COLL/180 Guide to the Dirk Nieland Collection Nieland, Dirk 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 Dirk Nieland Collection Heritage Hall, Hekman Library Overview of the Collection Dirk Nieland Collection 1924-1954 and undated COLL/180 Dirk Nieland, 1886-1954 1.00 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
Writer and linguist. The collection includes a scrapbook entitled “Sketches from Life” with a detailed listing of the published and unpublished articles, Yankee-Dutch readings, poems, postcards, advertisements, and letters; manuscripts; correspondence; clippings; exercise book; obituary; photocopy photographs; and family photographs.
Biographical Information:

Writer and linguist, Dirk Nieland, was born in the Netherlands in 1886. At the age of 19, Nieland immigrated to the United States. Interested in the dialect of immigrants from the Netherlands to Michigan, he wrote the book, Yankee-Dutch published in 1919. On August 27, 1925, he married Anna De Boer.

His second book, ‘n Fonnie Bisnis, was published in 1929. Nieland could speak five languages fluently – Dutch, English, Friesian, German, and Flemish. He could read French and Spanish as well. Dirk Nieland developed throat cancer and on October 18, 1954, he passed away.

Arrangement of Materials:

Folder level description

Detailed List of Contents id40004 1 id40005 1 1 Scrapbook: Sketches from Life, by Dirk Nieland id40006 1 1 Zonde (p.1) id40007 1 1 Budget System (p.2) id40008 1 1 Honor thy Father and thy Mother (p.3) "De Dichterlijke Koopman" (p.3) id40009 1 1 Kwellingen van een Nieuw Bakken Journalist (pp.5-6) id40010 1 1 My Questionnaire (p.7) id40011 1 1 In de War (pp.7-8) id40012 1 1 Mijn Wandelstok (p.8) id40013 1 1 Our Stove (pp.8-10) id40014 1 1 Ziele-Eenzaamheid (p.10) id40015 1 1 Mien Moedertaal (p.10) id40016 1 1 Beroepskeuze (pp.10-12) id40017 1 1 Our Journalistic Family (pp.12-13) id40018 1 1 Een Avond bij Tinus (pp. 13-15) id40019 1 1 Buurpraatjes (p.15) "Where I Failed" (pp. 15-17) id40020 1 1 Untitled poem in Dutch (p.17) id40021 1 1 A typed story, "Unconditional Surrender," [not published] (pp.26-28) id40022 1 1 Dutchiness (pp.29-30) id40023 1 1 Our Suffragette [signed] (p.30) id40024 1 1 De Vrouw (pp.31-33) id40025 1 1 Ingezonden (presumably to the Journal): letter from A.v.C Huizinga, complaining about Nieland's slandering immigrants, etc. [photocopy] (p. 34) id40026 1 1 De Man in 3 parts (pp.35-37) id40027 1 1 Advertisements for Yankee Dutch from various periodicals; various items as follows, all on p.38: id40028 1 1 B.K.Kuiper, "Beoordeling," from De Wachter id40029 1 1 H.J.C.van Andel, "Boekenschouw," [from Chr.Jl?] Henry Beets, rev. of Yankee Dutch in The Banner id40030 1 1 Advertisement from Eerdmans-Sevensma, publishers for Yankee Dutch id40031 1 1 Two images from A.v.C.Huizinga, in Dutch; one from Henry van Zyl, in English [addressed to "Kloppers," apparently Nieland's nickname from when he and van Zyl were schoolmates in Sauerd, the Netherlands] (p.39) id40032 1 1 Three pictures: from van Andel; from van Zyl; from K. Nienhuis Jr [HBS Sauerd] (p.41) id40033 1 1 Review of Yankee Dutch in Onze Toekomst by "Hans Hansen" [J.C.Hoekstra] (p.42) id40034 1 1 Two postcards from van Andel, newspaper photo of Irene Bergmans, who had just received RN degree. Also a calling card from J. van Hinte, and newspaper obituary notice of Piet Nieland, Dirk's father. id40035 1 1 Letter in Dutch from J.C.Hoekstra (p.43) id40036 1 1 Letter from van Andel as editor of Christian Journal (p.44) id40037 1 1 Copy of a letter from [J.Grotemat?] pointing out various misprints, but also some praise for the writing. Also a "Bijdrage door P.P." in praise of book. (p.45) id40038 1 1 Item from Nieuwsblad v.d. Norden mentions "alleraardigst en interessant.de bijdrage in Yankee Dutch van Dirk Nieland," and several advertisements from Eerdmans. (p.46) 19-Oct-29 id40039 1 1 Two advertisements in Dutch for 'n fonnie bisnis [first advertisement calls it merely fonnie bisnis] from Eerdmans (p.47) id40040 1 1 Common Grace Crossword Puzzle [completed] (p. 48) id40041 1 1 Advertisement in Dutch for 'n fonnie bisnis