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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It Was Reported in De Grondwet That Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Spoke About the Holland Fire of October, 1871, at the First Reformed Church This Past Sunday
Nella Kennedy
It was reported in De Grondwet that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte spoke about the Holland Fire of October, 1871, at the First Reformed Church this past Sunday. He "gave a very instructive and sharply practical message in which several necessary points were touched upon with gravity and deep insight."
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A News Item in De Hollander Assured the Readers That the Church Was Concerned for the Recovery of Health of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte
Simone Kennedy
A news item in De Hollander assured the readers that the church was concerned for the recovery of health of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The item seems to indicate that Van Raalte is still the pastor of the church, which, of course, he is not.
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A News Item in De Hollander Reported That Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte "Led the Installation Service and Preached" at the Third Reformed Church for the Installation of the New Pastor, Rev. Henry Uiterwyk
Simone Kennedy
A news item in De Hollander reported that Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte "led the installation service and preached" at the Third Reformed Church for the installation of the new pastor, Rev. Henry Uiterwyk. "The large building was packed at this occasion."
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Jacob Labots Acknowledged a Contribution of $53 from the Young Peoples' Society in the First Reformed Church of Chicago for the Support of Sending Rev. Enne Heeren Out as a Missionary
Jacob Labots
Jacob Labots acknowledged a contribution of $53 from the young peoples' society in the First Reformed Church of Chicago for the support of sending Rev. Enne Heeren out as a missionary.
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An Editorial (Possibly) by S. L. Morris, Editor of the Holland City News, p. 2, Entitled, "Past, Present and Future of Holland," in Which He Gives a Brief History of Holland
S. L. Morris
An editorial (possibly) by S. L. Morris, editor of the Holland City News, p. 2, entitled, "Past, Present and Future of Holland," in which he gives a brief history of Holland. He said, "It is only 24 years since our esteemed fellow citizen, Rev. Dr. A. C. Van Raalte and his friends planted the germ of our greatness upon the bank of Black Lake." The article basically is a pep talk to the citizens of Holland after the disastrous fire which devastated the city the previous October.
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President Philip Phelps, Jr. Penned a Note to Gerrit Van Schelven
Philip Phelps Jr.
President Philip Phelps, Jr. penned a note to Gerrit Van Schelven, treasurer pro tern of Hope College on this date sending him $36.00 which are the finds collected for the third term. Of this, Phelps asks him to pay Dr. [Albertus C.] Van Raalte $35.00 which VR advanced to the Hope College Council at its last meeting. This note is attached to a memo of Van Schelven of August 2 to Van Raalte with the payment of the $35 which were advanced for traveling expenses. Van Raalte responds on August 3 accepting the funds which were used for the traveling expenses of the Council members but he also returns $5.00 because he advanced $30 and not $35.
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A Notice by Philip Phelps That the Female and Primary Departments of Hope College Will Be Resumed on December 2
Philip Phelps
A notice by Philip Phelps that the Female and Primary Departments of Hope College will be resumed on December 2. Fees, offerings, and support from the sale of real estate set apart for the purpose, by Dr. Van Raalte will provide the income for the school.
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A Statement from the Phoenix Planing Mill at the Corner of River and Tenth Streets in the Amount of $83.89 Had Been Paid in Fill by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte
Phoenix Planing Mill
A statement from the Phoenix Planing Mill at the corner of River and Tenth Streets in the amount of $83.89 had been paid in fill by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The bill indicates that Van Raalte had purchased 154 feet of lumber, 8 doors, 21 pairs of sashes and other items.
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The Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was in the chair for this meeting of the executive committee of the Council of Hope College. The meeting was attended by Pres. Philip Phelps Jr., Rev. Christiaan Vander Veen, Rev. Abel T. Stewart and Elder Dr. Bernardus Ledeboer. C. Doesburg reported on endowment interest he collected. Gerrit Kollen had collected for De Hope. Amounts of insurance for college buildings was listed. The executive committee resumed its meeting on 29 October with Van Raalte in the chair. The subject for discussion at the meeting was primary and female education. Several actions were taken. The female and primary departments would be united for the time being. Rev. William B. Gilmore and Mrs. Owen Van Olinda were to be engaged as teachers. The record gave the impression that Pres. Phelps had failed to follow up on action taken at the council of Hope College 15 June 1870. [In view of the tension seen in the letter of Van Raalte to Vander Veen 23 October 1872, Van Raalte and Phelps may not have been getting along well at this time.]
