Henry Beets Collection, 1824-1981 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Henry Beets Collection, 1824-1981

Predominant Dates:1910-1945

ID: COLL/011

Primary Creator: Beets, Henry (1869-1947)

Extent: 34.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged according to record type since the material was sorted several times prior to deposit in the Archives. No indication of the original order remains.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1962

Subjects: Banner, Calvinism, Christian Reformed Church, Immigrants - North America, Missionary Monthly, Navajo Indians, Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk - History - Secession, 1834, Zuni Indians

Forms of Material: Photographs, Sermons

Languages: English, Dutch;Flemish

Abstract

Henry Beets (1869-1947) was born in Koedijk, the Netherlands. He emigrated to the United States and was a minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The collection details his theological training, his parish ministries in Pella, Iowa, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his interests in ecumenical contacts and mission outreach, particularly to the Zunis and Navajos of the western United States. He was a prolific writer on the Christian Reformed Church, Reformed religion, Dutch Calvinism, Dutch immigrants to North America, and related topics. The collection also contains his research notes, drafts, and final publications on these topics and a large collection of pamphlets on the Reformed churches following the secession of the State Church in the Netherlands in 1834.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The correspondence details Beets's extensive contacts and interests in denominational and church histories. An index of significant correspondents is available. Of note are his biographical notes on Christian Reformed Church (CRC) ministers and mission efforts, particularly regarding Johanna Veenstra. The sermons reflect Dutch Reformed Calvinism as it took root in North America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The speeches reflect a wide range of topics varying from missions in the United States, Canada, China, and Africa to arriving Dutch immigrants. There are speeches and articles on patriotism during the WW I years. His research and manuscripts present a wide range of subjects. Especially noteworthy are those on the history and development of the CRC. Beets gathered together a sizable pamphlet collection which he had bound. An alphabetical index by author is available.

Collection Historical Note

Henry Beets (b. Koedijk, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands, 5 January 1869; d. Grand Rapids, MI, 29 October 1947) graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1895. He immigrated to Luctor, Kansas, in 1886. After graduating he served as a parish minister in the Christian Reformed Church. He served the congregations of Sioux Center, Iowa, 1895-1899; LaGrave Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1899-1915; and Burton Heights, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1915-1920. A prolific writer, he began his writing as the associate editor of Gereformeerde Amerikaan. In 1902 he headed a group that purchased The Banner, and served as its editor for twenty-five years. During this time the periodical became the official English-language publication of the Christian Reformed Church. Later he also became editor and publisher of the Reformed Review and De Heidenwereld (Missionary Monthly). In addition, he published a number of pamphlets and books. Interested in missions, he became the denominational secretary of the Board of Missions in 1901, a position that became full time in 1920. At the same time, he served for forty years as the denomination's first stated clerk. He also served as a member of a joint committee to revise the metrical versions of the Psalms for which he was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by Muskingum College. In 1934 he was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina and awarded the Order of Orange Nassau for his support of Dutch culture. He retired in 1939. Beets married Clara Poel on 11 September 1895. They had three sons: Henry Nicholas, Abel Jasper, and William Clarence.

Biographical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Banner
Calvinism
Christian Reformed Church
Immigrants - North America
Missionary Monthly
Navajo Indians
Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk - History - Secession, 1834
Zuni Indians

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 72 boxes

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to research. Materials do not circulate.

Acquisition Source: Gift of William B. Eerdmans, 1962

Preferred Citation: [item], folder, box, Henry Beets Collection, Heritage Hall (Hekman Library), Calvin University

Other Note: Collection partly in Dutch

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1875-1947],
[Series 2: Sermons, 1887-1945, undated],
[Series 3: Speeches, 1900-1940, undated],
[Series 4: Articles, 1900-1981, undated],
[Series 5: Biographical Files],
[Series 6: Research],
[Series 7: Manuscripts],
[Series 8: Christian Reformed Church Missions, 1918-1947, undated],
[Series 9: Various Organizations and Events],
[Series 10: Clippings, Miscellaneous],
[Series 11: Photos],
[Series 12: Personal Files],
[Series 13: Emigration to Canada, 1925-1932],
[Series 14: Pamphlets, 1902-1950],
[Series 15: Marriage Licenses, 1896-1913],
[Series 16: Scrapbooks, 1846- [1942]],
[Series 17: Bound Volumes],
[Series 18: Microfilm],
[All]

Series 6: Research

Box 27

Folder 1

Item 1: 25-jarige evangelie bediening door Rev. H. Huisingh
Item 2: Address by Rev. H. Hoeksema
Item 3: Untitled
Item 4: Confession of Sin of David
Item 5: Scripture Reading from John 1

Folder 2

Item 1: Extract / Notulen True Dutch Ref. Church
Item 2: Untitled
Item 3: Notebook
Item 4: Notes Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa
Item 5: Notes on Sunday Sabbath

Folder 3

Item 1: Canonical Significance of the Apocalypse of John
Item 2: Development of the English --- Hymn
Item 3: Distinctive Features of the Universal Church
Item 4: Distinctive Things for Which My Denomination Stands and Why
Item 5: Distinctive Features of the Congregational Churches
Item 6: De Gereformeerde Doopsleer

Folder 4

Item 1: Herinnering aan de 25-jarige ambtsbediening; onderzoek ons toegezonden door Rev. F. Wellandt
Item 2: Nederlandse Landkolonisatie en inwendige Zending
Item 3: Netherlands
Item 4: New Force for Use in the Church
Item 5: De Oorsprong van onze Theologische School
Item 6: President's Address
Item 7: Protestantism, a Symposium

Folder 5

Item 1: Raport in re - Prof. Janssen
Item 2: School and the Alumni
Item 3: Scientific Political Training of President Coolidge
Item 4: Speech of Respresentative B. J. Jonkman . . .
Item 5: Three Points of Synod, lecture

Folder 6

Item 1: Triennial Convention of the Norwegian
Item 2: Lutheran Church of America
Item 3: Various Thoughts on the Restoration to Church Membership . . . "Wedergeboorte door het geloof en Genadeverbond"
Item 4: What the CRC Stands For and Why
Item 5: What the Distinctive Features of My Denomination Stand For and Why

Folder 7: Source Listings

Folder 8: Materials re: School Amendement --- 1920

Folder 9: Dutch Immigration to Colorado --- 1923

Folder 10: Church Statistics - Michigan

Folder 11

Item 1: Pilgrims
Item 2: Dutch Reformed Churches
Item 3: Sunday Sabbath Question

Folder 12: True Reformed Dutch Church

Folder 13: True Reformed Dutch Church

Box 28

Item 1: Christian Reformed Church, Prof. Kromminga, Volbeda
Item 2: Documents, H. Beets (translation of "The History of the Christian Reformed Church," by Cornelius L. Van Duyn)
Item 3: Ecclesiastical Records. State of New York, Volume I
Item 4: Overdruk uit Nederlandsch Archief voor Kerkgeschiedenis
Item 5: Selected humorous stories - topically arranged
Item 6: Sixty-five Errors of Unconditional Election, Everett G. Sisk
Item 7: Moslem World

Box 29

Item 1: Conference reports, minutes, etc.
Item 2: Pamphlets and Unbound Volumes
Item 3: Mission Biography
Item 4: Mission Library
Item 5: North American Indians