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.
-
A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps reporting on a letter he received from Rev. Uiterwyk about the controversy over the proposed appointment of Gilmore.
-
A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps on the controversy again. "Unless the Board can be induced to influence the Synod to exonerate you from the financial agency, to assume the debts and property, and to liquidate yearly expenses and income your position is untenable....Be yourself a land agent, and use other persons in that quality all over creation before volcanic eruptions. All this is no dictation. However it is conviction."
-
On 22 February 1905, the Editors of De Hope Informed its Readership That Another Van Raalte Letter Was Discovered in Kansas.
A. C. Van Raalte
On 22 February 1905, the editors of De Hope informed its readership that another Van Raalte letter was discovered in Kansas. In it, Van Raalte gave words of support to the new churches there; The editors of De Hope discover another Van Raalte letter in Kansas; Van Raalte gives words of support to new churches in Kansas.
-
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Wrote Rev. Christian Vander Veen About Many Mutual Concerns
A. C. Van Raalte
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte wrote Rev. Christian Vander Veen about many mutual concerns. Philip Phelps, Jr. is mentioned in the letter.
-
Minutes of the Classis of Holland
A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma
In the minutes of the Classis of Holland of this date, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte reported in item 16 for his committee of which he was chair on the Drenthe congregation. The committee reported that the situation is now encouraging and the congregation plans to build a new structure. When students, A. Wormser and W. Hasenberg, will be examined in the Classis, Van Raalte is the examiner in theology. Van Raalte also served on the appointments committee at that Classis meeting. It appears that V.R. is still active at this time.
-
A Rough, Two-Page Manuscript of a Speech, Which A. C. V. R Gave to Officers and Soldiers of the 25th Michigan Infantry
A. C. Van Raalte and Erica D. Heeg
A rough, two-page manuscript of a speech, which A.C.V.R. gave to officers and soldiers of the 25th Michigan Infantry.
-
Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to His Daughter, Christina Van Raalte Gilmore
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Van Raalte wrote a very warm and personal letter to his daughter, Christina Van Raalte Gilmore. He writes about his deceased wife very warmly to his daughter after whom she was named. Van Raalte expressed appreciation for the letter from his grandson, little William Gilmore. The Gilmores were now living in Spring Lake, Illinois, where Rev. Gilmore was serving the Reformed Church.
-
Letter Written by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to His Daughter, Christina Van Raalte Gilmore
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
This is another letter that was written by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his daughter, Christina Van Raalte Gilmore who was living in Spring Lake, Illinois. He assures her that he is praying for her since she is now pregnant.
-
A Notice in the Holland City News
Albertus C. Van Raalte and Kommer Schaddelee
A notice in the Holland City News, p. 4, that the Holland Cemetery Association will be held in the consistory room of the First Reformed Church on August 9, at 7.30 p.m. Albertus C. Van Raalte is president of the association and Kommer Schaddelee, Secretary.
-
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Paid a Bill of $39.54 for an Order of 6,590 Bricks Provided by the Firm of Veneklaasen & Bolks
Veneklaassen & Bolks
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte paid a bill of $39.54 for an order of 6,590 bricks provided by the firm of Veneklaasen & Bolks. (The date on the bill is "Dec 1876" but I assume that the correct date was 1875 unless Van Raalte had not paid this bill by the time of his death, November, 1876.)
-
Acts of the Synod of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerkin Nederland Were Published by G. Ph. Zalsman in Kampen
P. Ph. Zalsman and Nella Kennedy
Acts of the Synod of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerkin Nederland were published by G. Ph. Zalsman in Kampen. In the minutes is a report on the presentation made by Rev. Roelof Pieters who was visiting in the Netherlands. The presentation gave a very positive picture of the Reformed Church in America. He mentioned that Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte had told him about the time when he and his brother-in-law, Rev. Simon van Velzen, were bombarded with stones. None struck Van Raalte but van Velzen was hit. One quote is: "We love the old Netherlands, and we adore the free America,..."
-
A Brief News Article in the Holland City News
A brief news article in the Holland City News, p. 5, that Prof. F. Everett, of Grand Rapids, plans to spend a week to ten days in the city of Holland to gather material for the book on some western Michigan history, entitled, "Memorials of the Grand River Valley." However, his work is hampered because Albertus C. Van Raalte is out of town. The author considered Van Raalte "the proper person to historify that period."
-
A News Item in the Holland City News
A news item in the Holland City News, p. 5, that "After an absence of several months, Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, D.D., returned last week, and supplied the pulpit of the First Reformed Church in the forenoon. The Doctor looks hale and hearty, and his health is greatly improved."
-
A News Item in the Holland City News
A news item in the Holland City News, p. 5, that "The health of Rev. Dr. A. C. Van Raalte, has so far recovered, that he has started on a trip to Kansas."
