William Harry Jellema Collection, 1868-1982 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: William Harry Jellema Collection, 1868-1982

ID: COLL/135

Primary Creator: William Harry Jellema (1893-1982)

Extent: 63.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Philosophy professor at Calvin College and at Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. This extensive collection includes lectures; articles; pamphlets; reports; correspondence; a study entitled “The Curriculum in a Liberal Arts College”; an interview detailing memories of the Christian Reformed Church, its ministers, and the Dutch community; gown, cap, and two hoods; family correspondence and genealogy materials; compact discs; and sound recordings. [See also the Campus Titles Database.]

Biographical Note

William Harry Jellema was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 10, 1893. Jellema attended Calvin College and graduated in 1914. He went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. In 1920, Jellema returned to Calvin, not as a student, but as a professor of philosophy. Jellema served Calvin until 1936 when he accepted a faculty position at Indiana University. While at Indiana University, Jellema served as head of the university’s philosophy department until 1947. Jellema returned once again to Calvin College to teach philosophy, and did so until his “first” retirement in 1963.

A former student of Jellema, Alvin Plantinga once said, “By far, he was the greatest teacher of philosophy I’ve ever encountered and probably the greatest teacher of anything I’ve ever encountered.” Inspired by Jellema, Plantinga also became a philosophy professor at Calvin.

Although “retired,” Jellema accepted an offer from Grand Valley State Colleges to set up the new state school’s philosophy department. Jellema served GVSC until his official retirement in 1975. At the age of 89, the philosophy professor of fifty-five years, William Harry Jellema, passed away at Butterworth Hospital on May 16, 1982. His wife, Frances, preceded him in death, but five of his children survived him: Dirk, Jon, Gay, Mary, and Trudy.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Material, 1910-1980],
[Series 2: Preparatory Years, University of Michigan, 1914-1922],
[Series 3: Early Calvin College Period, 1920-1948],
[Series 4: Indiana University Period, 1937-1953],
[Series 5: The Harvard University Semester, 1938-1939],
[Series 6: Late Calvin College Period, 1948-1963],
[Series 7: Hope College, 1944; Fuller Seminary, 1954-1958],
[Series 8: Haverford College Experience, 1960-1962],
[Series 9: Grand Valley State College Period, 1963-1974],
[Series 10: Philosophy Department, Calvin College, 1928-1959],
[Series 11: Philosophy Department, Calvin College, 1928-1959],
[Series 12: Philosophy Department, Indiana University, 1936-1966],
[Series 13: Bibliographies, 1938-1949],
[Series 14: Correspondence, 1920-1975],
[Series 15: Notes re: Various Subjects, 1923-1974],
[Series 16: Papers, 1917-1962],
[Series 17: Published Articles, 1921-1967],
[Series 18: Speaking Engagements, 1920-1965],
[Series 19: Special Reports, 1926-1969],
[Series 20: Calvin Foundation Activities; Junior College Studies, 1949-1959],
[Series 21: Grand Rapids Christian High Board; Christian Labor Association (CLA) Contacts, 1932-1963],
[Series 22: Resource Material: Abstracts and Articles Reprinted],
[Series 23: Resource Material: Educational Bulletins, Curriculum],
[Series 24: Resource Material: Brochures],
[Series 25: Publications],
[Series 26: Publications, Bound Copies],
[Series 27: Books with Notations],
[Series 28: Resource Material, Brochures, Reprints],
[Series 29: Books, Brochures, Reprints: A - E],
[Series 30: Books, Brochures: E - W],
[Series 31: Published Articles; Resource Material],
[Series 32: Grand Valley State College, Philosophy Department Material, 1967-1969],
[Series 33: Grand Valley State College, Philosophy 101, 1963-1977],
[Series 34: Grand Valley State College, Preliminary Drafts of the Blue Book, 1970-1977],
[Series 35: Grand Valley State College Blue Books, 1967-1973],
[Series 36: Grand Valley State College, Lectures on Ethics],
[Series 37: Artifacts],
[Series 38: Family Correspondence and Genealogy, 1868-1982],
[All]

Series 9: Grand Valley State College Period --- 1963-1974

Box 19

Folder 1: Curriculum Study Committee report and evaluation
Folder 2: Proposal for development of Grand Valley State College, correspondence item
Folder 3: Philosophy Department courses offered
Folder 4: Introduction to Philosophy (101) notes for lectures --- 1963-1964
Folder 5: Introduction to Philosophy (101) examinations --- 1965-1967
Folder 6: Introduction to Philosophy (101) notes for lectures --- 1966-1968
Folder 7: Introduction to Philosophy (101) aids for study of Plato's Republic --- 1969
Folder 8: Introduction to Philosophy (101) aids in reviewing Plato's Euthyphro, mimeographed material
Folder 9: Introduction to Philosophy (101) notes for lectures --- 1973
Folder 10: Introduction to Philosophy (101) outline of lectures in Philosophy 101 --- 1973
Folder 11: Perspectives (202) notes and examination, mimeographed material
Folder 12: Elementary Ethics (205) notes on text used
Folder 13: History of Philosophy, Ancient (301) notes --- 1947-1948
Folder 14: History of Philosophy, Medieval (301) notes for lectures
Folder 15: History of Philosophy, Medieval (303) notes for lectures, mimeographed material from previous years
Folder 16: History of Philosophy, Medieval (303) typed copy of "Aids for Study of the History of Medieval Philosophy" --- 1972
Folder 17: History of Philosophy, Medieval (303) mimeographed notes --- 1972-1973

Box 20

Folder 1: History of Philosophy, Medieval (203), text: Copleston, mimeographed and handwritten notes for lectures --- 1972
Folder 2: History of Philosophy, Modern (304) notes for lectures --- 1962
Folder 3: Ethics (305) sketch of Critique of Pure Reason --- 1962
Folder 4: Ethics (305) notes on Henry and Rand
Folder 5: St. Augustine's Ascent to Wisdom, typed notes --- 1970
Folder 6: Plato's Meno: an analysis of the dialogue, notes on Plato's Crito
Folder 7: Plato's Republic, aids, initial copy of aids for the study of Plato's Republic
Folder 8: Aids for the study of Plato's Republic, revised, mimeographed copy
Folder 9: Aids for the study of Plato's Republic, typed copy --- 1972
Folder 10: Aids for the study of Plato's Republic, mimeographed copy --- 1973
Folder 11: Plato's Euthyphro and outline of the Republic, mimeographed copy
Folder 12: RMCTA (Rocky Mountain Christian Teachers Association) convention materials --- 1964

Box 21

Folder 1: Metaphysics notes for lectures --- 1963

Folder 2: Kant notes for lectures, includes notes --- 1967 and 1957

Folder 3: Kant (490) advanced study, class notes --- 1973-1974

Folder 4: Kant (499) notes and outlines for lectures --- 1973

Folder 5: Hegel's Phenomenology notes for lectures --- 1974

Folder 6: Comments on paper by D. J. Hoitenga "Fideism: Augustinian and Reformed"

Folder 7: Liberal education articles, notes, Philosophy Department --- 1965-1968

Folder 8: The state college and religion, notes and correspondence --- 1966-1967

Folder 9: Varia typed notes on various subjects: tradition and mores, the Janssen controversy, etc.

Folder 10

Item 1: Honorary degree, Doctor --- 14-Jun-70
Item 2: Certificate of Emeritation --- 8-Jun-74