COLL/052 Guide to the Harry G. Dekker Collection Dekker, Harry G. 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 Harry G. Dekker Collection 1909/1952 Heritage Hall, Hekman Library Overview of the Collection Harry G. Dekker Collection 1909-1952 COLL/052 Dekker, Harry G., 1887-1980 1.00 0.50 cubic ft. 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
Professor of chemistry and registrar at Calvin College. Letters from the Curatorium and Board of Trustees at Calvin; dissertation entitled "Contributions to Chemistry by Holland" and a thesis on mechanical engineering. [See also the Campus Titles Database.]
Biographical Information:

Son of Abram and Hendrika Dekker, Harry G. Dekker was born in Roseland, Chicago on March 15, 1887. Dekker graduated from Amour Institute of Technology in 1909, earning a B.S. degree in Chemistry. After graduation, Dekker went into private business until 1914 where he began teaching at Chicago area high schools.

In 1920, Dekker went on to become principal and a chemistry teacher at Holland Christian High. However, it was not long until Dekker accepted a faculty position at Calvin College. In 1921, he became professor of chemistry and in 1922 as registrar. In the meantime, Dekker received his M.S. degree from the University of Chicago in 1928. Due to increasing enrollment at Calvin, Dekker became a full-time registrar for the college in 1951. After a 37-year career at Calvin, Dekker retired.

On a personal level Harry G. Dekker was a both a churchman and a family man. The Dekkers attended the Neland Avenue Church. Dekker served as an elder as well as president of the Young Men’s Society for several years. In 1915, Dekker married Mae Kleinhuizen. Together they had four children-Mary Dekker Hall, Ahleen Dekker Heynen, Charles Dekker, and Doris Dekker Smedes. After 55 years of marriage, Mae passed away on March 3, 1970. Ten years later, Dekker also passed away in June of 1980. He was survived by his four children, 16 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Access Terms

This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Corporate Name: Calvin College. Board of Trustees Topical Term: Chemistry Mechanical engineering
Arrangement of Materials:

Folder level description

Detailed List of Contents id11061 Letters, thesis, and paintings 1909-1952 id11062 1 id11063 1 1 Letters from the Curatorium and Board of Trustees of Calvin from the files of Professor Harry G. Dekker 1921-1952 id11064 1 2 Thesis: The Effect in Economy of an Automobile Engine of Varying the Igniter and Fuel Valve Opening May 27, 1909 id11065 1 3 Paintings, reproduction art id11066 1 Bound copy: Contributions to Chemistry By Holland, dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in candidacy for the degree of Master of Science 1929