Albertus C. Van Raalte Collection, 1829-1997

Collection Overview

Title: Albertus C. Van Raalte Collection, 1829-1997

Predominant Dates:1834-1876

ID: COLL/300

Creator: Van Raalte, Albertus C. (1811-1876)

Extent: 10.3 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Date Acquired: 00/00/1962

Languages: English [eng], Dutch;Flemish [dut]

Abstract

Critical writer in the Afscheiding (church secessionist) movement in the Netherlands; founder and leader of the colony of Holland, Michigan; business entrepreneur; minister of the Reformed Church in America; and advocate for education, as founder of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary at Holland, Michigan. The collection includes correspondence, sermons, essays, speeches, articles, business papers, and personal memorabilia.

[See also the Campus Titles Database; Jacobson's book: A.C. Van Raalte: Dutch Leader and American Patriot [HERH F575 .D9 A6]; Dosker’s book: Levensschets van A.C. Van Raalte [HERH F575 .D9 D6]; Origins, vol. XIX no. 2, 2001]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Albertus C. Van Raalte Collection houses the personal, family, and business papers of A.C. Van Raalte, as well as publications related to him and his work. This collection, which dates from 1829–1997, consists of correspondence, sermons, essays, speeches, articles, business papers, and personal memorabilia, documenting the life and works of A.C. Van Raalte, including his social background as a studious academic and entrepreneur of a brick manufactory in Ommen, his active involvement in the secessionist movement from the Dutch Reformed Church, his encouragement and aid of Dutch immigration to the United States, and his passion for improving the economy and education of the Holland colony.

This collection fits into the broader narrative of immigration to the United States and is unique in focusing not only on the immigration experience of the Dutch, but in examining that experience through the lens of the Holland colony’s foremost leader. In fleeing from religious persecution, the search for freedom colors every page of this immigrant collection, from the most spiritual of sermons to the driest of business papers. Researchers interested in the history of the church Secessionist (Afscheiding) movement, the development of the Holland colony, the background of Hope College, the narrative of the Van Raalte family, and the Dutch immigrant experience—from overcoming colonial struggles to fighting in the Civil War—will all find something to value in this collection.

The collection is arranged into nine series: ‘Personal Papers --- 1829–1995’, ‘Sermons ---1836–1875’, ‘Lord's Day Sermons --- 1836-1844’, ‘Outgoing General Correspondence --- 1837-1876’, ‘Outgoing Family Correspondence --- 1836–1920’, ‘Civil War Letters --- 1862-1952’, ‘Business Papers --- 1840–1909’, ‘Publications by and about A.C. Van Raalte --- 1842-1997’, and ‘Miscellaneous Papers, 1740–1996’. Every series is arranged chronologically, excepting ‘Publications by and about A.C. Van Raalte --- 1842-1997’ and ‘Miscellaneous Papers, 1740–1996’. Neither series has any other perceptible arrangement.

The ‘Personal Papers --- 1829–1995’ series contains certificates, personal and academic papers, essays, notes, speeches, maps, treatises, records, poems, news clippings, articles, constitutions, event programs, photographs, a genealogy, an autobiography, a biography, beekeeping rules, an attendance record, and a passenger list. It covers much of the Van Raalte family’s personal history, from their lives in the Netherlands to traveling to the United States; from becoming American citizens, to the upbringing of Van Raalte’s students and children. Yet there are also extensive articles detailing the Dutch colony in Michigan and Reformed Church history, especially in relation to the Afscheiding movement.

The ‘Sermons ---1836–1875’ series contains sermons, sermon indexes, related writing, an advertisement, a letter, and envelopes. Many of the sermons have corresponding transcripts. For the most part, one folder corresponds to one year of Van Raalte’s sermons, but the folders start spanning periods of a few months at a time during the years 1841–1843: the critical, founding years of the Afscheiding movement. The folders also switch back to covering only a few months at a time in the years 1850–1855: the years comprising the difficult foundation of the Holland colony.

The ‘Lord's Day Sermons --- 1836–1844’ series contains sermons, transcriptions, a sermon ‘logbook’, and related theological writings. Almost every sermon in this series has been transcribed, though none of them are translated. Each sermon preaches about one or more questions from the Heidelberg Catechism.

The ‘Outgoing General Correspondence --- 1837–1876’ series contains letters, transcriptions, translations, photocopies, and envelopes. Most of the letters have accompanying transcriptions and translations. The letters reveal some of the early struggles that the Holland colony faced, as well as the people involved in making it a success.

The ‘Outgoing Family Correspondence --- 1836–1920’ series holds two other, as yet unlabeled, series, titled “Incoming General Correspondence,” and “Incoming Family Correspondence.” It contains personal and business letters, notes, photocopies, transcriptions, translations, archival notes, receipts, and envelopes. Together, this box allows a more comprehensive view of relations between the Van Raalte family and others.

The ‘Civil War Letters --- 1862–1952’ series contains letters, transcriptions, translations, envelopes, thank you notes, archival resources, and the back of a society form. Almost every letter in this series has been transcribed and translated. The letters follow the Van Raalte brothers—Benjamin and Dirk—throughout the war, tracking them from Kentucky to Tennessee, and finally to Virginia. Dirk lost an arm in battle. These letters also show the experience of 2^nd generation immigrants fighting in the American Civil War, as well as the ways the war affected their families and values.

