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Collection Overview
Abstract
Missionary with the Sudan United Missions, Africa. The collection includes photographs, family history, artifacts, and letters written to friends and to Christian Reformed Church societies detailing Nigerian missionary life.
Biographical Note
Johanna Veenstra was born on April 19, 1894 in Paterson, New Jersey. Veenstra attended school as well as received training from a business college. At the age of 14, she commuted to New York City for work as a secretary. Even though she was earning good money and received a promotion, she still felt a longing for something more. One Sunday at the Second CRC in Paterson, she made her public confession of faith. She became determined that her purpose in life was to become a missionary. She promptly became involved with mission projects, and enrolled in the Union Missionary Training Institute. She graduated from the Institute as valedictorian.
At the age of 20, Veenstra wanted to travel to Africa to begin her missionary work, however there was an age requirement of 25. In the meantime, she studied Reformed Doctrine at Calvin College, took practical medicine classes at Bellevue Hospital, and worked with the Paterson Hebrew Mission. In October of 1919, Veenstra finally got to set sail for Africa. With a stop in England, Veenstra boarded another boat for Nigeria. It wasn't until January 20, 1920 that she was able to set foot on Africa's soil. Veenstra still had a long trip ahead of her, 300 miles inland. Veenstra travelled once again by boat then by bicycle to her new home of Takum.
Once she settled in her village, Veenstra found that life wasn't any easier. Veenstra had to boil the water before drinking it, and wore boots so she wouldn't get bitten by poisonous snakes and scorpions. She also had to learn a completely new language to communicate with the native people. Even with all the dangers, Veenstra was determined to spread the gospel.
In 1921 Veenstra was assigned the new task of opening a new post at Lupwe. New grass huts needed to be built as well as a new school. When the only male missionary became sick, it was up to Veenstra and her helper, Miss Haigh, to carry on the mission. The two women continued to preach to the villages of the surrounding villages on their own. After two years, Veenstra's left Nigeria for home on furlough. Once back in the United States, Veenstra spoke to churches about her mission work. Veenstra was anxious to return to Nigeria. Once she returned, she opened a boarding school and a dispensary. Over next few years she expanded the school, the clinic, and organized a church for the converted. In April of 1933, Veenstra was struck with appendicitis. Although she had a successful operation, she still passed away on April 9, 1933. She was buried in Nigeria.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: [General Materials]],
[
Series 2: Photographs],
[All]
- Series 1: [General Materials]
- Box 1
- Folder 1-5: Correspondence --- 1917-1933
- Folder 6: Correspondence --- undated
- Folder 7: Letters, photocopies, Banner and Missionary Monthly --- 1919-1933
- Folder 8: Index to letters written in Banner and Missionary Monthly --- 1919-1933
- Folder 9: Condolences to Johanna's mother --- 1933-1934
- Folder 10: Correspondence, Johanna's mother --- 1935-1936
- Folder 11: Correspondence re: Collection --- 1962-1983
- Folder 12: Family history, Johanna's mother, ca. --- 1933
- Folder 13: Family history, Y. C. Spyksma and H. Brouwer --- 1962-1967
- Folder 14: Paper, 1915; Reformed Doctrine exams --- 1916, 1917
- Folder 15: Pocket notes --- undated
- Folder 16: Notes --- undated
- Folder 17: Memorial Service program --- 1933
- Folder 18: Design for gravestone --- 1933
- Folder 19: Diary excerpts (October 1, 1919 - February 23, 1920) given to P. Stam --- April 16, 1935
- Folder 20
- Item 1: Correspondence: Faye Latome (Schaddelee), 1928-1933 and 2007; and photographs --- 1931, 1932, and undated
- Item 2: Photographs --- 1931-1932, and undated
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Scrapbook, mission related clippings --- 1919
- Folder 2: Booklet, A Memorial Tribute to Miss Johanna Veenstra: Missionary to the Dzompere Tribes of the Sudan United Mission, (cover title: In Loving Memory) [HERH BV3625.S8 V43] --- 1933
- Folder 3: The First Annual Report of the Female, Bible, Missionary and Tract Society of New- Utrecht --- 1826
- Folder 4: Devotional book (annotated) --- 1919
- Folder 5: Hausa Grammar Notes by J. L. Maxwell --- undated
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Bible belonging to Johanna Veenstra
- Folder 2: Medical book used by Johanna
- Folder 3: Johanna Veenstra by Winifred M. Pearce [HERH BV3625.S812 V44] --- 1958
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Indexed Testament in memory of Johanna --- 1933
- Folder 2: Index - Missionary Monthly, subject: Christian Reformed Church and Nigeria --- 1922-1969
- Folder 3: Missionary reports, articles, brochure
- Folder 4: Brochure --- 1970
- Folder 5: Johanna Veenstra, Banner articles [4] by S. Haan --- 1975
- Folder 6: The Story of Johanna Veenstra - Banner articles [25] by M. M. Schoolland --- 1979
- Folder 7: Photographs, Johanna
- Folder 8: Photographs, Union Missionary Training School, Brooklyn, New York
- Folder 9: Photograph, Paterson Hebrew Mission
- Folder 10: Photograph, SUM Conference, Ibi
- Folder 11: Photographs, Johanna and missionaries
- Folder 12: Photographs --- 1932
- Folder 13: Photographs, Africans at Acha and Takum
- Folder 14: Photographs, African personnel
- Folder 15: Photographs, Mai -Yaki, Johanna's mailman
- Folder 16: Photographs, Africans --- undated
- Folder 17: Photographs, dwellings
- Folder 18: Clippings
- Folder 19: Stamps and envelopes [vault]
- Folder 20: Speech of appeal for missions
- Folder 21: Memorial address
- Folder 22: Speaking appointment record
- Folder 23: Correspondence re: remembering Johanna Veenstra in the mission field
- Box 5: Artifacts
- Item 1: shoes
- Item 2: two purses
- Item 3: coin purse
- Item 4: three belts
- Item 5: eye makeup/ medicine holder
- Item 6: napkin ring
- Item 7: loin girdle ("given by Johanna Veenstra, the first year she came home on furlough" - Delia)
- Series 2: Photographs
- Box 1
- Folder 20: Photographs, Johanna and Nelle Breen,1931; group with Johanna and Anne Latome, 1931; Johanna aboard Adriatic, 1932; Johanna in Ireland, 1932; Johanna, undated; and Johanna, portrait --- undated
- Box 4
- Folder 7: Photographs, Johanna
- Folder 8: Photographs, Union Missionary Training School, Brooklyn, New York
- Folder 9: Photograph, Paterson Hebrew Mission
- Folder 10: Photograph, SUM Conference, Ibi
- Folder 11: Photographs, Johanna and missionaries
- Folder 12: Photographs --- 1932
- Folder 13: Photographs, Africans at Acha and Takum
- Folder 14: Photographs, African personnel
- Folder 15: Photographs, Mai -Yaki, Johanna's mailman
- Folder 16: Photographs, Africans --- undated
- Folder 17: Photographs, dwellings
- See also: RG C4.9.1 (Box 186, folder 6), correspondence and press clippings, 1925-1934
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: [General Materials]],
[
Series 2: Photographs],
[All]
