Fred Klooster Collection, 1952-1997 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Fred Klooster Collection, 1952-1997

ID: COLL/453

Primary Creator: Klooster, Fred (1922-2003)

Extent: 7.9 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church and professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. The collection includes materials on theological, doctrinal, ethical, and confessional matters; reports, minutes and correspondence detailing synodical committees, i.e., Interchurch Relations, Form of Subscription, Report 44 of 1972, Confessions, Heidelberg Catechism, and SCORR; minutes for the Meeter Center; articles; papers; materials on the alternate seminary and women's issue controversy; correspondence; letters of call; course materials; home missionary reports; retirement materials; and material on the Gerald Klooster court case with clippings, articles, correspondence, court proceedings, and videos. [See also the Campus Titles Database.]

Biographical Note

Fred H. Klooster was born in Munster, Indiana on December 23, 1922. While attending Chicago Christian High, Klooster's Bible teacher told him he had the ability to become a pastor and encouraged him to pursue an education in ministry. Klooster took his teacher's word to heart and enrolled at Calvin College. After graduating with his B.A. in 1942, he went on to Calvin Theological Seminary where he earned his Th.B. in 1947. Klooster decided to further his education by obtaining his Th.M. from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1949. Klooster had the honor of studying as a Fulbright scholar at the Free University of Amsterdam, earning his Th.D. in 1951.

Once he completed his education, Klooster was ordained on September 21, 1952 at South Holland, Illinois. He served as a Home missionary in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois until 1953. Klooster went on to become a lecturer at his alma mater, Calvin College, from 1953 to 1956. Klooster accepted the position of Professor of Dogmatics at the Seminary, and later taught Systematic Theology. Over the course of 35 years, he proudly prepared several generations of pastors for the CRC. Klooster retired in 1988.

Klooster's real passion was teaching, but he also enjoyed writing and scholarly research on the Heidelberg Catechism. He has written many articles and books including Our Only Comfort: A Comprehensive Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, 2001. He was also the founding editor of the Calvin Theological Journal. He served his church in many capacities as well, such as serving on numerous synodical committees and leadership roles in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod.

On a personal level, Klooster married Leona De Waard in 1946. Together they had five children. When Klooster was not teaching, writing, or involved with a committee, he was gardening, playing ping-pong, or running around with his family. Fred H. Klooster passed away due to subdural hematoma on December 27, 2003 at the age of 81.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: [General Materials]],
[Series 2: Articles and Papers],
[Series 3: Academic Materials, 1961-1996],
[Series 4: Committee Materials, 1982-1997],
[Series 5: Academic Materials, 1982-1997],
[Series 6: Correspondence],
[All]

Series 6: Correspondence

Box 18

Folder 1-11: 1940-1960

Box 19

Folder 1-8: 1961-1965

Box 20

Folder 1-10: 1966-1975

Box 21

Folder 1-10: 1976-1985

Box 22

Folder 1-10: 1986-1995
Folder 11-13: Cornelius Vantil (Uncle Kees) --- 1943-1982
Folder 14: Martin Woustra --- 1960
Folder 15: Personal Family Letters, Switzerland and Sabbatical) --- 1959-1960
Folder 16: Personal Letters Capetown, S.A. --- 1976

Box 23

Folder 1-3: Family --- 1949-1976
Folder 4: Personal Family Letters, Korea --- 1971
Folder 5: Personal Correspondence Sabbatical Heudelberg --- 1968-1969
Folder 6: Oriental Lecture Tour --- 1971
Folder 7: Fullbright Scholarship, Free University of Amsterdam --- 1949-1950
Folder 8: Berchtesgaden Chaplain Retreat --- 1959

Box 24

Folder 1-2: Booklets on Karl Barth's Theology --- 1956-1963
Folder 3: Correspondence re: Karl Barth --- 1961
Folder 4: Christianity Today Articles on Barth's Theology --- 1961-1962
Folder 5-6: Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics
Folder 7: The Theology of Karl Barth
Folder 8: Conversation with Karl Barth, "The Authority of Scripture" --- 1963

Box 25

Folder 1: Karl Barth Biographical Material
Folder 2: Lectures on "The Theology of Karl Barth", Reformed Fellowship
Folder 3: Review: Barth's Vol IV Doctrine of Reconciliation --- 1957
Folder 4: Critique: Barth's Doctrine of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Folder 5: Article: "Karl Barth, Evangelicals and Revelation" --- 1987
Folder 6: Article: "Barth and the Future of Evangelical Theology"
Folder 7: Karl Barth and Christmas
Folder 8: Research Material on Barth's Doctrine of God
Folder 9: Papers/dialog on Karl Barth
Folder 10: Paper: "Karl Barth's View of the Image of God in Man"
Folder 11: Paper: "Berkhower on Barth"
Folder 12: Articles on the Soteriology of Karl Barth
Folder 13: Theological Views of Karl Barth
Folder 14: Article: "Karl Barth's Doctrine of Election" --- 1961
Folder 15: Class Notes Basel --- 1960
Folder 16: Letters Describing Karl Barth's Funeral --- 1968

Box 26

Folder 1: Course Material: Church and Kingdom
Folder 2: Essay" Calvinistic Philosophy" --- 1948
Folder 3: Notes on the Book of Acts --- 1986
Folder 4: Course Notes: Eschatology
Folder 5: Article: "Perspectives on the CRC" --- 1983
Folder 6: Article: "The Seminarian and Systematic Theology"
Folder 7: Article: "The Reformation and Theology"
Folder 8: Article: "Response to Dr. H.B. Weijland" RES --- 1980
Folder 9: Article: "Theological Trends During the Past Quarter Century" --- 1974
Folder 10: Article: "The Biblical Method of Salvation: A Case for Continuity" --- 1988
Folder 11: Articles: "The Nature of Man"
Folder 12: Article: "Scripture and Tradition in the R.E.S. --- 1985
Folder 13: Article: The Identity of the Church in the Reformed Confessions" --- 1986
Folder 14: Article: "The Death of God in Theology" --- 1967
Folder 15: Paper: "The Covenant and Discrimination" --- 1985
Folder 16: Letters from Basel --- 1960
Folder 17: Lecture: "Calvin's Attitude Toward the Heldelberg Catechism --- 1990
Folder 18: Speech: "American Freedom and the Christian School"
Folder 19: R.E.S.: South Africa --- 1978
Folder 20: Notes re: Belhar Confession
Folder 21: Article: "Covenant, Church and Kingdom in the New Testament"
Folder 22: Convocation Address, "Four R's" --- 1967
Folder 23: Article: "The Priority of Ursinus in the Composition of the Heldelberg Catechism"
Folder 24: Committee on the Inspiration of Scripture, RES
Folder 25: Book Review: "Carl F.H. Henry"

Box 27

Folder 1: Sermons, Old Testament
Folder 2: Sermons, New Testament
Folder 3: Correspondence with Reverend Jean Rajonarivony
Folder 4: Articles Regarding "Common Grace"
Folder 5: Papers on the Covenant
Folder 6: Paper: "Scripture and Tradition in the Res"
Folder 7: Speech: "Herman Bavink on Scripture, Inspiration, Infallibility"
Folder 8: Article: "What's Happening to our Churches" --- 1982
Folder 9: Dictionary of Christian Ethics, "Merit" and "Supperogation"
Folder 10: Article: "John Calvin the Theologian"
Folder 11: Speech: "American Freedom and the Christian School"