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 Student at Hope College in the Preparatory School, R. H. Joldersma, Wrote a Report in the Student Publication, the Excelsiora, on the Death of Albertus C. Van Raalte
R. H. Joldersma and Erica D. Heeg
A student at Hope College in the Preparatory School, R. H. Joldersma, wrote a report in the student publication, the Excelsiora, on the death of Albertus C. Van Raalte. The student made much of the fact that Van Raalte's death occurred on election day. When the death of V.R. was announced the school's classes were dismissed for the rest of the week. Friday, the day of the funeral was beautiful. The funeral cortege was very long, seventy six carriage in addition to the formal line up of city council members, etc. "After Dr. Crispell had closed with prayer, we left the Cemetery fully convinced that a great man had fallen." The death of V.R. must have made a great impression on the students. The account is hand written and consists of six pages.
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A Biographical Sketch of A. C. Van Raalte in Beknopte Levensschetsen Van Vermaarde Tijdgenooten in Dat Jaar Overleden (1876) Bijeengebracht Door J. W. Margadant, Predikant Te Altforst En Appeltern. Nijmegen, F. E. MacDonald, 1877. pp. 117-18
J. W. Margadant
A biographical sketch of A. C. Van Raalte in Beknopte Levensschetsen van Vermaarde Tijdgenooten in Dat Jaar Overleden (1876) bijeengebracht door J. W. Margadant, Predikant te Altforst en Appeltern. Nijmegen, F. E. MacDonald, 1877. Pp. 117-18.
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A Receipt from the Treasurer's Office, Olive Township, for Taxes Paid by A. C. V. R. for the Year, 1875, in the Amount of $36.84
Olive Township
A receipt from the treasurer's office, Olive Township, for taxes paid by A.C.V.R. for the year, 1875, in the amount of $36.84, on seven pieces of property and a total of 340 acres.
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The Resolution of the Holland Common Council, Issued on November 8 and Printed in the Holland City News and the Editorial About A. C. V. R. Following His Death on November 7
John A. Roosts and Erica D. Heeg
The resolution of the Holland Common Council, issued on November 8 and printed in the Holland City News and the editorial about A.C.V.R. following his death on November 7. The editor said: "Dr. Van Raalte possessed great force of character and executive ability. Had he been placed by Providence at the head of a nation, he would have made a wise and powerful ruler. He would have made a brave and successful general."
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The Death and Burial of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte Were Reported Fully in De Hollander
K. Schaddelee and Simone Kennedy
The death and burial of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte were reported fully in De Hollander. Among the speakers were Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. who spoke on 2 Samuel 3:38: "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?"
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A Report on the Funeral of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte Was Published in De Hollander
Kommer Schaddelee
A report on the funeral of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was published in De Hollander Kommer Schaddelee wrote the report and marvelled at the large number of people who attended the funeral.
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Meeting Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart
A meeting of the executive committee of the Council of Hope College was held on this date. There was no mention of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte in the brief minutes.
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Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart
In the minutes of the executive committee of the Council of Hope College on this date nor in the meetings of the second Monday in March, or 10 July, there is no mention of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte.
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The Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart
At the conclusion of the minutes of the executive committee of the Council of Hope College there was a tribute to Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte, entitled, "In Memoriam." The first sentences are of special interest because he was not declared founder of Hope College: "Dr. Van Raalte, having been identified with the entire history of the Holland Academy while it was yet in a formative state, was appointed by the General Synod a member of the first Board of Superintendents, when the Institution was organized in 1863, and when the Board was incorporated in 1866 he was constituted "Permanent Member' to represent the Particular Synod of Chicago, which relation he held till the time of his decease.....We rejoice that he lived long enough to see the realization of his desire expressed in the first report sent to the General Synod in 1852 'This is my anchor of hope for this people in the future.'"
