Monsma, Edwin Ype (1894-1972) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Edwin Ype Monsma was born on December 23, 1894 in the Netherlands. As a boy, Monsma immigrated to the United States. He graduated from Calvin College in 1925, and went on to earn his Masters degree from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. from Michigan State. In 1926 Monsma married Frieda M. Van Wesep.

In 1929 Monsma accepted a faculty position at his alma mater in the Biology Department. He served Calvin College until his retirement in 1965. Besides teaching the natural sciences, he also taught courses in German and Physics. It was noted that Professor Monsma had a distractive Christian Reformed approach to teaching biology. He served as the Chairman of the Department of Biology from 1954 to 1961.

Outside the classroom, Monsma was involved with the Michigan Board of Examiners in the Basic Sciences as Examiner in Bacteriology. Monsma was a member of several other scientific societies, and received academic honors from the University of Illinois and Michigan State College. Not only was Monsma involved with the scientific community, he was also involved in his church community. He served as an elder in the Fuller Avenue and Calvin CRC for many years, even serving as its president.

At the age of 77, Edwin Ype Monsma died at his home on January 17, 1972.