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Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall Collection

Overview

Abstract

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Box 1

Box 2

Box 3

Box 4

Box 5

Box 6

Box 7

Box 8

Box 9

Box 10

Box 11

Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca

Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca

Box 14

Box 15

Box 16

Box 17

Unsorted photographs

Photo albums, slides, and ephemera



Contact us about this collection

Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall Collection, 1856-1939 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

By Jen Vos

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Collection Overview

Title: Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall Collection, 1856-1939View associated digital content.

ID: COLL/585

Primary Creator: Van de Wall, Blanca Crooswijk (1882-1940)

Other Creators: Pohlmann, Wilhelmina Van de Wall (1919-), Van de Wall, Willem (1887-1953)

Extent: 10.7 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Subjects: Dutch Americans - Social life and customs

Languages: English, Dutch;Flemish

Abstract

The Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall Collection consists of a series of letters and photographs from members of the Van de Wall family from 1856-1939. Subjects of the letters include Willem Van de Wall, a harpist who contributed to the field of music therapy.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall collection consists of personal letters and photographs spanning 9 decades and 83 years. This collection is significant in part because Willem Van de Wall’s significant contribution to the field of music therapy. It is also significant due to the insights into daily life in both the Netherlands and the United States at that time.

The photograph collection provides snapshots of daily life, fashion, and material culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Collection Historical Note

Biography

Blanca Crooswijk Beijerman van de Wall

Born October 22, 1882 in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Died January 30, 1940 in ‘sGravenhage (the Hague), Netherlands

Background:

Peter Landberg and Johanna Elisabeth Schellhas had a daughter, Carolina Christina Magdalena Landberg.

In 1843, she married Jan Pieter Bezoet de Bie.

In 1877, their daughter, Carolina Christina Bezoet de Bie married Jozua Johannes Marinus Crosswijk.

They had three daughters:

-Carolina Christina Magdalena (1879-1914) who married Johannes Jacobus Beijerman (1873-1957) (“Jan le Soldat,” second cousin of Johan Beijerman) in 1905. (Tante Crissje)  After Carolina died, he married Tante Mees.

-Blanca Flora (1882-1940) who married Johan Beijerman (1879-1959) in 1904, had a son, Jaap, in 1905 and a daughter, Lien, in 1908.  They later divorced, then Blanca married Willem van de Wall, who had two sons with Helena Adolfona Fruman, Wasili in 1913 and Roel in 1915.

-Frieda (1888-1960) who married Anthonius Reijnier Roosegaarde in 1910 and married Willem Johannes Duysberg in 1920.  (Tante Nookie)

Johan Beijerman had a sister whom Blanca’s children called “Tante Zus.”

1915-1917

Blanca Flora Beijerman Crooswijk went to America with Willem van de Wall in October 1915.  They married January 14, 1917 in New York City. They had two daughters, Blanca (January 17, 1917) and Wilhelmina (March 30, 1919) (whose actual name was Frieda Crooswijk Wilhelmina Ruth).

The family lived in New York City and then Washington DC when Willem was harpist for the US Marine Band at the Wilson White House and later when he toured the US with the orchestra.

Blanca and the children traveled back to Holland and stayed to help with her father’s illness and death.

1921-1923

When they returned, they lived in a large house (“Blanca’s House”) with a barn found for them by friend Ruth Moffett, at Patchoque, Long Island, c. 1921-1924.  In 1921, Blanca and Willem reenacted their wedding, complete with costumes, for the children at daughter Blanca’s request.

At some point, they were reunited with Willem’s two sons, Wasili and Roel.  During visits to family in Holland, Blanca and her children were reunited with her son and daughter, Jaap and Lien.  Apparently, the family preferred travelling on ships of the Holland American Line.

