Chicago for the memorial to be placed in the First Reformed Church in honor of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The slab measured 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 and was "1 1/2 thumbs thick."
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De Grondwet Reported That the "Old Settlers" Had a Meeting in Graafschap
Simone Kennedy
De Grondwet reported that the "Old Settlers" had a meeting in Graafschap. A. J. Neerken was president of the group and Rev. Adrian Zwemer, secretary. "Two aspects received the main attention during the rest of the meeting: religious freedom and a better livelihood than in the old mother country." E. Zagers and E. Freriks who came with Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte in 1846 spoke.
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De Hollander Reported That the Photographer, B. J. Higgins, Gave the Paper a Copy of the Photograph That Higgins Took of the Van Raalte Memorial Plaque.
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander reported that the photographer, B. J. Higgins, gave the paper a copy of the photograph that Higgins took of the Van Raalte memorial plaque.
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"Thirteenth Annual Report of Hope College, at Holland, Michigan," July 10, 1879. G. Henry Mandeville, President
G. Henry Mandeville
"Thirteenth Annual Report of Hope College, at Holland, Michigan, July 10, 1879. G. Henry Mandeville, President; The report includes a description of Hope College's real estate and current assets.
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An Article in the Holland City News Appeared on Page Four, Giving a List of the Names of Immigrants Who Came to Holland, Michigan, in the Period of February and March of 1847.
On this date, an article in the Holland City News appeared on page four, giving a list of the names of immigrants who came to Holland, Michigan, in the period of February and March of 1847. An Old Settlers organization was now trying to get underway in 1878. The list contains forty seven names of which twenty three people were still alive. H. Vander Haar was appointed president of the organization. In a public meeting in the Pillar Church, Bemardus Grootenhuis was the first speaker. Teunis Keppel was the second speaker.
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A Note Appeared in the Proceedings of the Holland Common Council in De Grondwet That the Council Authorized the Payment of $50.00 to "A. C. Van Raalte."
A note appeared in the proceedings of the Holland Common Council in De Grondwet that the council authorized the payment of $50.00 to "A. C. Van Raalte." The notice was in the column of "Unfinished Business." Since Rev. Van Raalte was deceased and his son no longer in Holland, it is uncertain who this Van Raalte is.
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A "Report on Hope College--Its Finances and Management--The President and Faculty Requested to Resign," Appeared in the Holland City News
A "Report on Hope College--its finances and management--the president and faculty requested to resign," appeared in the Holland City News, p. 1, and gave the details of the momentous decision by the General Synod as to why it decided to suspend theological education at Hope College. An excerpt from the Synod committee's report is as follows: "Your committee, while sympathizing largely in this estimate of the importance of maintaining a sound theology in the churches, and while able with the whole church, to testify to an ardent admiration of that great and good man, Albertus C. Van Raalte, and while recognizing the graceful propriety there is in attaching his name to a professorships in theology, still do not and can not sink out of sight other and very essential interests." On page 4, the editor gives his view of the whole situation.
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The Biography of A. C. V. R. Which Was Published in the American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, with Portrait Illustrations on Steel
The biography of ACVR which was published in the American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, with Portrait Illustrations on Steel. Michigan Volume, Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, 0. 1878, pp. 129-130. The biography of Joos Verplanke follows the ACVR biographical sketch. He settled in Holland in 1849.
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In the Report to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, There Was an Attempt in the Western Churches to Raise Funds to Endow a Theological Professorship to Honor Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte
Board of Publication of the Reformed Church in America
In the report to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, there was an attempt in the western churches to raise funds to endow a theological professorship to honor Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. "The name of Albertus C. Van Raalte is a charm and a power among them, and with the inspiration of that as the name of the new professorship, together with the long cherished desire of the hearts of their people to see theology put as the cap-stone of their educational establishment, they are assured of speedy success." However, the General Synod would not approve of the re-establishment of theological education in the West because of the great indebtedness at Hope College.
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De Grondwet Reported That the Administrators of the Albertus C. Van Raalte Fund Would be Allowed to Raise Funds for the Van Raalte Chair
Simone Kennedy
De Grondwet reported that the administrators of the Albertus C. Van Raalte fund would be allowed to raise funds for the Van Raalte chair.
