Henry Beets Collection, 1824-1981 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Henry Beets Collection, 1824-1981

Predominant Dates:1910-1945

ID: COLL/011

Primary Creator: Beets, Henry (1869-1947)

Extent: 34.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged according to record type since the material was sorted several times prior to deposit in the Archives. No indication of the original order remains.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1962

Subjects: Banner, Calvinism, Christian Reformed Church, Immigrants - North America, Missionary Monthly, Navajo Indians, Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk - History - Secession, 1834, Zuni Indians

Forms of Material: Photographs, Sermons

Languages: English, Dutch;Flemish

Abstract

Henry Beets (1869-1947) was born in Koedijk, the Netherlands. He emigrated to the United States and was a minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The collection details his theological training, his parish ministries in Pella, Iowa, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his interests in ecumenical contacts and mission outreach, particularly to the Zunis and Navajos of the western United States. He was a prolific writer on the Christian Reformed Church, Reformed religion, Dutch Calvinism, Dutch immigrants to North America, and related topics. The collection also contains his research notes, drafts, and final publications on these topics and a large collection of pamphlets on the Reformed churches following the secession of the State Church in the Netherlands in 1834.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The correspondence details Beets's extensive contacts and interests in denominational and church histories. An index of significant correspondents is available. Of note are his biographical notes on Christian Reformed Church (CRC) ministers and mission efforts, particularly regarding Johanna Veenstra. The sermons reflect Dutch Reformed Calvinism as it took root in North America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The speeches reflect a wide range of topics varying from missions in the United States, Canada, China, and Africa to arriving Dutch immigrants. There are speeches and articles on patriotism during the WW I years. His research and manuscripts present a wide range of subjects. Especially noteworthy are those on the history and development of the CRC. Beets gathered together a sizable pamphlet collection which he had bound. An alphabetical index by author is available.

Collection Historical Note

Henry Beets (b. Koedijk, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands, 5 January 1869; d. Grand Rapids, MI, 29 October 1947) graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1895. He immigrated to Luctor, Kansas, in 1886. After graduating he served as a parish minister in the Christian Reformed Church. He served the congregations of Sioux Center, Iowa, 1895-1899; LaGrave Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1899-1915; and Burton Heights, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1915-1920. A prolific writer, he began his writing as the associate editor of Gereformeerde Amerikaan. In 1902 he headed a group that purchased The Banner, and served as its editor for twenty-five years. During this time the periodical became the official English-language publication of the Christian Reformed Church. Later he also became editor and publisher of the Reformed Review and De Heidenwereld (Missionary Monthly). In addition, he published a number of pamphlets and books. Interested in missions, he became the denominational secretary of the Board of Missions in 1901, a position that became full time in 1920. At the same time, he served for forty years as the denomination's first stated clerk. He also served as a member of a joint committee to revise the metrical versions of the Psalms for which he was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by Muskingum College. In 1934 he was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina and awarded the Order of Orange Nassau for his support of Dutch culture. He retired in 1939. Beets married Clara Poel on 11 September 1895. They had three sons: Henry Nicholas, Abel Jasper, and William Clarence.

Biographical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Banner
Calvinism
Christian Reformed Church
Immigrants - North America
Missionary Monthly
Navajo Indians
Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk - History - Secession, 1834
Zuni Indians

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 72 boxes

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to research. Materials do not circulate.

Acquisition Source: Gift of William B. Eerdmans, 1962

Preferred Citation: [item], folder, box, Henry Beets Collection, Heritage Hall (Hekman Library), Calvin University

Other Note: Collection partly in Dutch

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1875-1947],
[Series 2: Sermons, 1887-1945, undated],
[Series 3: Speeches, 1900-1940, undated],
[Series 4: Articles, 1900-1981, undated],
[Series 5: Biographical Files],
[Series 6: Research],
[Series 7: Manuscripts],
[Series 8: Christian Reformed Church Missions, 1918-1947, undated],
[Series 9: Various Organizations and Events],
[Series 10: Clippings, Miscellaneous],
[Series 11: Photos],
[Series 12: Personal Files],
[Series 13: Emigration to Canada, 1925-1932],
[Series 14: Pamphlets, 1902-1950],
[Series 15: Marriage Licenses, 1896-1913],
[Series 16: Scrapbooks, 1846- [1942]],
[Series 17: Bound Volumes],
[Series 18: Microfilm],
[All]

Series 4: Articles --- 1900-1981, undated

Box 25

Folder 1

Item 1: About the Dutch West Indies
Item 2: De Amerikaanse Synode in zitting --- 1938
Item 3: Archives of Our Churches --- 1916
Item 4: Bij de herdenking van Calvijn's geboortedag --- 1909
Item 5: Christian Reformed Church in North America

Folder 2

Item 1: Our Confession of Faith and Its Author --- 1929
Item 2: Dutch Stock in the USA
Item 3: Early Period of the True Reformed Dutch Church, editorial
Item 4: Flying Trip through Our Northwest

Folder 3

Item 1: Gala Day for Hope College, [ca 1941]
Item 2: Golden Jubilee of Worthy Dutch Institution, Grand Rapids, Michigan --- 1942
Item 3: H. P. Scholte's leven en streven in Noord-Amerika
Item 4: Hollanders in North America, Contemporaneous History
Item 5: De inwendige zending voorop
Item 6: Introduction

Folder 4

Item 1: Mission Work of Our Churches
Item 2: Notes on the Pioneer Churches and Pastors and the Ministers --- 1931
Item 3: Over predikanten en kerkelijk !even in een Noord Hollandsch dorp --- 1924
Item 4: Protestant Religious Life in Brazil
Item 5: Recente religieuze stroomingen in Noord Amerika --- 1934

Folder 5

Item 1: De Ware Gereformeerde Hollandse Kerk in de V. S. --- 1822-1890
Item 2: What the Dutch in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Have Done for the Dutch in the Netherlands --- 1945

Folder 6

Item 1: Het Zendingswerk der Chr. Geref. Kerk in Noord Amerika
Item 2: De Zending onzer kerken --- 1930

Folder 7: Miscellaneous short articles

Folder 8: Miscellaneous short articles

Folder 9: Encyclopedic articles and correspondence

Folder 10: Encyclopedic articles and correspondence

Folder 11: Encyclopedic articles and correspondence

Folder 12

Item 1: Beets
Item 2: Dr. Beets op de terugreis
Item 3: Untitled auto-biography of Beets --- 1929
Item 4: Letter concerning Beets's conversion --- 1981

Folder 13: Thorough Calvinists: History and Tenets of Christian Reformed Church, Detroit News-Tribune, 21 January 1900