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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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Received a Bill for Three Books He Purchased from W. G. Holmes, General Bookseller and Stationer, at 148 Lake Street, Chicago, in the Amount of $4.00
W. G. Holmes
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte received a bill for three books he purchased from W. G. Holmes, General Bookseller and Stationer, at 148 Lake Street, Chicago, in the amount of $4.00.
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An Agreement Between the Consistory of the Reformed Church of Mattoax in Virginia, and Rev. Philip Phelps Agent for the Endowment of Hope College in Michigan
John Huizenga, Messussies Hulsebos, Meindent Zuidema, Klaas K. Bultje, and Cynadus van de Riet
An agreement between the consistory of the Reformed Church of Mattoax in Virginia, and Rev. Philip Phelps Agent for the Endowment of Hope Hope College in Michigan. "The amount needed to meet the most pressing wants of those settlers is twenty two hundred dollars; although several hundred dollars more could be used with great advantage in order to cover all the necessities." The funds came from the gifts to the college of Mrs. F. F. Chrystie (600) and Morris Jessup (1500).
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A Fairly Detailed Report On the Recent Fire Was Published in De Grondwet On This Date
Nella Kennedy
A fairly detailed report on the recent fire was published in De Grondwet on this date. This is a key report.
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Teunis Keppel Wrote a Receipt for $25 That Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Forwarded to Him from the Albany Holland Protective Society, New York "To Relieve His Suffering Occasioned by the Late Fire."
Teunis Keppel
Teunis Keppel wrote a receipt for $25 that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte forwarded to him from the Albany Holland Protective Society, New York "to relieve his suffering occasioned by the late fire."
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Received a Bill of Lading from the Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Co. for Fifteen Barrels of Lime That Had Arrived from Kalamazoo the Previous Day
Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Co.
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte received a bill of lading from the Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Co. for fifteen barrels of lime that had arrived from Kalamazoo the previous day. The bill amounted to $16.92.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Received a Receipt for His Annual Subscription for the New York Observer in the Amount of $3.00
New York Observer
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte received a receipt for his annual subscription for the New York Observer in the amount of $3.00.
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A Copy of the Form Letter Sent by Philip Phelps to Churches to Raise Money for the College Library
Philip Phelps
A copy of the form letter sent by Philip Phelps to churches to raise money for the college library. He mentions the generosity of Samuel Schieffelin in books and money.
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The Report of Philip Phelps to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America About the Loan of Endowment Funds to the Amelia Colony
Philip Phelps
The report of Philip Phelps to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America about the loan of endowment funds to the Amelia colony. The pastor of the Mattoax church was John Huizenga, a graduate of theology from Hope.
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Two Important Notices Were Published in the Lake Shore Commercial About the Disastrous Holland Fire
Henry D. Post, A. C. Van Raalte, P. Phelps, B. Ledeboer, and K. Schaddelee
Two important notices were published in the Lake Shore Commercial about the disastrous Holland fire. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Bernardus Ledeboer, Henry D. Post, Kommer Schaddelee and Philip Phelps Jr. published a plea for help in recovering from the fire that just occurred. The date of this notice is 14 October. The notice of 21 October written by Henry D. Post vociferiously refuted the rumors that the Dutch did not fight the fire on Sunday because it was the Sabbath. Nothing was further from the truth. The citizens fought the fires on Sunday near the town and were successful in limiting them but the hurricane that came at 2 a.m. early Monday morning caused the fire to consume the city.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Received a Bill from W. H. Rouse in the Amount of $5.00 for Two Shirts
W. H. Rouse
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte received a bill from W. H. Rouse in the amount of $5.00 for two shirts.
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Received a Sealed Package by the Hands of A. C. Van Raalte Sent from Pella, Iowa
L. L. Schaddelee
This document reads as follows: "Received a Sealed package by the hands of A. C. Van Raalte sent from Pella Iowa by P. [7] Bousquet chairman of R. C.[?] through the United States Express Company. Said Containing one thousand and fifty Dollars; according [to] the Statement of the address, being its destination the Relief Committee of Holland in behalf of the Holland sufferers. Holland Mich Novemb: 2/1871. L L? Schaddelee, Treasurer"
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A Letter of Samuel B. Schiefflin to Rev. Wm. B. Gilmore
Samuel B. Schiefflin
A letter of Samuel B. Schiefflin to Rev. Wm. B. Gilmore at Amelia Court House concerning property matters at Amelia. Commends Gilmore for his work. "I do not wish Dr. Van Raalte to have any responsibility or anxiety in the matter or be liable for one cent. I propose local trustees as I thought they could manage the property better..."