with D. Lam's portrait sketch of Nieland, (p.49) id40042 1 1 Advertisement in English for same book ("$2.00 postpaid"), (p.50) id40043 1 1 A[mry] v.d. Bosch "The Dutch Communities of Chicago," in Onze Toekomst (23 Dec 1925): Edna Ferber, then mention of Yankee Dutch: "Mencken, in the second edition of The American Language, has a chapter on the Dutch-American vernacular found in western Michigan." (p.51) id40044 1 1 Boek Overzicht, in Het Oosten. Dutch. Very complimentary, with good discussion of Nieland's use of the language and grasp of the context. Author probably H.J.Hoekstra (p.52) (21 Nov 1929) id40045 1 1 Same as above, in Onze Toekomst --note at end hints at authorship (4 Dec 1929) id40046 1 1 Review in The Young Calvinist. Generally favorable but a few strictures: author tries to be too funny at times, etc. (p.53) (Sept 1929) id40047 1 1 Review in De Wachter, in Dutch. Loe Verlak's "...taal is een mengsel van heel eenvoudig Hollandsche en verminkt Engels en past allezins bij Loe'[sic]s intellectuelle ontwikkeling en karacter." Astute assessment. Later, "De kennis van zijn yolk 'in't kerkelikje' is bij den schrijver niet juist..." i.e., no church would bribe a dominee to stay with that church by giving him an auto. (p.53) (11 Dec 1929) id40048 1 1 Grand Rapids Herald: review by Wm Trap Jr. - very astute. (p.54) (24 Nov 1929) id40049 1 1 Grand Rapids Press article on DN, with Lam's portrait of Nieland, (p.55) id40050 1 1 Letter to Young Calvinist by F. ten Hoor referring to earlier review of 'n fonnie bisnis: the review is unfair, etc. Also a note by the editor ("the humor really is a little coarse at times," etc. (p.55) id40051 1 1 H. Bultema in De Beeren of (it does not have "de humor der Schrift....") (p.55) 7-Dec-29 id40052 1 1 A long list of periodicals in US and Netherlands in which reviews of the book appear. (p.56) id40053 1 1 Heidenwereld: item by H.B. (Henry Beets?). Sagacious and friendly review, calls it a caricature. (p.57) Jun-30 id40054 1 1 Brief notice in Der Auslanddeutsche 1 Nov 1930 (note reads 1by William Kloos?") (p.57) id40055 1 1 Item from Haagsche Post (p.57) 4 Jan 1930 id40056 1 1 Review in Standard Bulletin by "Friso," and a reference to Watson's An Irishman's Difficulties with the Dutch Language. (p.57) 3-Jan-30 id40057 1 1 The Banner. H. Schultze calls Nieland's book a caricature but well done; however, he adds, "the type of person [Loe] is disappearing ... let him go." (p.58) 10-Jun-30 id40058 1 1 Het Oosten [J.H. Hoekstra?] ; has the sketch "Henkie Moet en trade leeren" and a few observations. (p.58) 9 Jan 1930 id40059 1 1 Mimeographed advertisement by Eerdmans for Nieland's book, origin unknown. (p.59) id40060 1 1 A letter from D. Wehrens (?): "Eigen Volk" : algemeen tijdschrift voor volkskunde en dialect will place notice [see later item: not placed until Sept 1931]. (p.60) 13-Jan-30 id40061 1 1 Report of De Publicatie Commissie of the Chr. Ref. Synod (presumably) "vergadered Dec.3 1929" has observations on Nieland's talent in this "nieuwe veld," but must distinguish between any advertisement in church paper by Eerdmans and the work advertised. Editor has right to review any book as long as he is able to comment on it, etc. Signed by W. Heyns. (p.61) id40062 1 1 Letter from Wm B. Eerdmans ("The Reformed Press") to Nieland: royalties coming soon ($100) as per agreement, full payment for present edition. .150 copies unsold yet (10 Mar 1930). Proposes "popular edition" to sell for $1.00. (p. 62) id40063 1 1 Wm B. Eerdmans to Neiland: agreement: royalty of 10 percent of retail price on all copies over 1000. (p.63) 19-Aug-29 id40064 1 1 Letter from J.M. Meulenhoff, Uitgever, in Amsterdam: your book won't sell in Nederland, the language is too difficult for non-US emigrants to follow, etc. (p.64) (28 Jan 1930) id40065 1 1 Letter from Niel Keegstra: you have turned out a great book, etc. (p.65) id40066 1 1 Letter from Sully, IA: book is "far from Christian." Signed J.A. Brunsting. (p.65) undated id40067 1 1 H.Hamstra to "Willy," i.e., W.B. Eerdmans. Has had fun with Nieland book, but objects to slanders versus CRC and its people. Must not advertise