Paul C. Zylstra Collection, 1940-2001 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Paul C. Zylstra Collection, 1940-2001

ID: COLL/490

Primary Creator: Zylstra, Paul C. (1921-2009)

Extent: 5.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The collection includes: reports, correspondence, topic files, bulletins, programs, reviews, questionnaires, notes, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, photographs, diaries, and papers detailing professional and personal activities.

Biographical Note

Paul Calvin Zylstra was born on December 21, 1921 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from high school Zylstra joined the U.S. Army Air Force. After his service, he enrolled at Calvin College. He graduated in 1952 and then went on to Calvin Theological Seminary to pursue a career in ministry. He earned his Th.B. in 1952 and later earned his Th.M. in 1985.

Zylstra first call came from Aetna, Michigan where he served from 1952 to 1956. He went on to serve the congregations of South Grandville, Grand Rapids, MI (1956-64); San Diego, CA (1965-70); Ferrysburg, MI (1970-76); Preakness, Wayne, NJ (1976-81); and Palm Lan, Scottsdale, AZ (1981-87). Rev. Zylstra retired in 1987.

During Rev. Zylstra's career served on Foreign and Home Mission boards and was a member of many Ministerial Unions. He also found time to write articles and published a book at the age 82 entitled, Grand Rapids' West Side Story. Rev. Zylstra was also a gifted athlete and musician. He enjoyed playing baseball, running marathons, and ski jumping. He was also a talented violinist, and was a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra.

On August 2, 2009 Paul Zylstra passed away due to congestive heart failure. He was preceded in death by his wife Suzanne Swier in 2007. He was survived by their four daughters.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: [General Materials]],
[Series 2: Photographs],
[All]

Series 1: [General Materials]

Box 1

Folder 1: Summer assignment at Milwaukee CRC, correspondence and reports --- 1950
Folder 2: Internship at Phoenix CRC, correspondence and reports --- 1957
Folder 3: Pre-ordination period, correspondence --- 1945-1952
Folder 4: Classis Muskegon materials with annotations --- 1952-1955
Folder 5: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1952-1954: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 6: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1955-1956: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 7: Northern Michigan Ministers' Conference minutes --- 1952-1955
Folder 8: Study material for societies of Aetna CRC; pastor's notes

Box 2

Folder 1: Classis Grandville notes annotated --- 1952-1964
Folder 2: Consistory agendas with annotations RESTRICTED --- 1956-1964: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 3: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1956-1962: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 4: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1963: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 5: Family visiting regulations --- 1961
Folder 6: Financial reports, annotated --- 1959-1964
Folder 7: Historical items; dedication service --- 1963
Folder 8: Memorabilia: clippings, programs
Folder 9: Ministerial Alliance notes --- 1960-1963
Folder 10: Suburban Grand Rapids Ministers' Conference notes [secretary] --- 1956-1957

Box 3

Folder 1: Agendas for consistory meetings, annotated RESTRICTED --- 1964-1970: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 2: Book reviews
Folder 3: Chairman of Chapter of the N.A.E. materials --- 1967-1969
Folder 4: Classis California South, annotated material --- 1964-1969
Folder 5: Consistory material, including questionnaire and regulations --- 1964, undated
Folder 6: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1963-1966: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 7: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1966-1967: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 8: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1968-1970: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED

Box 4

Folder 1: Evangelism activities --- 1964-1968
Folder 2: Devotional guide for Young Calvinists on Psalms --- 1966
Folder 3: Program souvenirs and obituaries
Folder 4: Relationship with San Diego County Council of Churches
Folder 5: Sunday school material
Folder 6: Agendas for Ferrysburg council meetings, annotated RESTRICTED: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 7: Classical material annotated --- 1971-1974
Folder 8: Congregational programs, sharing time schedules
Folder 9: Consistory self-study, reports, general regulations
Folder 10: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1969-1972: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 11: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1972-1976: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED

Box 5

Folder 1: Inter Nos schedules and notes --- 1974-1976
Folder 2: Lay-witness material
Folder 3: Ministerial Association of Greater Grand Haven [president] --- 1970-1976
Folder 4: Preaching schedules, radio talks --- 1975, undated
Folder 5: Press clippings of church and pastor
Folder 6: Program souvenirs --- 1971-1976
Folder 7: Tri-Cities Evangelism: constitution, programs, annotated material
Folder 8: Youth Services at Ferrysburg --- 1971-1973

Box 6

Folder 1: Board of Home Missions, member --- 1978
Folder 2: Classical material: notes on agendas and reports --- 1976-1981
Folder 3: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1976-1982: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 4: Eastern Home Mission Board minutes [member] --- 1977-1980
Folder 5: Ecumenical matters --- 1976-1981
Folder 6: Evangelical Committee for Urban Ministries in Paterson --- 1978-1979
Folder 7: Financial reports --- 1977-1978
Folder 8: Pastor's memorabilia: programs for the council, etc
Folder 9: Relationship with Christian Education of Eastern Christian School Association --- 1976-1980
Folder 10: Princeton Institute of Theology session, 30 June - 10 July --- 1980
Folder 11: Tract [Preakness CRC], "How to Have Assurance," --- undated

Box 7

Folder 1: West Side Story, [1998?] and [?] --- 2001
Folder 2: Zylstra family musicians' material
Folder 3: Material on his running career
Folder 4: "The Goldmine in Aetna," an excerpt from an autobiography
Folder 5: Personalized pens (3) --- undated
Folder 6: Material re: Westside Christian School reunion --- 1994
Folder 7: Zylstra Cousins 75th Anniversary Reunion booklet --- 1994
Folder 8: News article on book, Grand Rapids West Side Story --- undated
Folder 9: Photos of thirty years in ministry celebration --- 1982
Folder 10: "In Remembrance" cards
Folder 11: Crystal Flash, softball team material
Folder 12: Reformed Journal articles --- 1961
Folder 13: Papers/radio talks --- 1959, 1979, 1986
Folder 14: Diplomas/awards

Box 8: Diaries, personal Bibles, and video tape of retirement service

Box 9

Folder 1: Correspondence RESTRICTED --- 1942-1968: Access Restriction: RESTRICTED
Folder 2: Correspondence --- 1970-1994
Folder 3: Correspondence --- 1973-1989
Folder 4: Correspondence --- 1990s
Folder 5: Correspondence re: 30th anniversary of ministry
Folder 6: Correspondence re: retirement --- 1987
Folder 7: Paper, "My First Birthday"
Folder 8: Papers written for college courses
Folder 9: Papers written for seminary courses
Folder 10: Paper on the Eucharist/Lord's Supper --- 1961

Box 10

Folder 1: Grammar school/ high school material
Folder 2: Sociology class project --- 1947
Folder 3: Seminary book report --- 1951
Folder 4: Summer assignments; preaching while in seminary
Folder 5: "A Method for Preaching on the Heidelberg Catechism in the CRC," --- 1985
Folder 6: "Looking Back on" --- 1999
Folder 7: Book reviews
Folder 8: "Run Across America" project correspondence --- 1989
Folder 9: Photographs --- 1944-1945
Folder 10: Diary notes --- 1943-1944
Folder 11: Participation at First Baptist Church, Sebring, Florida --- 1944-1945
Folder 12: US Armed Forces materials --- 1945
Folder 13: Material re: Dr. H. Boer's book, Above the Battle

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: [General Materials]],
[Series 2: Photographs],
[All]