The ‘Business Papers --- 1840–1909’ series contains tax receipts, business receipts, business orders, annual newspaper subscription renewals, note scraps, letters, funding support from the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, land purchase papers, a land title document, tax land deeds, land certificates (complete with six presidential signatures), land contracts, stamps, mortgage documents, warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, redemption certificates, title abstracts, tax rolls, a post office receipt, a statement of account, a dog license, news clippings, logbooks of the city of Holland (1847–1852), Van Raalte’s personal account books, the Land Office’s Graduation Act of 1854, and catalogs of Hope College. The folders have preserved much of the economy of the Holland colony in their pages. From this series, one can see what the colony and the Van Raalte family was purchasing and selling in the years listed above. It also covers all of the land-related transactions that occurred for the colony on the federal, state, and private levels.

The ‘Publications by and about A.C. Van Raalte --- 1842–1997’ series contains a ledger, an inventory of Van Raalte’s library, letters, pamphlets, articles, addresses, a marriage ledger, a fire insurance company advertisement, and transcriptions and translations for many of these items. It focuses specifically on writings and publications by Van Raalte, exploring critical, underlying documents of the Afscheiding movement, as well as those encouraging Dutch immigration to the United States.

The ‘Miscellaneous Papers, 1740–1996’ series contains the land deed for the Dutch colony in Michigan, the programs for the quarterly and centennial celebrations of 1872 and 1947, newspaper clippings, obituaries, a blotter given as a gift to A.C. Van Raalte, maps, A.C. Van Raalte’s pocketbook New Testament, an Autographs book titled “In Memoriam van Rev. A.C. Van Raalte…”, a sketch, two pictures, advertisements, and geographic coordinate tables, presumably for plots of land. As the name suggests, it covers materials related to the Dutch colony and the Van Raalte family that do not fall under the category of any of the other series.

Biographical Note

Albertus Christian Van Raalte was born in the small village of Wanneperveen in the Netherlands on October 17, 1811. When Van Raalte was a junior at the University of Leiden, he changed his course of study from medicine to theology. During this time Van Raalte joined a small circle known as the "Scholte Club," who were considered religious revolutionaries. Among its members were his friend H.P. Scholte, and his brothers-in-law, A. Brummelkamp and S. Van Velzen. When the time came to take his final exam in 1834, he was asked if he knew and agreed with all the Regulations of the Reformed Church. When he was unsure of his answer, he was sent away to research this question in further detail. Upon concluding his research, he told the Reformed Church Board that the Regulations were in contradiction with the word of God. The Board denied his admittance to the Reformed Church.

Van Raalte decided to join the followers of the Afscheiding. He was examined by the Christian Reformed Church synod and was ordained. In 1836, he married Christina Johanna DeMoen. He began to preach throughout the province of Overijssel, primarily in Genemuiden, and Ommen. In 1841, Van Raalte helped industrialize Ommen by founding a brick factory through his family connections. He was able to provide employment to a number of the Ommen poor in this way, but poverty remained dire throughout the province. Aside from poor social conditions, Van Raalte and the other secessionists also encountered persecution and oppression from the liberal government. Van Raalte wanted a place of religious freedom, and so he decided to leave the Netherlands.

He and his followers first wanted to establish a settlement in Java, but the Dutch government refused to permit it. This refusal led Van Raalte in 1846 to journey across the Atlantic Ocean and discover a sanctuary in the United States. After much debate and investigation, Van Raalte and his group decided to settle down in present day Holland, Michigan to begin their colonization. Settlement in the Michigan wilderness proved to be a difficult task for the group. Van Raalte remained a pillar of strength for the immigrants and continued to inspire them. Van Raalte ultimately wanted his people to experience religious freedom, develop their economy, and gain a higher education. In 1849, he organized a census of the colony as part of a petition to the federal government for a wharf on Black River. In 1851 Van Raalte began the groundwork for Hope College. In his family, 7 out of 10 of his children reached maturity. Two of his sons, Dirk and Benjamin, served the Union in the Civil War. Shortly after the war, Van Raalte attempted to found a new Dutch settlement in Amelia County, Virginia. Though this settlement failed after a few years, Van Raalte continued to strive tirelessly for the betterment of the Dutch settlers, through his ministry or his civic projects. Only a few short years after celebrating Holland's 25th anniversary, Van Raalte passed away on November 7, 1876.

Administrative Information

Alternate Extent Statement: 20 boxes

Access Restrictions: Collection held in Heritage Hall; materials are not available for circulation.

Acquisition Source: Gift of William B. Eerdmans Sr.