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Meeting Minutes of the Council of Hope College
A. T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
The Council of Hope College held a special session "under the call of Ex. Corn." with Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte in the chair. According to this record, the executive committee met on 17 May but no minutes are extant of that meeting in the minutes of the executive committee. Discussion was held about the preparation of reports to the General Synod. Several financial matters were presented. Kommer Schaddelee was mentioned in passing.
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Meeting Minutes of the Council of Hope College
A. T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte chaired this annual meeting of the Council of Hope College. Twelve persons were present. Students were examined. Van Raalte was again elected president of the council. Two legacies were received. Gerrit Kollen was appointed to collect endowment interest for Hope College in the Classis of Wisconsin. Peter Moerdyk was appointed to collect in the Classes of Michigan and Illinois. The council was also in full session on the 26th.
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Derk te Roller Wrote a Receipt for a Gift of $26.28 That Was Received from the Reformed Church in Rochester, New York
Derk te Roller
Derk te Roller wrote a receipt for a gift of $26.28 that was received from the Reformed Church in Rochester, New York. The gift was designated for relief needs of fire victims. The money had been sent to Rev. Albertus C. Raalte and forwarded to te Roller.
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Revs. Cornelius Vander Meulen and Albertus C. Van Raalte Wrote and Published in De Hope
Cornelius Vander Meulen, Albertus C. Van Raalte, and Simone Kennedy
Written on this date by the Revs. Cornelius Vander Meulen and Albertus C. Van Raalte and published on the 28th in De Hope, the authors present a "clarification" of the purpose of the Ebenezer thank offering to be taken September 17 for Hope College.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Corresponded with Rev. Christian Vander Veen Very Pointedly About the Use of Endowment Funds.
A. C, Van Raalte
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte corresponded with Rev. Christian Vander Veen very pointedly about the use of endowment funds. The person about whom Van Raalte is making negative remarks may be Philip Phelps, Jr., president of Hope College. Van Raalte is unusually candid in this letter and it will take some study to determine just what all he is referring to in his letter.
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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 about the quarter centennial celebration of September and using that occasion to raise money for the Ebenezer Fund. A.C.V.R. is full of plans how to take the opportunity to raise money from the churches.
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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 about raising money for the Ebenezer fund for the Grammar School.
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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 about the possibility of appointing his son-in-law, William Gilmore, as principal of the female department.
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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 about distribution of relief funds which have come from the Netherlands. Two hundred guilders came from Ds. [Abraham] Kuyper of Amsterdam.
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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 about numerous financial matters on income and salaries for Hope teachers.
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A Letter of A. C. V. R. to Teunis Keppel
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A.C.V.R. to Teunis Keppel about the upcoming 25th anniversary of the settlement of the Colony. A.C.V.R. is protesting the fact that Zeeland is going ahead on its own and having its celebration apparently apart from the Holland celebration. A.C.V.R. is very hurt by this turn of affairs and blames this move on "those curse-deserving envious and angry ones who so continuously tear apart the body."
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A Letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Gerrit Van Schelven
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Gerrit Van Schelven about financial and property matters concerning the Rev. Pieter J. Oggel, V.R.'s son-in-law. This time, V.R. is writing in English to his young friend instead of the familiar Dutch.
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A Note Written by A. C. V. R. That He is Contributing $100 to the Ebenezer Fund
A. C. Van Raalte
A note written by A.C.V.R. that he is contributing $100 to the Ebenezer Fund. The money is being paid to the Consistory of the First Reformed Church with the understanding that the income go to the Grammar School of Hope College. The Ebenezer Fund is part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Colony.
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A Sermon Preached by A. C. Van Raalte at the Farewell of Rev. Heeren
A. C. Van Raalte
A sermon preached by A. C. Van Raalte at the farewell of Rev. Heeren.
