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 12: Philosophy Department, Indiana University --- 1936-1966

Box 23

Folder 1: "The Classics at Indiana University," newsletter --- 1945
Folder 2: Classics Committee reports on curriculum --- 1944
Folder 3: Classics Committee report to Curriculum Committee --- 1946
Folder 4: Correspondence, Philosophy Department --- 1943
Folder 5: Correspondence on Deanship at Indiana University --- 1942
Folder 6: Definitions for dictionary of Education --- 1940
Folder 7: General pattern of the method of exposition of each philosopher or system, outline
Folder 8: Indiana University Foundation proposal for a study of the feasibility of a Christian student foundation --- 1966
Folder 9: Language Committee report to Policy Committee --- 1945
Folder 10: Liberal Arts program, articles, memos, reports --- 1940-1948
Folder 11: "On Liberal Education and the Restoration of the Classics," notes, revisions --- 1943
Folder 12: Liberal education, notes, revisions --- 1944-1945
Folder 13: Definition of Liberal Education, additional revisions

Box 24

Folder 1: Magisterial comprehensives, report --- undated
Folder 2: "Mind" courses, notes, diagrams --- 1954
Folder 3: Minnesota Reading Test scores --- 1952
Folder 4: Numbering system for philosophy courses, diagrams
Folder 5: Personnel records, Philosophy Department --- 1947
Folder 6: Participation in Ph.D. examination for M. W. Deputy, correspondence, reports, outline of thesis --- 1944
Folder 7: Philosophy courses, correspondence and charts --- 1938-1940
Folder 8: Philosophy Department: College of Arts and Science reports and papers --- 1943-1947
Folder 9: Place of religion in a State University, committee correspondence and questionnaires --- 1936-1938
Folder 10: Remodeling of Mitchell Hall, Philosophy Department, correspondence and plans --- 1937
Folder 11: Statement of some objectives in philosophy
Folder 12: Tentative plan for humanities survey course, notes and additional material
Folder 13: Veatch Seminar notes --- 1943