Related Materials: COLL301: Dirk B.K. Van Raalte Collection

Preferred Citation: [item], folder, box, Albertus C. Van Raalte, Heritage Hall (Hekman Library), Calvin University

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid updated in 2021.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Personal Papers --- 1829-1995

Box 1

Folder 1: Gymnasium (High School) Certificate [photocopy] --- 1829
Folder 2: Academic Paper --- 1830
Folder 3: Academic Paper --- 1831
Folder 4: Academic Papers --- 1831
Folder 5: Academic Paper --- 1831
Folder 6: Academic Papers --- 1833
Folder 7: Academic Paper --- 1834
Folder 8: Diploma --- 1840
Folder 9: Theological Candidate [photocopy, translation] --- 1835
Folder 10: Ordination Certificate [photocopy, transcription, translation] --- 1836
Folder 11: Marriage Extract, Civil Registry [translation] --- 1836
Folder 12: Marriage Certificate [photocopy, translation] --- 1836
Folder 13: Last Will and Testament [transcription, translation] --- 1836
Folder 14: Certificate, University of Leiden [photocopy] --- 1839
Folder 15: Academic Paper --- 1839
Folder 16: Discharge Papers [translation] --- 1839
Folder 17: Pastor Recommendation [photocopy, translation] --- 1846
Folder 18: Sample of daughter Maria's handwriting in a nature study report --- 1863
Folder 19: Passenger List of the Southerner which brought the Van Raalte colony to New York in late --- 1846
Folder 20: Attendance Record Catechumens --- 1851-1855
Folder 21: United States Citizenship Papers --- 1853
Folder 22: Family Register [transcription] --- 1837-1856
Folder 23: Poem written for wedding of oldest son Albertus [translation] --- 1858
Folder 24: Poem written for Van Raalte's 25th wedding anniversary [translation] --- 1861
Folder 25: Poems from pupils to Van Raalte [transcription, translation] --- 1863
Folder 26: Verjarings Wenschen [damaged] --- 1863
Folder 27: Power of attorney document --- 1866
Folder 28: US passport --- 1866
Folder 29: Albertus Van Raalte (1794-1833) father of A.C. Van Raalte, Pastoral History [translation] --- 1866
Folder 30: Biography of Christina Johanna Van Raalte-De Moen (1815-1871) [transcription, translation] --- [1871]
Folder 31: Rules for bee keeping, [18--?]
Folder 32: Articles --- 1959-1976
Folder 33: Biographies --- 1876-1886, undated
Folder 34: Celebrations-Anniversaries --- 1934-1995
Folder 35: Genealogy [photocopy, newsprint] --- 1950, 1994, and undated
Folder 36: Unidentified pictures and pictures of A.C. Van Raalte and family --- 1918, undated
Folder 37: Pictures of Van Raalte house and miscellaneous buildings --- undated

Box 2

Folder 1: Speeches by Sen. Seward and Cass in Congress --- 1851
Folder 2: Public Notice of Special Millage for City of Holland [photocopy] --- 1867
Folder 3: Anonymous incomplete speech about Women's Relief Corps --- undated
Folder 4: Bulletin of Service of Thanksgiving for Rev. Van Raalte --- 1976
Folder 5: Autobiography of Isaac Marsilje --- undated
Folder 6: Maps of New York City, Blendon and Olive townships, and Statement on lot boundaries --- 1849, 1859, undated
Folder 7: Newspaper Article: "Dr. Van Raalte en de Scholen" --- 1911
Folder 8: Speeches and Treatises by A.C. Van Raalte: on a variety of subjects --- undated
Folder 9: Speeches and Treatises by A.C. Van Raalte: speech re union with existing Dutch Ref. Church [transcription] --- undated
Folder 10: Speeches and Treatises: Treatises on Church History and Doctrine [partial transcription] --- undated
Folder 11: Speech and Treatises: Treatise in Response to Criticism of National Day of Prayer [transcription] --- undated
Folder 12: Speeches and Treatises: Treatise on the Covenant of Grace [transcription] --- undated
Folder 13: Material on the Secession of 1832 --- 1832
Folder 14: Incorporation Paper of the First Reformed Church of Holland, Mich. --- August 25, 1849
Folder 15: Speeches and Treatises: Treatise on the 1834 Secession [transcription] --- undated
Folder 16: Biographical Article --- undated
Folder 17: Copy of the minutes of Classis Meeting in Ommen, the Netherlands, presided over by A.C. Van Raalte [photocopy, translation] --- 1837-1844
Folder 18: Newspaper picture of 10 of the 1849 pioneers, taken in [photocopy] --- 1878
Folder 19: The Van Raalte home: newspaper clippings and pictures [photocopy] --- undated
Folder 20: Newspaper clippings: Story of Van Raalte's Immigration and 92nd Colonization Anniversary [photocopy] --- 1938, 1987, undated
Folder 21: Constitution of the Dutch Immigration Society [translation] --- April 14, 1846
Folder 22: Census of the Holland Colony, taken in connection with the circulation of the harbor petition --- January 18, 1849
Folder 23: List of donors and donations for the Holland Academy --- undated
Folder 24: Speeches for special occasions --- 1856-1877
Folder 25: Record of Donations to the Kampen Theological School from the colony [photocopy, translation] --- 1857
Folder 26: Copy of Michigan Marriage Laws, 1867 and Marriage Certificates --- 1849, 1876
Folder 27: Hope College, Financial Report Copy - Th. Phelps, Jr. --- 1869
Folder 28: Hope College Constitution --- 1871
Folder 29: Speech by Van Raalte at the 25th Anniversary of the Holland Colony [translation] --- 1872
Folder 30: Re: Hope College --- 1872
Folder 31: Thanks offering records (2) for the Ebenezer Memorial --- 1872
Folder 32: Hope College Sixteenth Commencement Program --- 1881
Folder 33: Commencement Speech [transcription] --- 1884
Folder 34: Program: Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Holland Immigration and Colonization --- 1897

