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 38: Family Correspondence and Genealogy --- 1868-1982

Box 63

Folder 1: Correspondence, program and report cards --- 1906-1913
Folder 2: Correspondence while in the army --- 1918
Folder 3: Correspondence --- 1919-1930
Folder 4: Correspondence from the Netherlands --- 1920s: (in Dutch)
Folder 5: Family genealogy materials re: Jellemas in Roseland and Chicago in the nineteenth century
Folder 6: Family genealogy, D. W. Jellema correspondence --- 1881-1926 and undated: (in Dutch)
Folder 7: Family genealogy, correspondence from G. Vos to D. W. Jellema family --- 1910-1925: (in English and Dutch)
Folder 8: Family genealogy, correspondence from H. H. Dobben to Derk and Gertie Jellema (W. H. J. parents) --- 1982
Folder 9: Family genealogy, Harm Hendrick Dobben United States citizen document --- 1868
Folder 10: Family genealogy, Dobben family correspondence --- 1871-1880: (in Dutch)
Folder 11: Family genealogy, Dobben family correspondence --- 1881-1890: (in Dutch)
Folder 12: Family genealogy, Dobben family correspondence --- 1895-1900: (in Dutch)
Folder 13: Family genealogy, Dobben family correspondence --- 1901-1906: (in Dutch)
Folder 14: Family genealogy, correspondence from Dobben family in Grafshaft Bentheim, Germany --- 1873-1881
Folder 15: Family genealogy, correspondence from H. H. Dobben to daughter Geertin (Gertie) --- 1886-1889
Folder 16: Family genealogy, H. H. Dobben correspondence (father of Gertie Dobben Jellema) --- 1892-1893: (in Dutch)
Folder 17: Family genealogy, Grace Hinken correspondence --- 1894-1910: (in Dutch)
Folder 18: Compact discs: "Dr. Jellema Interview;" "Conversation Session (Dirk)" tape2; "WHJ Reminiscing," tape 5 (2 different?); "Communism: Case for Indoctrination," ("in pencil, dictation for a typist") --- Feb 5, 1955