in church papers. (p.66) id40068 1 1 Letter from Jack Hubbell (q.v.). Saw GR Press item on Dirk (p.67) id40069 1 1 Letter from J.S.Frelinghuysen to C.W. Parmalee in Grand Rapids: has Nieland's book, will write. (p.68) id40070 1 1 Letter from Frelinghuysen, will take pleasure in reading the book (p.69) id40071 1 1 Brieven uit Amerika. long item on book, life in the US, etc. (p.70) 14 Jan 1933 id40072 1 1 Invitation to DN to attend GR Public Library on 16 Nov. during Book Week at an "authors' night." Signed Samuel Ranck, Librarian. (p.71) 2 Nov 1934 id40073 1 1 Letter from relative of Anna Nieland: saw Dirk's name in van Hinte's book, etc.)p.72) 29 Dec 1929 id40074 1 1 Letter from H.L. Mencken; brief. (p.73) 23 Nov 1929 id40075 1 1 Item from Neerlandia. Mysterious: "19 April was de avond voor de Groningers [including Dirk]" (p.73) 19 May 19[24?] id40076 1 1 Letter from Fred Overkamp, partly in Yankee Dutch (poorly done). . (p.74) id40077 1 1 Letter from John Hansens, complimentary. Reminds Nieland of working at Widdicombe and at Phoenix, and of attending "sjurts." (pp.75-77) id40078 1 1 Letter from Kent Scientific Museum (p.78) 16 May 1934 id40079 1 1 Comments on certain terms in book. (p.78) April 1930 Neerlandia: comments on short life of Yankee Dutch. (p.78) 19 Nov 1935 id40080 1 1 Thanks for photo and short biography from S. Ranck, Grand Rapids Public Library, Nieland is to speak on evening of 16 Nov at 8.0 pm. (p.79) 9 Nov 1934 id40081 1 1 Letter from Fred W. Berger [cf Standard Bulletin, ed. Mr Berghage, page 84]. Silly remarks. (p.80) 16 Feb 1935 id40082 1 1 Letter from J.G.Maerckelbach, correspondent for several Dutch papers (p.81) id40083 1 1 Harsh criticism (p.82) 29 Mar 1933 id40084 1 1 van Hinte, "Amerika" in Neerlandia (p.139) on the book. (p.83) Sept 1931 id40085 1 1 Same source "Dirk Nieland's 'De Domme Trein' (p.84) [April 1931] id40086 1 1 (1) GR Press account of East Street train-track vandalism. (2) Holland Aid Society (5 Mar 1938) letter about DN's talk. (3) several items from Standard Bulletin (including all above this item) in Dutch and English by DN. (pp.85-90) id40087 1 1 Standard Bulletin and GR Press: "Netherlands Day...." Nieland to speak. (p.91) [August 1935?] id40088 1 1 Standard Bulletin items in English from Nieland. (p.92) id40089 1 1 Letter from librarian of Godwin Heights Public School asking for copy of book. (p.93) id40090 1 1 Knickerbocker article on Nieland, with photograph of him. Mentions Mencken, who "devoted much space to quoting and commenting on Nieland's work." (pp.94-95) id40091 1 1 Two letters and Eerdmans advertisement circulars. (loose). (pp.95-99) id40092 1 1 pp. 100 and ff. blank. id40093 1 2 id40094 1 2 Peenting, and an account of the genesis of 'n fonnie bisnis [photocopy] [Loe Verlak] id40095 1 2 "Cornelis Goes to Heaven" by Nieland, [doggerel] id40096 1 2 Old Klaas took pride in his work, [manuscript in pencil] id40097 1 2 De Lof der Stront [poem on feces, etc.] id40098 1 2 Major Bowes item undated id40099 1 2 An Dandy Day [Loe's wife's version of Yankee Dutch.] id40100 1 2 "In My Home Town"; (6 ½ pp.) id40101 1 2 Peter Timmer tells gossip about [Groen, H. Hoeksema, Beets] id40102 1 2 Sketch of character's observations on poverty, the Great Depression and a sermon on Solomon, which intimates that hearers need not worry about losing houses, jobs, etc. [Crude satire] (1 ½ pp) id40103 1 2 Sketch on false Yankee Dutch (1 pp.) id40104 1 3 id40105 1 3 Letter from Nieland to Samuel Ranck with biographical sketch, states reasons for writing stories in Yankee Dutch, etc. undated id40106 1 3 Letter from Matt Hancock; business matters 26 August 1945 id40107 1 4 Clippings: Grand Rapids Press photo, story on Nieland, photo story on Stan V' Soske, and "Sweat en Tear” undated id40108 1 5 Exercise book with proposals for stories and poems undated id40109 1 6 Photographs (photocopy) of Piet Nieland, Anna Nieland, and Dirk Nieland; Nieland's death notice from Grand Rapids Press; and funeral program undated id40110 1 7 Photographs: Dirk Nieland portrait [noted on collar]; and pages from an album with family and friends photographs undated