Box 3

Folder 1: Semi-Centennial Reminiscences --- [1897]
Folder 2: Undated account of the colony's struggle by Van Raalte [transcription]
Folder 3: Program: Laying of the Corner-stone of the A.C. Van Raalte Memorial Hall at Hope College --- 1902
Folder 4: Miscellaneous Notes --- undated
Folder 5: Speeches and Treatises: Paper on Separatism --- undated
Folder 6: Speeches and Treatises: Paper on Intemperance --- undated
Folder 7: Speeches and Treatises: Paper on Emma, Dutch Queen Regent --- undated
Folder 8: Speeches and Treatises: Paper on Mission Support --- undated
Folder 9: Speeches and Treatises: Poem on Intoxication --- undated
Folder 10: Van Raalte family documents --- undated
Folder 11: Essay on Portugal [no author given] --- undated
Folder 12: An episode in the life of Van Raalte and the colony [no author given, typescript] --- undated

Series 2: Sermons --- 1836-1875

Box 4

Folder 1: Index of Sermons --- 1836-1875, undated
Folder 2: Gordon Spykman's transcription of Van Raalte's sermons --- undated
Folder 3: Sermons [transcription] --- 1836
Folder 4: Sermons [transcription] --- 1837
Folder 5: Sermons [transcription] --- 1838
Folder 6: Sermons --- 1840
Folder 7: Sermons [transcription] --- February - August 15, 1841
Folder 8: Sermons [transcription] --- August 22- December, 1841
Folder 9: Sermons [transcription] --- January 1 - August, 1842
Folder 10: Sermons [transcription] --- September - December, 1842
Folder 11: Sermons [transcription] --- January, 1843
Folder 12: Sermons [transcription] --- March - May, 1843
Folder 13: Sermons [transcription] --- June, 1843
Folder 14: Sermons [transcription] --- July, 1843
Folder 15: Sermons [transcription] --- August, 1843
Folder 16: Sermons [transcription] --- September, 1843

Box 5

Folder 1: Sermons [transcription] --- October, 1843
Folder 2: Sermons [transcription] --- November, 1843
Folder 3: Sermons [transcription] --- December, 1843
Folder 4: Sermons --- 1844
Folder 5: Sermons --- 1856
Folder 6: Sermons --- 1846
Folder 7: Sermons [transcription] --- 1850-51
Folder 8: Sermons [transcription] --- 1852
Folder 9: Sermons [transcription] --- 1852
Folder 10: Sermons [transcription] --- 1853
Folder 11: Sermons [transcription] --- 1853
Folder 12: Sermons --- 1854
Folder 13: Sermons [transcription] --- 1855
Folder 14: Sermons --- 1856
Folder 15: Sermons [translation] --- June 29, 1856

Box 6

Folder 1: Sermons --- 1857
Folder 2: Sermons --- 1858-59
Folder 3: Sermons --- 1860
Folder 4: Sermons --- 1861
Folder 5: Sermons --- 1862
Folder 6: Sermon on Education [photocopy, translation] --- February 23, 1862
Folder 7: Sermons --- 1863
Folder 8: Sermons [transcription] --- 1864
Folder 9: Sermons --- 1865
Folder 10: Sermons [transcription] --- 1866
Folder 11: Sermons --- 1867

Box 7

Folder 1: Sermons --- 1868-1869
Folder 2: Sermons --- 1870-1871
Folder 3: Sermons, Krapshuis Funeral [photocopy, transcription] --- January 1871
Folder 4: Sermons --- 1872-1873
Folder 5: Sermons [transcription] --- 1874-1875
Folder 6: Sermon on Infant Baptism, in English --- 1874
Folder 7: Undated Sermons on OT: Pentateuch [transcription]
Folder 8: Undated Sermons on OT: Ruth, 1, 2 Samuel, 1, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles
Folder 9: Undated Sermons on OT: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs
Folder 10: Undated Sermons on OT: Psalms [photocopy]
Folder 11: Undated Sermons on OT: Major and Minor Prophets
Folder 12: Undated Sermon: Psalm 134
Folder 13: Undated Sermons on NT: The Gospels and Acts [transcription]
Folder 14: Undated Sermons on NT: Paul's Epistles and Hebrews [transcription]
Folder 15: Undated Sermons on NT: General Epistles (James, Peter, John, Jude and Revelation) [transcription]
Folder 16: Undated Sermons: No texts indicated [transcription]
Folder 17: Undated English Sermons

Series 3: Lord's Day Sermons --- 1836-1844

Box 7

Folder 18: Sermons - Lord's Day 1-3 [transcription] --- undated

Box 8

Folder 1: Sermons - Lord's Day 4-5 [transcription] --- 1836, undated
Folder 2: Sermons - Lord's Day 6-8 [transcription] --- 1836, undated
Folder 3: Sermons - Lord's Day 9-12 [transcription] --- undated
Folder 4: Sermons - Lord's Day 13-14 [transcription] --- 1844, undated
Folder 5: Sermons - Lord's Day 15-16 [transcription] --- undated
Folder 6: Sermons - Lord's Day 17-18 --- 1837, undated
Folder 7: Sermons - Lord's Day 19-20 [transcription] --- undated
Folder 8: Sermons - Lord's Day 21-25 [transcription] --- undated
Folder 9: Sermons - Lord's Day 26-30 [transcription] --- undated