-
A Notice in the Holland City News
A notice in the Holland City News, p. 1, that "We learn that the health of Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, D.D., who is spending the winter at Rev. W. B. Gillmore's [sic], in Illinois, has not improved of late. The Doctor is suffering from nervous debility, and expects to go to Kansas, as soon as his health permits."
-
A Notice in the Holland City News That the "Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, D. D. is Spending the Winter with the Rev. W. B. Gilmore, at Spring Lake, IL."
A notice in the Holland City News that the "Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, D.D. is spending the winter with the Rev. W. B. Gilmore, at Spring Lake, Ill.", p. 5. Mrs. Gilmore is Van Raalte's daughter, Christine.
-
![It Was Reported in the Student Publication, The Excelsiora, That "Doc. Van Raalte Has Been Spending the Winter with Rev. W. B. Gillmore [sic] in Ill[inois]."](https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1870s/1208/thumbnail.jpg "It Was Reported in the Student Publication, The Excelsiora, That \"Doc. Van Raalte Has Been Spending the Winter with Rev. W. B. Gillmore [sic] in Ill[inois].\"")
It Was Reported in the Student Publication, The Excelsiora, That "Doc. Van Raalte Has Been Spending the Winter with Rev. W. B. Gillmore [sic] in Ill[inois]."
It was reported in the student publication, The Excelsiora, that "Doc. Van Raalte has been spending the winter with Rev. W. B. Gillmore [sic] in Ill[inois].
-
These Selected Pages from the Boone and Company Daybook Show the Lumber Purchases by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Presumably for the Enlargement of the Van Raalte Home on Fairbanks Avenue.
Boone and Company
These selected pages from the Boone and Company Daybook show the lumber purchases by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presumably for the enlargement of the Van Raalte home on Fairbanks Avenue.
-
This Document Says: "New York August 3151 1874 Received from Rev. A. C. Van Raalte D. D. Seventy Five Dollars, On Account of Interest On His Two Bonds & Mortgages of $500 Each, Duplicate Receipt Endorsed in Bonds-- $75 John J. Brower, Treasurer."
John J. Brower
This document says: "New York August 3151 1874 Received from Rev. A. C. Van Raalte D.D. Seventy five dollars, on account of interest on his two Bonds & Mortgages of $500. each, duplicate receipt endorsed in Bonds-- $75 John J. Brower, Treas." On the back of this document, it says "receipt $75." on Schieffelin mortgage August 1874.-" [My question is—did Van Raalte borrow money from Schieffelin to purchase property in Amelia and did Schieffelin turn the mortgages over to the Reformed Church in America as a gift to the denomination.?]
-
It Was Reported in De Hollander That at the Recent Meeting of the Classis of Holland, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte Approved the Idea of Singing Hymns in the Churches
H. C. News and Simone Kennedy
It was reported in De Hollander that at the recent meeting of the Classis of Holland, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte approved the idea of singing hymns in the churches. Rev. Roelof Pieters was opposed to the idea.
-
A News Item in the Allegan Journal, p. 1, Reporting That D. B. K. Van Raalte, a Son of the Founder of Holland, is the Republican Candidate from the First District, I-Tolland City, for Representative
Erica D. Heeg
A news item in the Allegan Journal, p. 1, reporting that D.B.K. Van Raalte, a son of the founder of Holland, is the Republican candidate from the First District, I-Tolland City, for representative. The editor considers the young man as a very good candidate because he is a "patriot as well as a scholar, and lost his arm in the service of the country serving with distinguished gallantry in the 25th Michigan Infantry. He is a true Republican...."
-
It Was Reported in De Volksvriend That This Iowa Colony Was Honored with a Visit by Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte
E. William Kennedy
It was reported in De Volksvriend that this Iowa colony was honored with a visit by Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte. "The worthy man looked fresh and healthy." The 30 July issue reported that he stayed only a few days.
-
A Report Was Made in De Hollander About the Dedication of the New Sanctuary of Third Reformed Church
Simone Kennedy
A report was made in De Hollander about the dedication of the new sanctuary of Third Reformed Church. Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte gave the dedicatory address. Dr. Philip Phelps Jr. also made an address and offered prayer. A special offering was taken to retire the debt of $4,000 that remained. Van Raalte contributed a building lot. The column gives full particulars about the rebuilding of Third Church and its cost.
-
J. A. Seiss Acknowledged Receipt of $1.00 from Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte for His Subscription to "The Prophetic Times" for One Year
J. A. Seiss
J. A. Seiss acknowledged receipt of $1.00 from Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte for his subscription to "The Prophetic Times" for one year. The address in Philadelphia of this magazine was P. O. Box 2245.
-
Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting of the Council of Hope College
Abel T. Stewart
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was not present at this meeting of the executive committee meeting of the Council of Hope College since he was no longer a member of the executive committee. Several business matters were taken care of.
