COLL/495 Guide to the Emo Folkert Johan Van Halsema Collection Van Halsema, Emo Folkert Johan 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
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Guide to the Emo Folkert Johan Van Halsema Collection 1885/1961 Heritage Hall, Hekman Library Overview of the Collection Emo Folkert Johan Van Halsema Collection 1885-1961 COLL/495 Van Halsema, Emo Folkert Johan, 1890-1964 1.00 2 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
Minister of the Christian Reformed Church; editor of the periodical De Wachter; and lecturer in modern languages at Calvin College. The collection includes correspondence, postcards, diaries, news clippings, articles, sermons, devotionals, a diploma, family genealogy, and photographs.
Biographical Information:

Son of Rev. Gerard Van Halsema, Emo Folkert Johan Van Halsema was born in Kampen, Overijsel, Netherlands on December 2, 1890. In 1909, at the age of 18, Van Halsema travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. When he arrived, Van Halsema began to work in a shirt factory in Paterson, New Jersey. Shortly afterwards, he was drafted into teaching at Christian schools. He was eventually persuaded to become the principal-teacher in Lucas, Michigan. While teaching, he met his bride-to-be, Nellie Lucas, who was the other teacher in the two-room school.

In 1918 Van Halsema entered Calvin Theological Seminary, and by 1921 he earned his B.D. His first call to service came from East Paris, MI, where he served until 1925. His other charges include: Fuller Av. Grand Rapids, MI (1925-30); Northside, Passaic, NJ (1930-48); and lastly First, Hudsonville, MI (1948-55). During this time two other important honors where bestowed upon Rev. Van Halsema. First he earned his Th.M. from Union Theological Seminary in 1933. Second, he became the co-editor of De Wachter in 1934 and editor in 1948. He remained with De Wachter for thirty years.

In 1955 Rev. Van Halsema joined Calvin College's faculty as lecturer in modern languages. Rev. Van Halsema retired in 1961. During Rev. Van Halsema's career, he has served as a delegate to the synod eight times. He was elected clerk of the Frist Reformed Ecumenical Synod at Grand Rapids in 1946. He also was a member of the United States committee of the World Evangelical Fellowship. Emo Folkert Johan Van Halsema passed away on March 9, 1964. He suffered a stroke and passed away at Butterworth Hospital. He was survived by his wife, Nellie, their three sons, and 26 grandchildren.

Arrangement of Materials:

Folder level description

Detailed List of Contents id33210 Correspondence 1909-1960 id33211 1 id33212 1 1-6 Correspondence 1909-1960 id33213 Subject Correspondence 1923 id33214 1 id33215 1 7 Correspondence re: appointment to teach at Curatorium (Thelogical School and Calvin College) 1923 id33216 Ministerial Materials 1905-1961 id33217 1 id33218 1 8 Hand written booklet: scriptural comparisons [1905?] id33219 1 9 Hand written booklet: practice sermons 1906-1909 id33220 1 10 Instruction re: R. Janssen for Classis Grand Rapids East from the East Paris CRC consistory [1922?] id33221 1 11 Materials re: Call to Northside CRC (Passaic, NJ) 1929 id33222 1 12 Materials re: servicemen at Northside CRC (Passaic, NJ) 1942-1946 id33223 1 13 Call letter: Wyoming Park CRC (Grand Rapids, MI) 1945 id33224 1 14 Materials re: Call to First CRC (Hudsonville, MI) 1945 id33225 1 15 WFUR radio talk: "The Treasure of the Heart" [195-?] id33226 1 16 "Panel Discussion," in Lectures 1957: Christian Reformed Ministers' Institute, [Lectures by: Carl Henry, Meredith Kline, Marten Woudstra, Harold Dekker, Stuart Bergsma and panel participants: F. Guillaume, A. Schaafsma, H. Van Andel, T. Van Kooten, E. Van Halsema, and John Verbrugge], 120-138 1957 id33227 1 17 Sermon: "A Martyr's Voice," Reformation Day [1961] id33228 Publications and Writings 1921-1954 id33229 1 id33230 1 18 Devotional contributions: Daily Manna [1921?-1960?] id33231 1 19 Booklet: "The Kingship of Christ," in Four Lectures, (Paterson, NJ, Eastern League of Young Men's Societies), 52-70 1933 id33232 1 20 Periodical: "Hoop op God," Leiding En Troost Predikatien, no. 7, (Jan 1944), 2-8; sermon delivered at West End Collegiate Church (New York) on Sunday 24 January 1943 id33233 1 21 Paper: book review of The Christ of the American Road, by Stanley Jones, (New York, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1944) 1944 id33234 1 22 Articles: "Round Table Talk," The Banner, vol. 81 (Nov 29, 1946), 1399; and "The Sanctified Church," The Banner, vol. 83, 739 June 11, 1948 id33235 1 23 Paper: "Freedom of Expression in the Reformed Framework," speech given to Calvin alumni in Chicago [195-?] id33236 1 24 Booklet: Let Us Go On, [Grand Rapids, Calvin College and Seminary, 1954]; address delivered on the occasion of Calvin College and Seminary 78th Anniversary March 15, 1954 id33237 1 25 What About that Ecumenical Synod?" c1948 id33238 Biographical Materials 1902-1964 id33239 2 id33240 2 1 Student notebooks 1902, 1908, undated id33241 2 2 Diaries and financial notes 1908-1918; 1930-1931 id33242 2 3 Poem: "Morning Thoughts" written for Calvin Preparatory School 1912 id33243 2 4 Debate assignment: resolved that "Synod Should Adopt a Foreign Mission Field" [1912?] id33244 2 5 Travel writings: "Drie Maanden in Iowa," Juni-Sept. 1912 id33245 2 6 Materials re: Teacher's Contract at Lucas, MI 1913 id33246 2 7 School book report: F. Van Eeden, De Kleine Johannes 1916 id33247 2 8 Program: "Commencement," Calvin Preparatory School, etc. 1913 id33248 2 9 Documents: physical exam report, student versification certificate, and registration certificate 1916-1917 id33249 2 10 Clippings re: participation in seminary organizations, i.e., Prism, Chimes, "Nil Nisi Verum," "Credimus ut Intelligamus," Corps, class president; and various announcements 1918-1921 id33250 2 11 Clippings 1927-1965 and undated id33251 2 12 Materials re: 25th wedding anniversary 1945 id33252 2 13 Travel diaries 1960-1961 id33253 2 14 Funeral service program, clippings, and expressions of sympathy 1964 id33254 Family Materials 1899-1984 id33255 2 id33256 2 15 Genealogy and family information 1909-1984; and undated id33257 2 16 Explanatory notes with family documents 1899-1909; and undated id33258 2 17 Van Halsema Family Notebook undated id33259 Photographs 1885-1948 id33260 2 id33261 2 18-19 Photographs including Van Halsema Family Notebook [1885?] - 1948; and undated