Box

Folder 10: Sermons - Lord's Day 31-34 [transcription] --- undated
Folder 11: Sermons - Lord's Day 35-39 [transcription] --- undated
Folder 12: Sermons - Lord's Day 40-43 [transcription] --- undated
Folder 13: Sermons - Lord's Day 44-52 [transcription] --- undated

Series 4: Outgoing General Correspondence --- 1837-1876

Box 9

Folder 1: Letters to H.J. Budding [photocopy, translation] --- 1837
Folder 2: Letters to H.J. Budding [photocopy, translation] --- 1838
Folder 3: Letters to H.J. Budding [photocopy, translation] --- 1839
Folder 4: Letters to Rev. Oggel [photocopy, partial transcription] --- 1844-1845
Folder 5: Letters to Mr. John Ball, 1847-1850, and Ball biography [photocopy] --- 1891
Folder 6: Letter to J.A. Wormser, Amsterdam [photocopy, translation] --- 1848
Folder 7: Letters to Hon. A. Felch [photocopy, translation] --- 1850
Folder 8: Letter to Rev. J. Gerritson, RCA Board of Missions [photocopy, translation] --- 1850s
Folder 9: Letter to Helenius de Cock's Hertogenbosch [photocopy, translation] --- 1851
Folder 10: Letters to Rev. C. VanderVeen, Grand Haven, Mich. [translation] --- 1855-1862
Folder 11: Letters to Rev. C. VanderVeen, Grand Haven, Mich. [translation] --- 1872-1875
Folder 12: Letter to the Theological School at Kampen [photocopy, translation] --- 1856
Folder 13: Two letters to John Roost [photocopy, translation] --- 1859
Folder 14: Letters to Sam Shieffelin and Sam Pruyn, New York --- 1858
Folder 15: Letter to Rev. Donner of Leyden, the Netherlands --- 1859
Folder 16: Letter to G. Van de Wall, South Africa, 1862 [photocopy, translation, transcription] --- 1862
Folder 17: Letters to Rev. Dirk Broek [photocopy, transcription] --- 1863-1874
Folder 18: Letter to Gen. Bowen, Washington, DC [photocopy, transcription] --- 1864
Folder 19: Letters to Rev. Phelps [photocopy] --- 1864 and 1869
Folder 20: Letters to J.S. Wilson, Washington, DC --- 1876
Folder 21: Letters to Dr. Abraham Kuyper, the Netherlands [photocopy, translation] --- 1872
Folder 22: Letter to T. Keppel, Holland, Mich., and Letter to Editor of de Hope [translation] --- 1872

Series 5: Outgoing Family Correspondence --- 1836-1920

Box 9

Folder 23: Letters to his wife [photocopy] --- 1836
Folder 24: Letters to his wife [photocopy, transcription, translation] --- 1837
Folder 25: Letter to his wife [photocopy] --- 1838
Folder 26: Letters to his wife [photocopy, translation, transcription] --- 1846, 1847 and 1849
Folder 27: Letters to son: Ben Van Raalte [photocopy, translation, transcription] --- 1854, 1866, 1869
Folder 28: Letters to his children [transcription, translation] --- 1857 and 1862

Box 10

Folder 1: Letters to Dirk Van Raalte [transcription, translation] --- 1859, 1861-1862, 1874
Folder 2: Letters to A. Brummelkamp [photocopy, translation] --- 1863 and 1874
Folder 3: Biographical Letter to S. Van Velzen [translation] --- 1862
Folder 4: Letter from Church Council of Hollen, the Netherlands [transcription, translation] --- 1840
Folder 5: Letter from Theodore Romeyn, Detroit, Mich. [transcription] --- 1847
Folder 6: Letter from H.N. Barendregt, St. Louis --- 1847
Folder 7: Letter from P.S. Hoedemaker, New Brunswick [translation] --- 1855
Folder 8: Letters from Anna Taylor, 1856 and 1859, and H.D. Post [transcription] --- 1858
Folder 9: Letters from John Van Vleck [transcription] --- 1857, 1859, 1860
Folder 10: Letters from John Roost [transcription, translation] --- 1858-1859
Folder 11: Letters of Appointment [transcription] --- 1858-1859
Folder 12: Letter from the General Synod at Philadelphia [transcription] --- 1869
Folder 13: Civil War letter from J. Huizenga, Jacob Smits and Captain DeBoe [transcription] --- 1863-1864
Folder 14: Letter from J.R. Kellogg, Allegan, Mich. --- 1863
Folder 15: Letters from D. Broek and A. Jonker [translation] --- 1865
Folder 16: Letter from J.W. Lapsey, Shelby Springs, Ala. --- 1869
Folder 17: Letter from L. Visscher, Holland, Mich., 1871 and J.H. Kruyt, Amsterdam [translation] --- 1873
Folder 18: Letter from J. den Hartog, St. Louis [translation] --- 1876
Folder 19: Business letters --- 1846-1850
Folder 20: Business letters --- 1851-1855
Folder 21: Business letters [translation] --- 1856-1869
Folder 22: Business letters --- 1870-1874
Folder 23: Miscellaneous letters [photocopy] --- 1838-1920
Folder 24: Letter from Anna Van Raalte [transcription, translation] --- undated
Folder 25: Letter from S. Van Velzen [translation] --- 1842
Folder 26: Letters from A. Brummelkamp [transcription, translation] --- 1844, 1874, 1876
Folder 27: Letter from Ben Brummelkamp [photocopy, transcription, translation] --- 1846
Folder 28: Letter from Dirk Van Raalte [transcription, translation] --- 1861
Folder 29: Letters from Christina Van Raalte [transcription] --- 1862-1864, 1869
Folder 30: Letters to Mrs. Van Raalte from her husband, Nashville, Tenn.[transcription, translation] --- 1864
Folder 31: Letter from Grandson A.C. Van Raalte, Amelia, Va. --- 1869
Folder 32: Letter from W.B. Gilmore, Amelia, Va. --- 1871
Folder 33: Letters to Kate Van Raalte Ledeboer --- 1875-1879
Folder 34: Condolence letters, 1876 and obituary draft --- 1876

