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Collection Overview
Abstract
Minister of the Christian Reformed Church; editor of the periodical De Wachter; and lecturer in modern languages at Calvin College. The collection includes correspondence, postcards, diaries, news clippings, articles, sermons, devotionals, a diploma, family genealogy, and photographs.
Biographical Note
Son of Rev. Gerard Van Halsema, Emo Folkert Johan Van Halsema was born in Kampen, Overijsel, Netherlands on December 2, 1890. In 1909, at the age of 18, Van Halsema travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. When he arrived, Van Halsema began to work in a shirt factory in Paterson, New Jersey. Shortly afterwards, he was drafted into teaching at Christian schools. He was eventually persuaded to become the principal-teacher in Lucas, Michigan. While teaching, he met his bride-to-be, Nellie Lucas, who was the other teacher in the two-room school.
In 1918 Van Halsema entered Calvin Theological Seminary, and by 1921 he earned his B.D. His first call to service came from East Paris, MI, where he served until 1925. His other charges include: Fuller Av. Grand Rapids, MI (1925-30); Northside, Passaic, NJ (1930-48); and lastly First, Hudsonville, MI (1948-55). During this time two other important honors where bestowed upon Rev. Van Halsema. First he earned his Th.M. from Union Theological Seminary in 1933. Second, he became the co-editor of De Wachter in 1934 and editor in 1948. He remained with De Wachter for thirty years.
In 1955 Rev. Van Halsema joined Calvin College's faculty as lecturer in modern languages. Rev. Van Halsema retired in 1961. During Rev. Van Halsema's career, he has served as a delegate to the synod eight times. He was elected clerk of the Frist Reformed Ecumenical Synod at Grand Rapids in 1946. He also was a member of the United States committee of the World Evangelical Fellowship. Emo Folkert Johan Van Halsema passed away on March 9, 1964. He suffered a stroke and passed away at Butterworth Hospital. He was survived by his wife, Nellie, their three sons, and 26 grandchildren.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence, 1909-1960],
[
Series 2: Subject Correspondence, 1923],
[
Series 3: Ministerial Materials, 1905-1961],
[
Series 4: Publications and Writings, 1921-1954],
[
Series 5: Biographical Materials, 1902-1964],
[
Series 6: Family Materials, 1899-1984],
[
Series 7: Photographs, 1885-1948],
[All]
- Series 1: Correspondence --- 1909-1960
- Box 1
- Folder 1-6: Correspondence --- 1909-1960
- Series 2: Subject Correspondence --- 1923
- Box 1
- Folder 7: Correspondence re: appointment to teach at Curatorium (Thelogical School and Calvin College) --- 1923
- Series 3: Ministerial Materials --- 1905-1961
- Box 1
- Folder 8: Hand written booklet: scriptural comparisons --- [1905?]
- Folder 9: Hand written booklet: practice sermons --- 1906-1909
- Folder 10: Instruction re: R. Janssen for Classis Grand Rapids East from the East Paris CRC consistory --- [1922?]
- Folder 11: Materials re: Call to Northside CRC (Passaic, NJ) --- 1929
- Folder 12: Materials re: servicemen at Northside CRC (Passaic, NJ) --- 1942-1946
- Folder 13: Call letter: Wyoming Park CRC (Grand Rapids, MI) --- 1945
- Folder 14: Materials re: Call to First CRC (Hudsonville, MI) --- 1945
- Folder 15: WFUR radio talk: "The Treasure of the Heart" --- [195-?]
- Folder 16: "Panel Discussion," in Lectures 1957: Christian Reformed Ministers' Institute, [Lectures by: Carl Henry, Meredith Kline, Marten Woudstra, Harold Dekker, Stuart Bergsma and panel participants: F. Guillaume, A. Schaafsma, H. Van Andel, T. Van Kooten, E. Van Halsema, and John Verbrugge], 120-138 --- 1957
- Folder 17: Sermon: "A Martyr's Voice," Reformation Day --- [1961]
- Series 4: Publications and Writings --- 1921-1954
- Box 1
- Folder 18: Devotional contributions: Daily Manna --- [1921?-1960?]
- Folder 19: Booklet: "The Kingship of Christ," in Four Lectures, (Paterson, NJ, Eastern League of Young Men's Societies), 52-70 --- 1933
- Folder 20: Periodical: "Hoop op God," Leiding En Troost Predikatien, no. 7, (Jan 1944), 2-8; sermon delivered at West End Collegiate Church (New York) on Sunday --- 24 January 1943
- Folder 21: Paper: book review of The Christ of the American Road, by Stanley Jones, (New York, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1944) --- 1944
- Folder 22: Articles: "Round Table Talk," The Banner, vol. 81 (Nov 29, 1946), 1399; and "The Sanctified Church," The Banner, vol. 83, 739 --- June 11, 1948
- Folder 23: Paper: "Freedom of Expression in the Reformed Framework," speech given to Calvin alumni in Chicago --- [195-?]
- Folder 24: Booklet: Let Us Go On, [Grand Rapids, Calvin College and Seminary, 1954]; address delivered on the occasion of Calvin College and Seminary 78th Anniversary --- March 15, 1954
- Folder 25: What About that Ecumenical Synod?" --- c1948
- Series 5: Biographical Materials --- 1902-1964
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Student notebooks --- 1902, 1908, undated
- Folder 2: Diaries and financial notes --- 1908-1918; 1930-1931
- Folder 3: Poem: "Morning Thoughts" written for Calvin Preparatory School --- 1912
- Folder 4: Debate assignment: resolved that "Synod Should Adopt a Foreign Mission Field" --- [1912?]
- Folder 5: Travel writings: "Drie Maanden in Iowa," Juni-Sept. --- 1912
- Folder 6: Materials re: Teacher's Contract at Lucas, MI --- 1913
- Folder 7: School book report: F. Van Eeden, De Kleine Johannes --- 1916
- Folder 8: Program: "Commencement," Calvin Preparatory School, etc. --- 1913
- Folder 9: Documents: physical exam report, student versification certificate, and registration certificate --- 1916-1917
- Folder 10: Clippings re: participation in seminary organizations, i.e., Prism, Chimes, "Nil Nisi Verum," "Credimus ut Intelligamus," Corps, class president; and various announcements --- 1918-1921
- Folder 11: Clippings --- 1927-1965 and undated
- Folder 12: Materials re: 25th wedding anniversary --- 1945
- Folder 13: Travel diaries --- 1960-1961
- Folder 14: Funeral service program, clippings, and expressions of sympathy --- 1964
- Series 6: Family Materials --- 1899-1984
- Box 2
- Folder 15: Genealogy and family information --- 1909-1984; and undated
- Folder 16: Explanatory notes with family documents --- 1899-1909; and undated
- Folder 17: Van Halsema Family Notebook --- undated
- Series 7: Photographs --- 1885-1948
- Box 2
- Folder 18-19: Photographs including Van Halsema Family Notebook --- [1885?] - 1948; and undated
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence, 1909-1960],
[
Series 2: Subject Correspondence, 1923],
[
Series 3: Ministerial Materials, 1905-1961],
[
Series 4: Publications and Writings, 1921-1954],
[
Series 5: Biographical Materials, 1902-1964],
[
Series 6: Family Materials, 1899-1984],
[
Series 7: Photographs, 1885-1948],
[All]
