Vernon J. Ehlers Collection, 1955-2010 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Vernon J. Ehlers Collection, 1955-2010

ID: COLL/525

Primary Creator: Vernon James Ehlers (1934-2017)

Extent: 93.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Professor of physics at Calvin College; and a politician (Kent County Board Commissioner, State Representative, State Senator, and Federal Congressman). The collection details Ehlers’ political career including committee service and bills sponsored/co-sponsored, plus his earlier academic career. The collection includes biographical data, resolutions, reports, news releases, memorandums, correspondence, notes, speeches, bills, proclamations, acts, concept papers, house statements, articles, remarks, political campaign material, testimonies, debates, awards, papers, interviews, handouts, studies, appointment books/cards/lists/schedules/sheets, news clippings, videos, cassettes, DVDs, posters, photographs, and artifacts.

Biographical Note

Vernon James Ehlers is the youngest of the four children of Rev. John William Christian and Alice Cornelia (née Doorn) Ehlers, born on 6 Feb 1934 in Pipestone, MN. He suffered from severe asthma as a child and as a consequence was unable to attend school. He was home- and self-schooled and received a diploma from Edgerton (MN) Christian School and did his high school work via correspondence. He attended Calvin College, 1952-1955; and the University of California, Berkeley, from which he received an AB in 1956 and a PhD in 1960; his doctoral dissertation was “The Nuclear Spins and Moments of Several Radioactive Gallium Isotopes.”

He taught and conducted scientific research at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1956-1966, and joined the Physics Department of Calvin College in 1966, ultimately serving as department chair. He was a member of the Faculty Organization Study Committee (FOSCO), 1968-1977, that developed a new faculty governance system for the college, whose enrollment had grown from 500 in 1945 to 3,200 when Ehlers joined the faculty. He left the college faculty in 1983 to serve in the Michigan Legislature.

Ehlers was elected to the Kent County Board of Commissioners, 1975-1983; the Michigan House of Representatives, 1983-1985; and the Michigan Senate, 1985-1993. In 1993 he won a special election in Michigan’s 5^th District (later 3^rd), after the death of former fellow faculty member Congress Member Paul B. Henry (Coll. 357) and won a full term in 1994, and subsequent elections, serving until 2011.

Ehlers married Johanna Meulink on 14 Jun 1958; they have four children: Heidi, Brian, Marla, and Todd. The Ehlers were founding members of Faith Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, Walnut Creek, CA, in 1961.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal, 1955-2010],
[Series 2: Student Years, 1955-1960],
[Series 3: Post Graduate Correspondence, 1960-1967],
[Series 4: Research, 1962-1968],
[Series 5: Class Lectures, 1967-1979],
[Series 6: Student Evaluations, 1979-1982, n.d.],
[Series 7: Calvin College Faculty, 1963-1983],
[Series 8: Kent County Board of Commissioners, 1878-1982],
[Series 9: Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, 1982-1993],
[Series 10: United States Congress, 1993-2012],
[Series 11: United States Congress, 1993-2012],
[Series 12: Election campaigns],
[Series 13: Legislation],
[Series 14: Reference material],
[Series 15: Invitations],
[Series 16: Awards and Honors],
[Series 17: Subject files],
[Series 18: Photographs],
[Series 19: Media Relations],
[Series 20: Ehlers' Campaigns],
[Series 21: Constituent Gifts],
[Series 22: Aeronautics and Aerospace],
[Series 23: Plaques and Awards],
[Series 24: Certificates],
[Series 25: Photographs],
[Series 26: Republican Party],
[Series 27: Buttons, Decals, Patches, Memorabilia],
[Series 28: Legislation],
[Series 29: Miscellaneous],
[All]

Series 24: Certificates

Box 82

Item 1: A Tribute to Space Exploration (signed and number postage stamps) --- 1994
Item 2: Ally of the Great Lakes --- 1996
Item 3: American Council for Renewable Energy --- 2003
Item 4: American Library Association --- undated
Item 5: American Physical Society Fellowship --- 1995
Item 6: Calvin College Distinguished Alumni awards --- 1996
Item 7: Cesar E. Chavez Way --- 2002
Item 8: Conference on Christianity and Literature 4 prints --- 1970
Item 9: Congressional Diabetes Caucus --- 1991
Item 10: DNR Retailed Sales license --- 1994
Item 11: Friend of Farm Bureau --- c1996, c2000, c 2002
Item 12: H.R. 1 Red Line --- 2001
Item 13: H.R. 1070 Red Line --- 2002
Item 14: H.R. 1350 Red Line --- 2004
Item 15: H.R. 1674 Red Line --- 2006
Item 16: H.R. 2346 Red Line --- 2000
Item 17: H.R. 3014 Red Line --- 2004
Item 18: H.R. 4664 Red Line --- 2002
Item 19: H.R. 5136 Red Line --- 2006
Item 20: Healthcare Leadership Council --- 2009
Item 21: House Page School Speaker Series --- 2003, 2005
Item 22: Juggler on Horseback --- undated
Item 23: Kent County Board of Commissioners resolution --- 1982
Item 24: Kent County Vernon J. Ehlers Day --- 2010
Item 25: Library of Michigan Tribute --- 1988
Item 26: Library of Michigan --- 1994
Item 27: Michigan Association of Osteopathic… --- 1986
Item 28: Michigan Environmental Council --- 2006
Item 29: Michigan Governor's Certificate of Appreciation --- 1986-1987
Item 30: Michigan Natural Resources Commission tribute --- 1993
Item 31: Michigan Oath of Office --- 1987
Item 32: Michigan Oath of Office --- 1991
Item 33: Michigan Resolutions 347 and 367 --- 1993
Item 34: Michigan Science Teachers award
Item 35: Michigan Special Tribute
Item 36: Michigan State park --- 1994
Item 37: Michigan State University honorary degree and citation --- 1998
Item 38: Minact, Incorporated --- undated
Item 39: Moon landing anniversary, autographed --- 1994
Item 40: National Association for College Admission Counseling
Item 41: National Community of Health Superhero
Item 42: National Day of Prayer
Item 43: National Security Leadership Award --- 1994
Item 44: Paul Henry Integrity
Item 45: Presidential inauguration ticket, and invitation --- 2001
Item 46: Respect for Life Award --- 1989
Item 47: Society of Women Engineers
Item 48: Success of Census
Item 49: U.S Marine Corps Appreciation --- 2006
Item 50: University of Michigan Honorary Degree
Item 51: University of Michigan LLD
Item 52: US House Legislative Leadership --- undated
Item 53: YMCA Congressional Champion