Series 6: Civil War Letters --- 1862-1952

Box 11

Folder 1: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (1) [transcription, translation] --- 1862
Folder 2: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (2) [transcription, translation] --- 1862
Folder 3: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (1) [transcription, translation] --- 1863
Folder 4: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (2) [transcription, translation] --- 1863
Folder 5: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (3) [transcription, translation] --- 1863
Folder 6: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (4) [transcription, translation] --- 1863
Folder 7: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (5) [transcription, translation] --- 1863
Folder 8: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (1) [transcription, translation] --- 1864
Folder 9: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (2) [transcription, translation] --- 1864

Box 12

Folder 1: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (3) [transcription, translation] --- 1864
Folder 2: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (4) [transcription, translation] --- 1864
Folder 3: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (5) [transcription, translation] --- 1864
Folder 4: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (1) [transcription, translation] --- 1865
Folder 5: Civil War letters from Dirk Van Raalte (2) [transcription, translation] --- 1865
Folder 6: Civil War letters of Benjamin Van Raalte, translation by C.L. Jalving --- [1951-1952]

Series 7: Business Papers --- 1840-1952

Box 13

Folder 1: Land Purchases - State --- 1840-1841
Folder 2: Land Purchases - State --- 1847
Folder 3: Land Purchases - State --- 1848
Folder 4: Land Purchases - State --- 1849
Folder 5: Land Purchases - State (1) --- 1850
Folder 6: Land Purchases - State (2) --- 1850
Folder 7: Land Purchases - State --- 1854
Folder 8: Land Purchase - State (Tax Land Deed) --- 1862-1863
Folder 9: Land Purchase - State (Delinquent tax) --- 1850-1873
Folder 10: Land Purchase - Federal --- 1841
Folder 11: Land Purchase - Federal (1) --- 1848
Folder 12: Land Purchase - Federal (2) --- 1848
Folder 13: Land Purchase - Federal --- 1848
Folder 14: Land Purchase - Federal --- 1849
Folder 15: Land Purchases - Federal --- 1851
Folder 16: Land Purchases - Federal --- 1865
Folder 17: Land Purchases - Private (Deeds) --- 1847-1867
Folder 18: Land Purchases - Private (Contract) --- 1860-1868
Folder 19: Land Purchases - Private (Land Contract) --- 1868-1869

Box 14

Folder 1: Land Purchases - Private (Land Contract) --- 1870
Folder 2: Land Purchases - Private (Land Contract) --- 1871
Folder 3: Land Purchases - Private (Land Contract) --- 1872
Folder 4: Land Purchases - Private (Land Contract) --- 1873
Folder 5: Land Purchases - Private (Land Contract) --- 1874
Folder 6: Land Purchases - Private (Land Contract) --- 1875-1876
Folder 7: Land Purchases - Private (Mortgage) --- 1847-1874
Folder 8: Land Purchases - Private (Deeds) --- 1854
Folder 9: Land Purchases - Private (Warranty) --- 1874-1876
Folder 10: Property Tax Receipts --- 1839-1849
Folder 11: Purchase Receipts - Private --- 1848, 1851
Folder 12: Purchase Receipt - State --- 1851
Folder 13: Tax Default Purchases --- 1851-1864
Folder 14: Tax Default Purchases --- 1867-1875
Folder 15: Tax Purchases --- 1846-1870
Folder 16: Title Abstracts --- 1861-1872
Folder 17: Tax Receipts (Allegan County) --- 1849
Folder 18: Tax Receipts (Holland city) --- 1851-1875
Folder 19: Tax Receipts (Holland township) --- 1850-1861

