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Roderick H. Jellema Collection, 1945-2007

By Ed Gerritsen, January 2011

Collection Overview

Title: Roderick H. Jellema Collection, 1945-2007

ID: COLL/513

Creator: Jellema, Roderick H.

Extent: 4.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Date Acquired: 00/00/1995

Abstract

Calvin graduate, professor of literature at the University of Maryland, and a poet. The collection includes correspondence, material for books and conferences, lectures and sermons, articles and news clippings, and poems. His poetry incorporates, but is not limited to, West Michigan; Frisian/Dutch and Calvinist roots; Lake Michigan; family losses; Washington, DC area; world of academia; other cultures; and mystery; imaged through Christian themes and motifs. [See also the Campus Titles Database.]

Biographical Note

Roderick H. Jellema (born 11 August 1927, the son of John Frank Jellema and Elizabeth Marian Den Hartigh) grew up in Holland and Ann Arbor, Michigan.  He graduated from Calvin College in 1951 and earned a PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 1962. In 1956, he began teaching introductory literature and composition courses in the English Department of the University of Maryland. He spent 35 years at the university as a professor of literature and was the founding director of its creative writing program. An award-winning poet, Jellema's work is in a number of anthologies and periodicals, he has published five volumes of his own work and three volume of poetry translated from Frisian. He became Professor of English Emeritus in 1991.

Jellema was married to Matrona Thelma Moe Van Zee; they had three children: John Frank (1955-1975), David Moe, and Michael.