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It Was Reported in De Grondwet That at a Special Session of the Particular Synod of Chicago, it Was Approved to Raise Funds for the Albertus C. Van Raalte Fund
Simone Kennedy
It was reported in De Grondwet that at a special session of the Particular Synod of Chicago, it was approved to raise funds for the Albertus C. Van Raalte Fund. A minority of three pastors and one elder protested the decision and will appeal to the General Synod meeting next month. Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. was currently president of the synod.
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Bill for the New York Observer
Apparently the son of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Dirk Blikman Kikkert Van Raalte, continued the A. C. Van Raalte subscription to the New York Observer for one more year. The $3.15 bill continued this paper to September, 1878.
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In the Holland City News, a Report Appeared on the Celebration of "Decoration Day"
In the Holland City News, a report appeared on the celebration of "Decoration Day." In the ceremonies in Pilgrim Home Cemetery, it was mentioned that the Van Raalte grave was duly decorated because Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was identified "with the soldiers from their earliest enlistments to the final close, and as their fatherly chaplain will always be considered and his memory cherished as one of their own members."
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A Biographical Sketch of A. C. Van Raalte by A. Brummelkamp Which Was Published in Zalsman's Jaarboekje Voor Kerk, School En Zending in Nederland Voor Het Jaar 1877, pp. 91-116
A. Brummelkamp and Henry ten Hoor
A biographical sketch of A. C. Van Raalte by A. Brummelkamp which was published in Zalsman's Jaarboekje voor Kerk, School en Zending in Nederland voor het jaar 1874-81, pp. 91-116.
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The Minutes of the Classis of Holland
Willem Moerdyk
Albertus C. Van Raalte is lauded in the minutes of the Classis of Holland which met in Zeeland on these dates, volume IV, pages 87-89. The hand written minutes were produced by W. Moerdyk. A quote from the remarks are as follows: "Finally we make mention again of the death of Rev. Dr. A. C. Van Raalte, the founder of the colony. This good and faithful servant has entered into the joy of his Lord. He has fought the fight, kept the faith, and received the crown of righteousness. His works do follow him."
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The Acts and Proceedings of the Seventy-First General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, Convened in Regular Session in the City of New York, June, 1877, Pages 700 and 701
The Council of Hope College
In The Acts and Proceedings of the Seventy-First General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, convened in Regular Session in the City of New York, June, 1877, pages 700 and 701, it was reported that "The institution [Hope College] has, during the year, sustained a sad loss in the death of two worthy fathers, Rev. Cornelius Van Der Meulen and Dr. Alburtus [sic] C. Van Raalte, who, from the beginning were identified with our educational and religious interests in the West. Dr. Van Raalte, representing the Particular Synod of Chicago, was a member of Council, and its president, from the date of its organization; and Rev. Van Der Meulen, a member from the Classis of Grand River, since 1868. Their memory will ever remain dear to us, and the influence of their lives, characterized by a self-sacrificing Christian fidelity, cannot be lost."
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Heber Walsh, "Wholesale and Retail Druggist," Submitted the "Rev. A. C. Van Raalte" Bill in the Amount of $24.11 on Which a Payment of $10.00 Was Made and $14.11 Was Still Owed.
Heber Walsh
Heber Walsh, "Wholesale and Retail Druggist," submitted the "Rev. A. C. Van Raalte" bill in the amount of $24.11 on which a payment of $10.00 was made and $14.11 was still owed. The two- page document listed medicines purchased from 9 June 1876 to 8 November 1876. Undoubtedly many of the medicines and drugs were taken by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte during the last months of his life that ended on 7 November 1876.
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A News Item in the Holland City News, p. 5, Reported That "Dr. Van Raalte is Gradually Declining by Terrible Suffering."
A news item in the Holland City News, p. 5, reported that "Dr. Van Raalte is gradually declining by terrible suffering."
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In the "Ministerial Register" of The Independent... Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, it Was Reported the Dr. Van Raalte of Holland City, Mich., is Hopelessly Ill
In the "Ministerial Register" of The Independent... Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, it was reported the Dr. Van Raalte of Holland City, Mich., is hopelessly ill.
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It Was Reported in a Local Paper That Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Returned Home from a Trip to Toledo, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York, Where He Underwent Medical Examinations
It was reported in a local paper that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte returned home from a trip to Toledo, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York, where he underwent medical examinations. "He returned home in an exhausted condition."