Box 15

Folder 1: Tax Receipts (Fillmore township) --- 1852
Folder 2: Tax Receipts (Holland township) --- 1862-1871
Folder 3: Tax Receipts (Holland township) --- 1872-1875
Folder 4: Tax Receipts (Jamestown township) --- 1854-1871
Folder 5: Tax Receipts (Laketown township) --- 1865-1876
Folder 6: Tax Receipts (Ottawa County) --- 1851-1872
Folder 7: Tax Receipts (Ottawa township) --- 1849
Folder 8: Tax Receipts (Zeeland township) --- 1854-1865
Folder 9: Tax Receipts --- 1848-1871
Folder 10: Receipts --- 1841-1847
Folder 11: Receipts --- 1848-1849
Folder 12: Receipts --- 1850-1851
Folder 13: Receipts --- 1852
Folder 14: Receipts --- 1853
Folder 15: Receipts --- 1854
Folder 16: Receipts --- 1855
Folder 17: Receipts --- 1856
Folder 18: Receipts --- 1857
Folder 19: Receipts --- 1858
Folder 20: Receipts --- 1859
Folder 21: Receipts --- 1860
Folder 22: Receipts --- 1861
Folder 23: Receipts and Financial Records --- 1862
Folder 24: Receipts --- 1863
Folder 25: Receipts --- 1864
Folder 26: Receipts --- 1865
Folder 27: Receipts --- 1866
Folder 28: Receipts --- 1867
Folder 29: Receipts --- 1868
Folder 30: Receipts --- 1869

Box 16

Folder 1: Receipts --- 1870
Folder 2: Receipts --- 1871
Folder 3: Receipts --- 1872
Folder 4: Receipts --- 1873
Folder 5: Receipts --- 1874
Folder 6: Receipts --- 1875
Folder 7: Receipts --- 1876-1877
Folder 8: Receipts --- undated
Folder 9: Financial Records --- 1847-1852
Folder 10: Financial Records --- 1853-1854
Folder 11: Financial Records --- 1855-1876
Folder 12: Financial Records --- undated
Folder 13: Contracts - D. K. Kikkert --- 1840-1842
Folder 14: Contract Partnership with son, Albertus and Warren Wilder --- 1864
Folder 15: Financial Records of the City of Holland --- 1847-1852
Folder 16: Subscriptions, receipts for proposed orphanage in the colony --- 1848
Folder 17: Land Sales - Account book kept by A.C. Van Raalte on land contracts sold --- 1848-1875
Folder 18: Petition to Congress for improvement of water facilities on Black Lake --- 1849
Folder 19: Deed for planned Ships Wharf in Holland --- 1849
Folder 20: Land Office Graduation Act of 1854 --- 1854
Folder 21: Act to provide for the incorporation of Savings Associations --- 1869
Folder 22: Hope College Land Sale [186-?]
Folder 23: Hope College Catalogs --- 1865-1866, 1868, 1872, 1908-1909
Folder 24: Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad --- 1870
Folder 25: Building Plans for O. Van Olinda --- undated
Folder 26: List of 4th of July Contributions [transcription] --- undated

Series 8: Publications by and about A.C. Van Raalte --- 1842-1997

Box 17

Folder 1: Ledger - Olive Mill --- 1864-1867
Folder 2: List: "Library of Dr. A.C. Van Raalte" --- undated
Folder 3: Address to the Dutch General Synod by Van Raalte and De Moen [pamphlet, transcription, translation] --- 1842
Folder 4: Letter to Christians in North America by Van Raalte and Brummelkamp, p. 30-39 [photocopy, translation], chapter of Landverhuizing of Vaarom bevoorderen wij de volksverhuizing en wel naar Noord-Amerika en niet --- 1846
Folder 5: De Toestand der Hollandsche Kolonisatie in de staat Michigan…in drie brieven… A. C. Van Raalte, C. Van Der Meulen, en S. Bolks, aan C. G. Moen, 1849 [pamphlet, two translations --- 1935, 1978]
Folder 6: Nog is er hulpe! by Brummelkamp, Bokkel and Van Raalte [photocopy] --- 1844
Folder 7: Roeping der Gemeente Jegens Hare Opzieneren: Leerrede… [library has microfiles] --- 1859
Folder 8: Drie Leerredenen --- 1863
Folder 9: Article in De Hope by Van Raalte re Virginia settlement [photocopy, translation] --- 1863
Folder 10: Stemmen uit Noord-Amerika,1847(tweede druk) [HERH E184.D9 S745 1847]; and translation entitled Voices from North-America with Introductory Words by A. Brummelkamp, 1980 [HERH E184.D9 S74513 --- 1980]
Folder 11: Voices from North America, 1992 (Heritage Hall Publications, Number Three) [HERH E184.D9 V3 --- 1992]
Folder 12: Holland in Amerika, of, De Hollandsche Kolonisatie in den Staat Michigan, 1847 [HERH E184.D9 V32 1847]; with translation entitled Holland in America, or, The Holland Colonization in the State of Michigan,1977 [HERH E184.D9 V3213 --- 1977]

Box 18

Folder 1: Ledger: Marriage Records --- 1847-1876
Folder 2: De Emigratie van Landbouwers naar Noord Amerika (Colorado) [photocopy] --- 1892
Folder 3: The Mission Field of the RCA [pamphlet] --- 1892
Folder 4: Unveiling of Pilgrim Fathers tablet in [pamphlet] --- 1906
Folder 5: Van Hinte, J: Nederlandse Nederzettingen in de Verenigde staten van Amerika: 1847-1947 [photocopy] --- 1947
Folder 6: VandeVelde, Lewis George - Glimpses of the early Dutch… --- 1947
Folder 7: Hyma, Albert - When the Dutch Came to Michigan --- 1947
Folder 8: Dykema, Frank E. - Effort to Attract Dutch Colonists to Alabama [photocopy; original in pamphlet coll.] --- 1948
Folder 9: Spykman, G. - Pioneer Preacher --- 1976
Folder 10: Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte: [pamphlet] --- 1811-1876-1976, 1977
Folder 11: De Afscheiding van 1834, Derde deel [photocopy, diff. ed. in HH] --- 1977
Folder 12: Emmen en de Van Raalte-trek: Vreemdelingen in een Vreemd Land (Gen. 15:13) by Ger de Leeuw [pamphlet] --- 1995
Folder 13: From Heart to Heart: Letter from the Rev. Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte to His Wife Christina Johanna Van Raalte-De Moen, 1836-1847, 1997 [pamphlet]; [HERH E184.D9 V324 --- 1997]