1923-1929

They moved to Allentown PA when Willem became involved with music therapy for the Pennsylvania State government social services.  Blanca became involved in the YMCA, the Lutheran Church and the Order of the Eastern Star.  They lived first on 4th Street, then on East Washington Street.  In 1923 they were living on South St. Cloud Street (Arbicoste House).  Blanca managed many children’s holiday and other special occasion plays and productions including costumes for immigrant children to display their native dress.  The Allentown fairgrounds had a platform for these productions.  Blanca also cared for troubled or neglected children, apparently as foster children, including several relatives’ children.  Blanca’s friend “Tante” Ruth Moffett was Wilhelmina’s (Minny’s) godmother.

1929

After she and the children visited Holland in 1929, Blanca and Willem separated and the children stayed with mother (Moeder) Blanca.  Willem married his academic assistant, Clara Maria Liepmann.  Blanca and the children were on public assistance for a time, though the divorce settlement required Willem to pay a small alimony and support.  Blanca continued her YMCA activities and caring for foster children.

1930s

A few years later she and the children spent some weeks during the summers at Lake Wallenpaupack and Peck’s Pond in Pennsylvania.  They travelled to Holland to visit family, also.  Willem’s son, Wasili, attended boy scout camp; Willem’s son, Roel, spent some time in a state school for disabled children but Blanca had him released.  He later joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

1938-1940

In 1938 Mother Blanca became ill with breast cancer and had surgery.  Wilhelmina (Minny) graduated early from high school and began college at Columbia University’s New College with her sister Blanca in 1935.  During Easter vacation of 1938, the family asked her to leave college to take care of their mother Blanca.  When her mother recovered from her surgery, she sailed back to Holland to be with her family there.  Family friend Roel Houwink bought boat tickets for her and her daughter Minny.

Minny stayed with her mother until her death in January 1940.  She arranged burial as her mother wished, settled her affairs, left Holland just before the Nazi invasion to return to America and re-enroll in New York at Columbia’s school of nursing.

Biographical Note

Blanca Flora Crooswijk was born October 22, 1882 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands to Carolina and Jozua Crooswijk. Blanca was one of three daughters. She married Johan Beijerman (1879-1959) in 1904 and the following year they had a son, Jaap, in 1905. Their daughter, Lien, was born in 1908. They later divorced, then Blanca married Willem van de Wall, who had two sons with Helena Adolfona Fruman, Wasili in 1913 and Roel in 1915. Blanca Crooswijk Beijerman and Van de Wall emigrated to America (October 1915) and were married January 14, 1917. Blanca travelled back to the Netherlands to care for her aging father (1921-1923). She would subsequently make regular trips back to Holland and maintained close correspondence with her Dutch family. Together the Van de Walls had two daughters, Blanca (born 1/17/17) and Wilhemini (born 3/30/1919). During their marriage they lived in Patchoque, Long Island, New York, and Allentown, Pennsylvania. In Allentown she was affiliated with the YMCA, the Lutheran Church, and Order of the Eastern Star. Willem and Blanca divorced in 1929. In 1938 she was diagnosed with breast cancer from which she died in the Hague, Netherlands, January 30, 1940.

Subject/Index Terms

Dutch Americans - Social life and customs

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 19 boxes

Access Restrictions: <span style="color: rgb(16, 55, 93); font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">This collection is open for research use within Heritage Hall.</span>

Acquisition Method: Donation

Preferred Citation: <span style="color: rgb(16, 55, 93); font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">[item], folder, box, Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall Collection, Heritage Hall (Hekman Library), Calvin University</span>


Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1916-1922],
[Box 13: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1918-1931],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Box 18: Unsorted photographs],
[Box 19: Photo albums, slides, and ephemera],
[All]

Box 11
Folder 1: Correspondence - Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk with daughters Minny and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936
Folder 2: Correspondence (non-parents) with Minny and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936
Folder 3: Correspondence - Willem Van de Wall with daughters Blanca and Minny at Columbia University New College --- 1936
Folder 4: Letters from Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk to daughters Minnie and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936-1937
Folder 5: Letters from Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk to daughters Minnie and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936-1937
Folder 6: Letters from Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk to daughters Minnie and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936-1937

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1916-1922],
[Box 13: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1918-1931],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Box 18: Unsorted photographs],
[Box 19: Photo albums, slides, and ephemera],
[All]


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