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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Marriage Certificate
A. C. Van Raalte
"This is to certify: that the Bonds of marriage between Hendrik Jan Michmershuisen of Overijssel Allegan Cty Michigan, farmer of occupation: and Tryntje Kortering aged 19 years, born in Rouveen the Netherlands, and now residing in Overijssel Allegan Cty Michigan, by me were confirmed, at the residence of Hendrik Grysmoet Michmerhuisen in said Overijssel, in the presence of Said Hendrik G. Michmershuisen and Jan Kortering of the same Township on the Eight[h] day of August in the year of our Lord 1872."
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The Address of A. C. Van Raalte Given at the Quarter Centennial Celebration of the Founding of the Holland Colony, Published in Ebenezer, Memorial Souvenir of the Centennial Commemoration of Dutch Immigration to the United States Held in Holland, Michigan 13-16, 1947, Henry S. Lucas, Editor
A. C. Van Raalte
The address of A. C. Van Raalte given at the quarter centennial celebration of the founding of the Holland Colony, published in Ebenezer, Memorial Souvenir of the Centennial Commemoration of Dutch Immigration to the United States held in Holland, Michigan 13-16, 1947, Henry S. Lucas, editor. Pp. 21-30.
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A Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Julia G. Gilmore
A. C. Van Raalte and Erica D. Heeg
A letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Julia G. Gilmore, his future daughter-in-law. He states his joy that she is to become a member of the family. Mrs. Van Raalte thinks highly of her as well. Possibly, V.R. had just heard that she and his son, Ben, were to be married. They were married on November 27. V.R. begins the letter as follows: "Though I am just overcrowded with meetings etc. etc. and I hate to write you in such a hurry, yet this morning is a joyous moment for me, and I want to express my joy in the prospect of possessing you as my daughter, and [sic] well as the wife of my dear beloved son Ben." Julia was born in Fairview, Illinois, and was a sister of William B. Gilmore, who was married to Christine Van Raalte.
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The Address of A. C. V. R. Which He Made at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Founding of the Holland Colony
A. C. Van Raalte and Henry S. Lucas
The address of A.C.V.R. which he made at the 25th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Holland Colony.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, President of the Council of Hope College, and Rev. Abel T. Steward, Secretary, Authorize the Sale of Property in Neuzen, Kadaster, in the Netherlands
A. C. Van Raalte, Abel T. Stewart, and Henry ten Hoor
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, President of the Council of Hope College, and Rev. Abel T. Steward, Secretary, authorize the sale of property in Neuzen, Kadaster, in the Netherlands. The document does not state how Hope College came into possession of this property. The property is 570 square meters and a dwelling is on the property.
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A Document Presumably in the Handwriting of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in Which He is Promoting the Ebenezer Fund for the Support of Hope College.
A. C. Van Raalte and Henry ten Hoor
A document presumably in the handwriting of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in which he is promoting the Ebenezer Fund for the support of Hope College.
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A Document, with Much Revision, in the Handwriting of Albertus C. Van Raalte Who is Responding Apparently to Critics in the Netherlands That He Made a Mistake in Having His People Unite with the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in America
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
A document, with much revision, in the handwriting of Albertus C. Van Raalte who is responding apparently to critics in the Netherlands that he made a mistake in having his people unite with the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in America. V.R. defends his actions vehemently. V.R. bewails the friction and fighting that has gone on in the Afscheiding movement which he experienced first hand during his ministry in the Netherlands. V.R. mentions that he is now retired which means that the document was written after 1867. The document is dated 1872 tentatively because V.R. makes a reference to twenty five years apparently from the date he and his people arrived in America. He refers to a Brother Veenhuizen whom V.R. seems to be ?reftiting. (There is an A. B. Veenhuizen who had RCA pastorates in western New York and later left the RCA for the Presbyterian Church.)
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Correspondence of A. C. Van Raalte with Abraham Kuyper
A. C. Van Raalte, Verwey, and Henry ten Hoor
Correspondence of A. C. Van Raalte with Abraham Kuyper of this date and July 17 about assisting a Mr. Verwey who has been difficult to deal with.
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Revs. Albertus C. Van Raalte and Cornelius Vander Meulen Published a Letter in De Hope On This date in "Our Ebenezer Offering of Thanks."