Series 9: Miscellaneous Papers, 1740-1996

Box 19

Folder 1: Land Deed --- 1848
Folder 2: State Tax Land Deeds --- 1847, 1848, 1849
Folder 3: Programs of Quarter Centennial and Centennial Celebrations --- 1872 and 1947
Folder 4: Clipping: Holland Sentinel [photocopy] --- 1957
Folder 5: Holland Daily Sentinel: vol. 15 no. 38 --- February 14, 1910
Folder 6: Grand Rapids Press [photocopy] --- 1976
Folder 7: Blotter presented to Van Raalte by the children of his brother-in-law Brummelkamp on his 34th birthday --- 1845
Folder 8: Map: Detroit, Toledo and Cincinnati Railroads --- 1868
Folder 9: Het Nieuwe Testament: Utrecht, W. Kroon, P. Muntendam, J. Evelt en S. Neaulme, 1740. Inscription: "G. Van Wagtendonk, 24 Augs 1847 Rotterdam Jakob Labots Door J Labots aan A. C. van Raalte in" --- 1849
Folder 10: Autographs (contributors) book: "In Memoriam van Rev. A.C. Van Raalte D.D. Erste Leeraar dezer Gemeente en Vader Onzer Nederzetting. Een Dienstknecht des Heeren, Krachtig in Woorden en Werken," [Memorial plaque in Pillar CRC in Holland, MI] --- 1879
Folder 11: A.C. van Raalte and Christina Johanna Van Raalte-De Moen Sketch by J.R. Harkema --- 1996

Box 20

Folder 1: News Items of Van Raalte's Death --- 1876
Folder 2: Map: Memphis and Chattanooga Railroad Lines
Folder 3: Boston Daily Advertiser: vol. 69 no. 46 --- February 23, 1847
Folder 4: Grand River Times (Grand Haven): vol. 2 no. 107 --- August 10, 1853
Folder 5: Grand River Times (Grand Haven): vol. 4 no. 207 --- September 5, 1855
Folder 6: Ottawa Clarion (Grand Haven): vol. 2 no. 71 --- August 26, 1858
Folder 7: Weekly Clarion (Grand Haven): supplement to --- September 1, 1859
Folder 8: De Grondwet (Holland): vol. 2 no. 12 --- August 12, 1861
Folder 9: Weekly Clarion (Grand Haven): vol. 6 no. 277 --- August 12, 1862
Folder 10: De Grondwet (Holland): vol. 4 no. 14 --- September 9, 1863
Folder 11: Grand Haven Union: vol. 2 no. 52 --- September 6, 1864
Folder 12: De Grondwet (Holland): supplement to --- September 21, 1875
Folder 13: Newspaper Clippings: De Grondwet [photocopy] --- 1911-1912

Series 10: Items

Box 21

Folder 15: Copy of Jacobson's book: A.C. Van Raalte: Dutch Leader and American Patriot [HERH F575 .D9 A6]
Folder 17: Copy of Dosker's book: Levensschets van A.C. Van Raalte (HERH F575 .D9 D6)
Folder 18: Origins, vol. XIX no. 2 --- 2001

Box 14

Folder 11: Land Purchases: Purchase Receipts (Box 14, Folder 11) --- 1848

Box 13

Folder 2: State Tax Land Deeds (Box 13, Folder 2)

Box 9

Folder 4: Letter of A.C. Van Raalte to his wife (Box 9, Folder 26) --- 1846

Box 19

Folder 6: 1947 Centennial Program booklet (Box 19, Folder 3)

Box 17

Folder 8: Published Sermon of Van Raalte Leerreede (Box 17, Folder 8) --- 1859

Box 5

Folder 9: Photocopy of sermon preached in (Box 5, Folder 7) --- 1851

Box 18

Folder 10: Copy of Gordon Spykman's book, Pioneer Preacher, (Box 18, Folder 8)
Folder 11: Record of Marriages Performed by A.C. Van Raalte (Box 18, Folder 1) --- 1847-1876
Folder 12: Copy of Voices from North America (Box 18, Folder 12)
Folder 13: Copy of Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte: (Box 18, Folder 10) --- 1811-1876-1976
Folder 14: Copy of Albert Hyma's book, When the Dutch Came to Michigan (Box 18, Folder 7)
Folder 16: From Heart to Heart: Letters from the Rev. A.C. Van Raalte to His Wife Christina Johanna Van Raalte-De Moen (Box 18, folder 13) --- 1836-1847

Series 11: Photographs

Box 1

Folder 36: Picture of A.C. Van Raalte and Christina Van Raalte (in display case)
Folder 37: Pictures of the Van Raalte house (on display)