Administrative Information

Alternate Extent Statement: 8 Boxes

Acquisition Source: Roderick H. Jellema, 1995


Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Biographical --- 1979-1991
Box 1
Folder 1: Curriculum Vitae --- 1991
Folder 2: Invitations and awards
Item 1: Bucknell Poetry Festival --- 1983
Item 2: Festival of Poets and Poetry --- 1984
Item 3: Dutch Translation Award --- 1986
Item 4: University of Maryland Faculty Emeriti Awards Dinner --- 1991
Folder 3: Interview for Calvin Dialogue --- 1979
Folder 4: Evaluations re: promotion to full professor --- 1984
Folder 5: Biography "Rod Jellema: His Life and His Work" by student L. DeVries --- undated
Series 2: Miscellaneous Correspondence --- 1949-1996
Box 1
Folder 6: Correspondence and material re: awarding of the "Piter Jellis Award" --- 1990
Folder 7: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1949
Folder 8: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1951
Folder 9: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1952
Folder 10: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1953
Folder 11: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1954
Folder 12: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1955
Folder 13: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1956
Folder 14: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1958
Folder 15: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1959
Folder 16: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1963
Folder 17: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1964
Folder 18: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1965
Folder 19: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1966
Folder 20: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1967
Folder 21: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1968
Folder 22: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1969
Folder 23: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1970
Folder 24: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1971
Folder 25: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1972
Box 2
Folder 1: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1973
Folder 2: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1974
Folder 3: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1975
Folder 4: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1976
Folder 5: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1977
Folder 6: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1978
Folder 7: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1979
Folder 8: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1980
Folder 9: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1981
Folder 10: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1982
Folder 11: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1983
Folder 12: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1984
Folder 13: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1985
Folder 14: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1986
Folder 15: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1987
Folder 16: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1988
Box 3
Folder 1: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1989
Folder 2: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1990
Folder 3: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1991
Folder 4: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1992
Folder 5: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1993
Folder 6: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1994
Folder 7: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1995
Folder 8: Miscellaneous correspondence --- 1996
Folder 9: Miscellaneous correspondence --- undated
Folder 10: Miscellaneous correspondence --- undated
Series 3: Other Correspondence --- 1951-1992
Box 3
Folder 11: Personal correspondence --- 1980's
Folder 12: Correspondence with Susan Bergman --- 1981-1983
Folder 13: Correspondence with John Clendenin --- 1980-1982
Folder 14: Correspondence with Peter DeVries --- 1963-1992
Folder 15: Correspondence with Mary Hietbrink (Eerdmaans) and Jelle Krol (Frysk Akademy) --- 1987-1989
Folder 16: Correspondence with Eerdmans Publishing Company --- 1965
Folder 17: Correspondence with Eerdmans Publishing Company --- 1966
Folder 18: Correspondence with Eerdmans Publishing Company --- 1967
Box 4
Folder 1: Correspondence with Eerdmans Publishing Company --- 1968
Folder 2: Correspondence with Eerdmans Publishing Company --- 1969
Folder 3: Correspondence with Eerdmans Publishing Company re: possible projects --- 1965-1966
Folder 4: Correspondence with Eerdmans Publishing Company re: Frisian Poetry Book --- 1982-1985
Folder 5: Correspondence with Terence Hoagwood --- 1986-1990
Folder 6: Correspondence with R. Dirk Jellema --- 1955-1992
Folder 7: Correspondence with Dirk W. Jellema (cousin) --- 1955-1956
Folder 8: Correspondence with Taco Kingma --- 1984-1991
Folder 9: Correspondence with Patricia O'Connor --- 1987-1992
Folder 10: Correspondence with poets --- 1967-1996
Folder 11: Correspondence with poets --- undated
Folder 12: Correspondence with Frisian poets --- 1981-1983
Folder 13: Correspondence with Lawrence Scott --- January-August 1951
Box 5
Folder 1: Correspondence with Myra Sklarew --- 1977-1983
Folder 2: Correspondence with Lawrence H. Scott --- 1952-1956
Folder 3: Correspondence with William Stafford --- 1969-1981
Folder 4: Correspondence with former students --- 1976-1992
Folder 5: Correspondence with Barbara Brown Taylor --- 1979-1988
Folder 6: Correspondence with Stanley Wiersma --- undated
Folder 7: Correspondence with Mildred Zylstra --- 1959-1969
Folder 8: Correspondence with Paul Zimmer --- 1954-1992
Folder 9: Correspondence re: translation of Nicaragua poets for Delos --- 1987
Folder 10: Correspondence re: Poetry and the National Conscience --- 1971-1972
Box 6
Folder 1: Correspondence re: possibility of teaching course at Calvin --- 1989-1990
Folder 2: Correspondence re: translation of Frisian poetry --- undated
Folder 3: Correspondence re: grants received for Frisian poetry translation --- 1981-1986
Folder 4: Correspondence re: poetry conference --- 1971
Folder 5: Correspondence re: "Akademy 100" translation project --- 1981-1985
Folder 6: Correspondence re: publication of book Friesland Singing --- 1984-1987
Folder 7: Correspondence re: debates on Christian poetry --- 1969-1987
Folder 8: Correspondence re: publication of The Eighth Day --- 1982-1983
Folder 9: Correspondence re: book Country Fair --- 1985-1987
Folder 10: Correspondence re: Frisian books and poetry --- 1974-1987
Folder 11: Correspondence re: booklet series Contemporary Writers in Christian Perspectives --- 1966-1969
Folder 12: Letters sent to students away from home (for Washington D.C. Christian Reformed Church) --- 1990-1991
Folder 13: Correspondence with Lew Smedes --- 1996-1998
Series 4: Material for Books and Conferences --- 1968-1974
Box 7
Folder 1: Material for "Poetry and the National Conscience" conference --- 1968
Folder 2: Material for "Poetry and the National Conscience" conference --- 1969
Folder 3: Material for "Poetry and the National Conscience" conference --- 1970
Folder 4: Material re: organization of the Washington Poetry Center --- 1970-1974
Folder 5: Manuscript of unpublished book Poetry and the National Conscience --- 1971
Folder 6: Poems associated with unpublished book Poetry and the National Conscience --- 1971
Series 5: Lectures and Sermons --- 1963-1975
Box 7
Folder 7: Lecture "Teaching Poetry" at the Michigan Association of Jr. Colleges --- 1968
Folder 8: Lecture at Valparaiso University "Christian Humanism and Modern Poetry" --- 1967
Folder 9: Lecture to Mortar Board at the University of Maryland "Last Lecture" --- 1963
Folder 10: Lecture "In Defense of Being Modern" at Calvin Fine Arts Festival --- 1967
Folder 11: Lecture "Christianity and Contemporary Poetry" at Calvin College --- undated
Folder 12: Sermon "The Gift to be Simple" at Clay Banks Methodist Church --- 1975
Folder 13: Meditations and condolences --- undated
Series 6: Articles and News Clippings --- 1945-1994
Box 8
Folder 1: Banner articles --- 1983-1990
Folder 2: Reformed Journal articles --- 1976-1985
Folder 3: Reformed Journal articles and material re: Nicaragua --- 1976-1985
Folder 4: Article "Poems Should Stay Across the Street from the Church" from Christianity Today --- 1976
Folder 5: Articles on Frisian literature --- 1945-1968
Folder 6: Articles re: Friesland --- 1981
Folder 7: Articles/news clippings of Jellema's Frisian poetry translation --- 1981-1983
Folder 8: Article "Translating Modern Frisian: Three Notes and Eight Poems" --- undated
Folder 9: Poems by others for Jellema --- 1964-1985
Folder 10: Material re: poetry readings --- 1984-1994
Folder 11: Translation of poems into Frisian --- undated
Folder 12: Paper by Jellema "The Frisians and Their Language" --- undated
Folder 13: Paper by Jellema "Some Do's and Don'ts for Christian Poets" --- undated
Folder 14: Book reviews --- 1977-1986
Folder 15: Book reviews by Jellema --- 1963-1993
Folder 16: Washington D.C Christian School promotional booklet written by Jellema --- 1960
Folder 17: Promotional material and reviews for The Sound That Remains --- 1990
Folder 18: Script and related material for drug education film Alice in Wonderland --- 1970
Folder 19: Site visit reports for National Foundation for the Arts (NFA) --- 1991-1993
Folder 20: Promotional material for lectures and readings --- 1973-1983
Folder 21: Various news clippings and articles --- 1977, 1985, 1987, and undated
Series 7: Interviews, Poems, Commentary, Lecture, and Article --- 1953-2007
Box 8
Folder 22: Interview, poems, and commentary: The Plum Review, no. 6 (Fall/Winter 1993), pp. 33-65, 72-82
Folder 23
Item 1: Article: "In Defense of Being Modern," Reformed Journal, vol. 15, no. 9, pp. 12-17 --- Nov 1965
Item 2: Wiersma Lecture: "Leaving Room for Fascination" --- April 12, 2005
Folder 24: Interview: The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 11 --- 2007
Folder 25: Periodical: Venture in Creative Writing, Autumn 1953 and Winter --- 1955