Albertus C. Van Raalte, Cornelius Vander Meulen, and Simone Kennedy
Revs. Albertus C. Van Raalte and Cornelius Vander Meulen published a letter in De Hope on this date on "Our Ebenezer Offering of Thanks." Fund raising for the recovery of Holland, Michigan, from the great fire on 8-9 October 1871 is promoted in this letter.
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On 17 January, the Holland Merchant, H. Walsh, Noted That Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte's Bill of $31.29 Was Paid Although the Document is Dated 16 January
H. Walsh
On 17 January, the Holland merchant, H. Walsh, noted that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte's bill of $31.29 was paid although the document is dated 16 January. The items purchased by Van Raalte dated from 4 May 1871 to 19 December 1871. Items purchased were for prescriptions, castor oil, bourbon, liniment, cologne, castile soap, bitters, etc. Some of the items listed on the bill may have been intended for Mrs. Van Raalte who, at this time, was very ill.
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Mr. W. B. Williams, a Partner in the "Law and Collection Office" of Williams & Humphrey, Acknowledged the Postal Money Order from Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte for $25.00 "As a Yearly Fee."
W. B. Williams
Mr. W.B. Williams, a partner in the "Law and Collection Office" of Williams & Humphrey, acknowledged the postal money order from Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte for $25.00 "as a yearly fee."
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A Mr. A. Wormser Wrote Out a Receipt
A. Wormser
A Mr. A. Wormser wrote out a receipt that reads as follows: "Rec'd of Rev. Dr. Van Raalte, out of trust moneys for relief, twenty five dollars (per Rev. P. Phelps) the same being intended to apply on my [Wormser's?] account with Mr. J. Binnekant and to release him from the debt to me to the amount [of] twenty five dollars. (Duplicate receipt given by Mr. Binnekant.)" The text of the receipt is not clear without more documentary evidence.
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An Incomplete Warranty Deed Entitled "Warranty Deed Albertus C. Van Raalte and Wife to Albertus Van Raalte & Wife in Trust for Their Children."
An incomplete warranty deed entitled "Warranty Deed Albertus C. Van Raalte and wife to Albertus Van Raalte & wife in trust for their children." (I give the document the general date of 1871 because it would have been drawn up before Christina Van Raalte died 30 June 1871 and the date of 1871 appears in an addendum at the end of the document.). Since the document deals with the oldest son, it may have been written before he disappeared at the close of 1869 or done after his disappearance and before Christina died.
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In the Hope College Magazine Produced by Students, The Excelsiora, There Was a Statement
In the Hope College magazine produced by students, The Excelsiora, there was a statement that "the house east of the Cemetery belonging to A. C. van Raalte, was burned on the 26th of April. They are busily engaged again to rebuild it." [Why this the house that Mrs. Albertus V.R., Jr. was already living in or did she and her children move into the new house?] Husband Albertus had disappeared in November/December of 1869. The "A. C. Van Raalte" ship was also mentioned. The Excelsiora, n. p.
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A Biographical Sketch of Christina Van Raalte, Wife of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Presumably Written by Him But it is Not in Van Raalte's Handwriting.
Harry Boonstra
A biographical sketch of Christina Van Raalte, wife of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, presumably written by him but it is not in Van Raalte's handwriting. The document's importance lay in the fact that so little is known about Mrs. Van Raalte.
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A Letter of J. Brinks, Writing at the Request of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte, to His Friend, J. J. van Heulen
J. Brinks and Seth Vander Werf
A letter of J. Brinks, writing at the request of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte, to his friend, J. J. van Heulen, the Netherlands, "concerning conditions and opportunities here in Virginia." The letter is very positive about the Amelia colony.
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![A Receipt for $100 Was Sent to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte by John I. Brower, Treasurer [Of the Reformed Church in America] by John I. Brower](https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1870s/1067/thumbnail.jpg "A Receipt for $100 Was Sent to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte by John I. Brower, Treasurer [Of the Reformed Church in America] by John I. Brower")
A Receipt for $100 Was Sent to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte by John I. Brower, Treasurer [Of the Reformed Church in America]
John I. Brower
A receipt for $100 was sent to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte by John I. Brower, treasurer [of the Reformed Church in America] "on account of interest on his two Bonds and Mortgages of $500. each...." On the back of the receipt is written the following: "Receipt $100.00 on the Schieffelin mortgages.—on Sec. 28 T?5NR15W? Holland Mich; October 19/1871." In Brower's report to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America in Brooklyn, New York, June, 1872 (The Acts and Proceedings of the Sixty-sixth General Synod of the Reformed Church In America,...1872, p. 418, there is noted this entry: "on account of interest on two bonds of $500 each" $100. Could that entry refer to Van Raalte's interest payment? Would Van Raalte have borrowed from Schieffelin to purchase property in Amelia and then have Schieffelin turn these bonds and mortgages over to the RCA as a gift?
