COLL/298 Guide to the Catherine Van Opynen Collection Van Opynen, Catherine Collection

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Hekman Library 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI, 49546 URL: http://archives.calvin.edu Email: crcarchives@calvin.edu Phone: 616-526-6913 Fax: 616-526-7689
This finding aid was encoding in EAD by Archon 3.21 from an SQL database source on March 28th, 2024. The collection description/finding aid is written in English
Guide to the Catherine Van Opynen Collection 1904/1960 Heritage Hall, Hekman Library Overview of the Collection Catherine Van Opynen Collection 1904-1960 COLL/298 Van Opynen, Catherine, 1915-1979 1.50 3 Boxes Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Hekman Library 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI, URL: http://archives.calvin.edu Email: crcarchives@calvin.edu Phone: 616-526-6913 Fax: 616-526-7689
Dean of women and professor of education at Calvin College. The collection includes correspondence, files on faculty committee activities, teaching, counseling, and student housing.
Biographical Information:

Catherine Van Opynen was born in Grand Haven, Michigan on August 24, 1915. She graduated from Grand Haven Public High School in 1932 and went off to Calvin College for her undergraduate studies. She graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor's degree in 1938. Van Opynen accepted a teaching position at Southwest Christian School in Grand Rapids. She attended a Teachers College at Columbia University during her summers, earning her first master's degree in 1945.

In 1946 Van Opynen accepted a faculty position in Calvin College's English Department teaching freshman English. She also taught geography. Only a year later Van Opynen accepted the position of Dean of Women. She would hold the title until 1967. During her time as Dean of Women she was known as a tireless worker and held a high moral standard. She even earned her second master's degree in education from the University of Michigan in 1957. After she resigned from her Dean of Women position, she was appointed to assist in the Psychology department and Psychological Institute as counselor at Calvin College.

Dean and professor Van Opynen served Calvin College in many capacities. She served on the Religious & Social Committee, Dorm & Dining Hall Committee, and Social & Special Academic Activities Committee to name just a few. She also a member of the National Association of Deans of Women, Michigan Academy of Arts & Science, and American Association of University Women. Van Opynen was an active member of her church as well. She played the organ and served as a Sunday school teacher for many years at Grand Haven CRC. She was a Bible leader at Eastern Avenue and Seymour CRC.

Due to a lingering illness, Catherine Van Opynen passed away on September 22, 1979.

Arrangement of Materials:

Folder level description

Detailed List of Contents id25989 General Papers id25990 1 id25991 1 1 Letter from Calvin and Ad Hoc Report id25992 1 2 Graduate Studies Committee id25993 1 3 Religious and Social Activities Committee id25994 1 4 Geography Committee id25995 1 5 Speeches and articles id25996 1 6 Readings id25997 1 7 Education papers id25998 1 8-9 Faculty materials id25999 2 id26000 2 1 Lesson plans id26001 2 2 Education material id26002 2 3 Pictures colored by children for C. Van Opynen id26003 2 4 Textbook material id26004 2 5 Term paper id26005 2 6 Geography papers id26006 2 7 7th grade lit papers id26007 2 8 6th grade children's lit papers id26008 2 9 5th grade children's lit papers id26009 2 10 4th grade children's lit papers id26010 2 11 3rd grade children's lit papers id26011 2 12 2nd grade children's lit papers id26012 2 13 1st grade lit papers; binder id26013 3 id26014 3 1 Notebooks id26015 3 2 Social conduct paper id26016 3 3 Board material 1904 id26017 3 4 Girls Fellowship Club id26018 3 5 Student Affairs papers id26019 3 6 Counseling and guidance id26020 3 7 Privates Club