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Turned over $417.35 to Rev. Abel T. Stewart, Secretary of the Board of Hope College, Which Were Funds Collected by Van Raalte for the Endowment of Hope College.
Abel T. Stewart
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte turned over $417.35 to Rev. Abel T. Stewart, secretary of the board of Hope College, which were finds collected by Van Raalte for the endowment of Hope College.
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Meeting Minutes of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present on the first day of the meeting of the Council of Hope College. Members of the senior class and the theological students were examined by the members of the council. Van Raalte did not accept his appointment as instructor in Sacred Rhetoric due to the sickness of Mrs. Van Raalte. Dr. Isaac Ferris gave 120 volumes to the college. At the morning session of the council on 22 May, Van Raalte was in the chair.
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Meeting Minutes of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
At this meeting of the Council of Hope College, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was listed as "Permanent Member" and was presumably in the chair. Van Raalte was requested to give instruction in Pastoral Theology since the position on the faculty was then not occupied. Rev. Peter Moerdyk was appointed assistant professor of Latin and Greek. Gerrit Kollen was appointed tutor in mathematics. The meeting was concluded on 8 September.
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Meeting Minutes of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was present at this meeting of the Council of Hope College although Elder L. S. Viele was in the chair. Rev. Seine Bolks reported on his work accomplished as Collecting Agent of the council. Dr. and Mrs. Van Raalte gave thirty acres to the college. Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen and his wife gave property to the college. At the session on the 30th, it was reported that Dr. Isaac Ferris gave a number of books to the theological department. A notation would go into each volume that the book was given to "the Western Theological School..." Considerable time was spent on the financial difficulties of De Hope. The meeting concluded 31 March.
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Meeting Minutes of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
The council of Hope College met with Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte in the chair. A committee was appointed to buy a new printing press to replace the current press. The meeting went through the 26th.
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Meeting Minutes of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
Rev. Seine Bolks was in the chair for this meeting of the Council of Hope College. At the session on 25 June, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was elected president for the coming year. Many of the sessions that concluded on 28 June dealt with college finances.
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The Meeting Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart and Mary Otterness
At this meeting of the executive committee of the Council of Hope College, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was in the chair. One action was: "Resd. 1. that in order to fulfill the promise to donate $3000. worth of land for the building of the Chicago & Michigan Lake shore Rail Road; we now by authority of the Council designate as such a donation Block six entire and Lots one, two, & six in Block Seven College Addition." There were previous reference to donation of land for the railroad. Details are not clear why the college would donate this property.
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![This Document is a Copy of the "Address Delivered at the Funeral of Mrs. Christina J. Van Raalte", July 311, 1871 by [Rev.] Chr. Van Der Veen." by Chr. Van der Veen](https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1870s/1053/thumbnail.jpg "This Document is a Copy of the \"Address Delivered at the Funeral of Mrs. Christina J. Van Raalte\", July 311, 1871 by [Rev.] Chr. Van Der Veen.\" by Chr. Van der Veen")
This Document is a Copy of the "Address Delivered at the Funeral of Mrs. Christina J. Van Raalte", July 311, 1871 by [Rev.] Chr. Van Der Veen."
Chr. Van der Veen
This document is a copy of the "Address Delivered at the funeral of Mrs. Christina J. Van Raalte, July 311, 1871 by [Rev.] Chr. Van der Veen." It is not indicated on the document whether or not it is a translation or if the address was given in English.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte sent $75.60 to Rev. Christian Vander Veen, Editor of De Hope, for Subscription Payments He Had Received from Various People
Christian Vander Veen
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raatte sent $75.60 to Rev. Christian Vander Veen, editor of De Hope, for subscription payments he had received from various people.
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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 wanting some of the relief monies to go to Hope College which "...has at least a claim being a sufferer by the fire indirectly." Money has come from the Schieffelins: 100 from S. B., 100 from J. L., and 20 from Philip.
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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 funds coming in for fire relief. He finishes the letter on October 27 in Kalamazoo.
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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, extending his appreciation for the help Phelps has been giving the Amelia people. "The Capital is safe enough. But it may increase your storms and hasten the crisis....Also I rejoice in the increase of the number of Japanese..." to three. Mrs. Van Raalte is very unwell.
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An Article in the Christian Intelligencer, Entitled, "The Destruction of Holland City" Which Includes Part of a Letter Written by Van Raalte.
A. C. Van Raalte
An article in the Christian Intelligencer, entitled, "The Destruction of Holland City" which includes part of a letter written by Van Raalte. It is his description of the devastation caused by the Holland Fire.