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A Receipt Was Made out to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in the Amount of $9.36 for Three Items He Purchased from De Jong, Van Schelven & Oggel, General Retail Dealers
De Jong, Van Schelven & Oggel, General Retail Dealers
A receipt was made out to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in the amount of $9.36 for three items he purchased from De Jong, Van Schelven & Oggel, General Retail Dealers. The payment was in cash and not a charge.
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Again Julia Gilmore Wrote Her Brother, Darius
Julia Gilmore
Again Julia Gilmore wrote her brother, Darius, in Fairview, Illinois, that she is homesick. Her brother, Clark, had enough of Virginia and was leaving Amelia. She makes a comment that seems to indicate that the Van Raalte family thinks that "there wasn't another family like them on the earth." On the fourth and last page of her letter, she writes very small but includes this sentence: "The news has reached here about Albertus and they say it isn't so he did not run off with another women but the man is from Holland and knows the family and the people believe him." Albertus who is referred to here is the son of Rev. Albertus and Christina Van Raalte. He disappeared in the fall of 1869 and was never heard from again, leaving a pregnant wife and four children. This is the only documentary evidence of what may have happened to son, Albertus.
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In an Informative and Lengthy Letter, Julia Corresponded with Her Brother, Darius Gilmore, in Fairview, Illinois
Julia Gilmore
In an informative and lengthy letter, Julia corresponded with her brother, Darius Gilmore, in Fairview, Illinois. She hardly has time to write because Will and Christine Gilmore's baby cries so much. Christine gave six music lessons today. She reported on the Holland fire, writing that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte "has lost very heavy." Will Gilmore, Dirk Van Raalte, and Ben Van Raalte have also lost heavily. Dirk said that he was a ruined man because he lost so much timber.
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Julia Gilmore Wrote a Lengthy Letter to Her Brother, Darius
Julia Gilmore
On this date, Julia Gilmore wrote a lengthy letter to her brother, Darius, in Fairview, Illinois. She mentions several people including Ben Van Raalte whom she marries later. She reported that Will and Christine Van Raalte Gilmore are packing up the "books and things" left behind by Dr. [Albertus C.] Van Raalte. She is sharing a room with Mary Van Raalte.
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Julia Gilmore Wrote Her Brother, Darius
Julia Gilmore
Julia Gilmore wrote her brother, Darius, that Christine Gilmore was not well and that she and Mary Van Raalte took care of the little boy, [A. C. Van Raalte Gilmore]. Julia has been homesick, too. The baby cries a great deal. Julia writes a very chatty letter.
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Julia G. Gilmore Wrote to Her Parents and Brothers in Fairview, Illinois, That She Had Arrived in Amelia to Join William and Christine Van Raalte Gilmore Who Live There.
Julia G. Gilmore
Julia G. Gilmore wrote to her parents and brothers in Fairview, Illinois, that she had arrived in Amelia to join William and Christine Van Raalte Gilmore who live there. She had met Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte and his daughter, Mary, in Chicago, who accompanied her to Amelia. It is not clear if Father Van Raalte accompanied the young ladies to Virginia. Apparently Clark Gilmore, her brother, is also in Amelia. Julia commented that she saw so many people of "dark color."
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![A Letter of W[illiam] B. Gilmore to A. C. V. R. by William B. Gilmore and Erica D. Heeg](https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1870s/1042/thumbnail.jpg "A Letter of W[illiam] B. Gilmore to A. C. V. R. by William B. Gilmore and Erica D. Heeg")
A Letter of W[illiam] B. Gilmore to A. C. V. R.
William B. Gilmore and Erica D. Heeg
A letter of W[illiam] B. Gilmore to A.C.V.R., reporting on some property matters. Gilmore refers to a Mr. S. whom I assume is Samuel Schieffelin. Gilmore is hopeful also that the academy of which he is the principal will thrive. He gives evidence of a warm piety in his letter. Gilmore is married to a daughter of the Van Raaltes.
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"Voice of One Slandered" by Gijsbert Haan
Gijsbert Haan
"Voice of One Slandered" by Gijsbert Haan. Published by C. Nienhardt, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1871.
