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The 1961 Calvin College
Richard Drost served as assistant professor of history from 1939-1941 and associate professor from 1941-1945. His term as professor of history was from 1945 until retirement in 1961. He served as chairman of the department from 1954-1956.
Three years after his birth in Wautena, Friesland, the Netherlands, the Drost family moved to the United States where his father, Rev. F. J. Drost, served churches in Whitinsville, Massachusetts; Eastmanville, Michigan; Byron Center, Michigan; Los Angeles, California; Oak Harbor, Washington; and Otley, Iowa. Richard’s early education was in schools in places where his father served. His undergraduate work was at Calvin Academy (1907-1909); Occidental (1914-1917); University of Washington (1917); and Central College (1924-1925). He received his MA (1926-1927) and PhD at the University of Iowa (1930-1931). The PhD dissertation was on "Forced Labor in the South Pacific."
Before coming to Calvin College, Drost taught in Christian schools in Kalamazoo, Chicago, and Peoria (1909-1914); in high schools in Peoria and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (1921-1929), and at Central and Simpson colleges (1929-1939).
During his tenure at Calvin College, Drost served on various committees at the college as well as serving as elder at Sherman Street CRC (1941-1946) and at Calvin CRC (1947-1949 and 1950-1953). He was a leader of Men’s Society and of Young Men’s Society.
When Richard Drost passed away, January 28, 1972, he was survived by his wife, Minnie; two daughters, Sheila (Mrs. O. Buus) and Josephine (Mrs. M. Geerdes); and a son, Albert F.
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