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 14: Correspondence --- 1920-1975

Box 27

Folder 1: Ann to W. H. J. --- (undated)
Folder 2: To Dirk and Mary Jellema --- 1962
Folder 3: Bade, Herman on teaching philosophy at Calvin College
Folder 4: Bahm, Archie on dissertation submitted to W. H. J.
Folder 5: Bajema, J. on information in textbooks --- 1928
Folder 6: Beversluis, N. H. on philosophy of education, response
Folder 7: Book publishers --- 1922-1953
Folder 8: Calvin College period correspondence --- 1920-1936
Folder 9: Calvin College period correspondence --- 1948-1963
Folder 10: Christianity Today correspondence from Carl Henry on anticipated article --- 1956-1958
Folder 11: Costen, Johannes A. --- 1922
Folder 12: De Vries, Peter on critical observations --- 1932
Folder 13: Grand Valley State College period --- 1963-1975
Folder 14: Henry, Carl F. H. on scanning manuscript for publication --- Jan-46
Folder 15: Hoogstra, J.; invitation to join Christian Action Committee --- 1947
Folder 16: Keegstra, Neal; patient at Pine Rest, response --- 1934
Folder 17: Kort, Henry; response, on Christian education --- 1959-1960
Folder 18: Indiana University correspondence --- 1936-1948
Folder 19: Men's Forum, Third CRC of Kalamazoo --- Sep-48
Folder 20: Mission matters, letters from Bosscher, Bouma, etc.
Folder 21: National Union of Christian Schools, correspondence on Christian philosophy of education --- 1951
Folder 22: Postma, Richard on desire for reading list --- 1950
Folder 23: Publication Committee of The Banner from Calvin College, to editor on reference to Calvin College, --- September 23, 1950
Folder 24: Roelofs, Gerrit E. on political and personal news --- 1933
Folder 25: Rooks, Wendell H. on problems of faith and reason, response --- 1933
Folder 26: Ryskamp, H. on "History of Calvin College" --- 1966
Folder 27: Schipper, Gerrit; letter of appreciation --- 1933
Folder 28: Student recommendations --- 1926-1935
Folder 29: Van Andel, H. G. to J. Hoostra on Jellema's speech --- Aug-43
Folder 30: Van Til, H.; from W. H. J. concerning Grundy College --- 1925
Folder 31: Who's Who in America --- 1948
Folder 32: Letters from relatives (Rotterdam) written after World War II