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The Christian Intelligencer Published On This Date Three Resolutions Made Upon the Death of Albertus C. Van Raalte
Abel T. Stewart, C. Doesburg, and T. Romeyn Beck
The Christian Intelligencer published on this date three resolutions made upon the death of Albertus C. Van Raalte. One was written by Abel T. Stewart, Secretary of the Council of Hope College; the second was entitled, "In Memoriam.---Dr. Van Raalte" and written by C. Doesburg, Secretary of the faculty of Hope College; and the third was written by T. Romeyn Beck, secretary of the theological faculty. Van Raalte is greatly lauded in each resolution.
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An Article Was Published in De Hope
Henry ten Hoor
An article was published in De Hope on this date concerning the Dutch settlement at Amelia Court House, Amelia County Virginia. The article was written by J. Gebelings [Geerlings?], G. van der Riet, and Ch. Veltman. Farming and stock raising are very profitable in Virginia; the weather is mild. The heat was not oppressive in the summertime. The main crops are tobacco, wheat, corn, and oats. One acre of land produces 750 pounds of tobacco. Fertilizing is very necessary because the cultivated land was spent. The price of the land was from two to twenty dollars per acre. Most of the Dutch settlers are doing well. The colony is located twenty-seven miles from Richmond. Dr. M. Cohen Stuart gave an accurate description of the Dutch settlement in his book, Six Months in America.
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An Indenture Was Signed by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in Which He Deeds Property to William B. Gilmore and Dirk B. K. Van Raalte for Some Special Purposes
Derk te Roller, Mary W. Van Raalte, and Erica D. Heeg
An indenture was signed by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in which he deeds property to William B. Gilmore and Dirk B. K. Van Raalte for some special purposes. Although Van Raalte was now declining greatly in health, his signature is full and firm.
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"A Proclamation Made by Mayor John Van Landegend On This Date That the Next Day Friday, November 10 be ""Designated for the Funeral of the Deceased, All Business in This City be Suspended; That the Public Schools be Closed and That Each Citizen as He Appreciates the Past Services of Our Departed Leader, Drape His Respective Residence or Place of Business in Mourning."""
John Van Landegend
A proclamation made by Mayor John Van Landegendi on this date that the next day Friday, November 10 be "designated for the funeral of the deceased, all business in this city be suspended; that the Public Schools be closed and that each citizen as he appreciates the past services of our departed leader, drape his respective residence or place of business in mourning." Rev. A[lbertus C.] Van Raalte is referred to as our friend and father. V.R.'s death occurred on Tuesday, November 7.
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William Van Putten, Druggist and Apothecary, and Proprietor of Dr. Van Den Verg's Family Medicines, Received Payment of the Bill in the Account of "Dr. A. C. Van Raalte" in the Amount of $35.50
Wm. Van Putten and Erica D. Heeg
William Van Putten, Druggist and Apothecary, and Proprietor of Dr. Van Den Verg's Family Medicines, received payment of the bill in the account of "Dr. A. C. Van Raalte" in the amount of $35.50. The bill covered the dates of 4 February 1876 through 3 October 1876. Interestingly enough, very few of the items are medicines but mainly for the costs of turpentine, paints, and varnishes that indicate that work on the Van Raalte home was progressing the very year that Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte becomes very ill and departs this life 7 November 1876.
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A Letter of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte to a Deacon of the First Reformed Church, L. Sprietsema
A. C. Van Raalte and Henry ten Hoor
A letter of Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte to a deacon of the First Reformed Church, L. Sprietsema, in which VR informed him that he will perform the marriage of his daughter, J. M. W. Van Raalte, the widow of Rev. Pieter J. Oggel, to Teunis Keppel on Wednesday, 31 May 1876. The ceremony and reception will be held in the Van Raalte home.
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A Paper Read by Gerrit Van Schelven, Entitled, "Historical Sketch of Holland City and Colony," Which Was Published in Memorials of the Grand River Valley, by Franklin Everett, (Chicago, 1878), pp. 456-477
Gerrit Van Schelven
A paper read by Gerrit Van Schelven, entitled, "Historical Sketch of Holland City and Colony," which was published in Memorials of the Grand River Valley, by Franklin Everett, (Chicago, 1878), pp. 456-477. The paper is marred by typographical errors but is a fairly full account of Van Schelven's knowledge of the Holland settlement and contains much vital information. It is a very positive but not a romantic account of the early years of the Holland Colony. There are many references to Van Raalte.
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A Series of Three Articles Which Appeared in the Holland City News, by Gerrit Van Schelven, Entitled, "Historical Sketch of Holland City and Colony."
Gerrit Van Schelven and Erica D. Heeg
A series of three articles which appeared in the Holland City News, by Gerrit Van Schelven, entitled, "Historical Sketch of Holland City and Colony." These are valuable articles because Van Schelven was very interested in the history of the Holland colony. He later published much in his paper, De Grondwet, on the Holland colony. He also organized the 25th anniversary celebration in 1872. Since these articles were printed just before Van Raalte's death, Van Schelven must have felt that his material was correct.
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A Brief Notice in the Allegan Journal That the Rev. A. C. Van Raalte Addressed the Reunion of the 25th Michigan Infantry on September 22
A brief notice in the Allegan Journal that the Rev. A. C. Van Raalte addressed the reunion of the 25th Michigan Infantry on September 22. The banquet was held in Kenyon's Hall, attended by such worthies as "Gov. Bagley, Senator Ferry, Hon. W. B. Williams and others".
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A News Item in the Holland City News
A news item in the Holland City News, p. 5, that "The old homestead of Rev. Dr. Van Raalte is being repaired and improved on an extensive scale. We learn that the intention is to veneer the entire a building with brick." This is a crucial bit of information about the Van Raalte home. Van Raalte must be feeling well and that he has the funds to spend a significant amount on his home.
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A News Item in the Holland City News
A news item in the Holland City News, p. 5, that "Rev. Dr. A. C. Van Raalte is expected at Pella, Iowa, to fix up some church troubles there.--Weekblad." There is also another interesting note that "Mr. D. D. Morse, of St. Joseph, is here sketching a bird's eye view of the City." This bird's eye view of Holland gives an excellent visual description of Holland's recovery after the great fire of 1871.
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A News Item in the Holland City News
A news item in the Holland City News, p. 5, reporting that Albertus C. Van Raalte and Henry Uiterwijk, pastor of Third Reformed Church, will be conducting the funeral of Willie Vander Veen, son of Engbertus and Tantje Vander Veen, charter members of Third Reformed Church. Willie died when he and three other boys went to play in the shipyard of Bass & Schols and met with an accident.
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An Extensive News Item on the First Holland Sabbath School Convention Held in the City in the Third Reformed Church Appeared in the Holland City News
An extensive news item on the First Holland Sabbath school Convention held in the city in the Third Reformed Church appeared in the Holland City News, p. 4, which reported that thirteen sabbath schools were represented. The conference was organized by Frans Van Driele, an active Reformed Church elder in Grand Rapids and Henry Uiterwijk, pastor of Third Reformed Church. Teunis Keppel gave a history of the sabbath schools in the city to which Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte and the Rev. Roelof Pieters, pastor of First Reformed Church added their remarks. Dr. Van Raalte also made a presentation on "The relation between the sabbath school and the family." Since the convention was so well received, "It was resolved that hereafter an Annual sabbathschool convention should be among the regular institutions of the Holland congregations."
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In a News Note Gleaned from the Holland City News
In a news note gleaned from the Holland City News, it was reported that "The health of Rev. Dr. Phelps, President of Hope College, does not seem to improve fast. We learn it is his intention to spend the summer east."
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In the Minutes of the Holland City Council of December as Reported in the December 11, 1875 Issue of the Holland City News, There is a Report About the Council's Attempt to Purchase Additional Property for "The Old Cemetery"
In the minutes of the Holland City Council of December as reported in the December 11, 1875 issue of the Holland City News, there is a report about the Council's attempt to purchase additional property for "the old cemetery." Included in the report is this sentence: "Your committee have negotiated through Dr. [Albertus C.] Van Raalte with the owner of the land north of the present cemetery and have agreed upon a proposed exchange of five acres of ground more or less of said lands, for the northern tri-angle of low lands of the Broek tract."
