Bernard J. Fridsma Collection, 1898-2006

Abstract

Professor of Germanic languages at Calvin College. The collection includes extensive correspondence; research materials; newsletters, i.e. Friese stemmen, Frisian roundtable; articles; Frisian/Friesland history materials; poems; class notes; speeches; psalms, hymns and songs translated into Frisian; essays; Frisian theater production materials; annual Frisian church services, i.e., Fryske Tsjerketsjinst materials including the program and sermon for the last Frisian worship service in Grand Rapids, Michigan, held 21 May 2006, in honor of Fridsma; photographs; diaries; scrapbooks; dissertation; various translations into the Frisian language; autobiographical and genealogy materials; manuscripts of books written by Fridsma, i.e., Never a Broken Bond: 60 Years of Frisian Activity in America. The Memoirs of Bernard J. Fridsma, Sr.; Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen; Introduction to Frisian; and Twaklank: In Mannich Fersen, Oarspronklik en Oerset; and motion picture film of the 1948 visit to Friesland. [See also Frisian Information Bureau, Coll. 422; Gysbert Japiks: Christian Frisian Society, Coll. 421; and the Campus Titles Database.]

Biographical Note

Bernard J. Fridsma was born on January 15, 1905 in Skearnegoutum, West Friesland. Fridsma's father was a turfskipper, and as a little boy, Fridsma grew up on his father's barge transporting peat all over Friesland. At the age of 6, Fridsma and his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Passaic, New Jersey. After graduating from high school and working at an oilcloth factory for a while, Fridsma received a scholarship to Calvin College. He took a two-year teacher training course, afterwards began to teach 7th and 8th grade in New Jersey. He returned to Calvin to receive his B.A. in 1929 with a major in English. After graduation, he received a teaching position at Grand Rapids Christian High. There he taught Latin and German and occasionally French, Spanish, and modern European history as well.

In 1946 Fridsma accepted a faculty position at his alma mater, Calvin College. He was hired as an Associate Professor German, and later was a pointed chairman of the Modern Languages Department in 1958. During this time, he also went on to further his own education at University of Michigan, earning his master's and doctorate degrees. Fridsma also kept busy by serving in some of the college's committees, including the Education Policy Committee, Publications Committee, and the Library Committee. Fridsma still found time to write articles for various Netherlands publications as well as The Banner, Calvin Forum, and the Young Calvinist.

Fridsma's most notable interest was in Frisian language, history, and culture. He became interested in his homeland as a teenager, and before he was even married he was the president of the Frisian Society of Grand Rapids, and later served as its vice-president. He was also co-founder and director of the Frisian Information Bureau, which ran a monthly bulletin called Frisian News Items. Fridsma even wrote his own textbook to teach Frisian at Calvin College called, "Introduction to Frisian" because no textbook on this subject existed. He also got the honor of representing Friesland for a Bicentennial presentation to Gerald R. Ford in the Oval Office.

Fridsma retired from Calvin College in 1970, but still continued to teach Frisian. Once he retired he enjoyed travelling through Europe, including Friesland. On October 12, 2005 Bernard J. Fridsma passed away. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Van Dyke. They were survived by their three sons Bernard Jr. James, and Charles.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: [General Materials]

Box 1

Folder 1: Correspondence --- 1910-1929
Folder 2: Correspondence --- 1930s
Folder 3: Correspondence --- 1940-1945
Folder 4: Correspondence --- 1946-1949
Folder 5: Correspondence --- 1950-1953
Folder 6-7: Correspondence --- 1954-1955

Box 2

Folder 1-11: Correspondence --- 1956-1969

Box 3

Folder 1-23: Correspondence --- 1970-1992

Box 4

Folder 1-11: Correspondence --- 1993-2004
Folder 12: Correspondence --- undated

Box 5

Folder 1: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pages 1-100)
Folder 2: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pgs 101-233)
Folder 3: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pgs 234-272)
Folder 4: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pgs 402-469)
Folder 5: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft A (pages 1-252)
Folder 6: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pgs 253-385)
Folder 7: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pgs 386-496)

Box 6

Folder 1: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pgs 497-651)
Folder 2: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen, draft B (pgs 652-812)
Folder 3: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen (pages 1-188)
Folder 4: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen (pages304) --- 189-
Folder 5: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen (pages 305-491)
Folder 6: Manuscript - Nea Waard Dy Feste Taaie Ban Ferbratsen (pages 492-632)
Folder 7: Manuscript - Introduction to Frisian

Box 7

Folder 1: Research material on Helgoland --- 1950-1953
Folder 2: Research material - The Early Frisian Studies of Jan Van Vliet --- 1939
Folder 3: Research material on Hervormde Kerk Hallum --- [1987?]
Folder 4: Research material - Rjocht Ûnder --- 1987
Folder 5: Research material - Fryske Plak Nammen by Fedde Dykstra --- 1949
Folder 6: Research material on Y. C. Schuitmaker
Folder 7: Research material - Sjong Fan Dat Bern
Folder 8: Research material - Simmer Highlights --- 2000
Folder 9: Research material book: Bolsward Bezien en Bezongen by E. S. de Jong --- [1971]
Folder 10: Research material: It Harmen-Sytstra-Boek --- 1918
Folder 11: Research material - Dutch Emigration to North America by Bertus Harry Wabeke --- 1944
Folder 12: Holstein-Friesian History by M. S. Prescott --- 1930

Box 8

Folder 1: Research material on Ynteruniversitaire Studzjeriefrysk --- 1971-1986
Folder 2: Friesche cooperative anniversary booklet --- 1898-1948
Folder 3: Research material on Frisians in the U.S. --- undated
Folder 4: Research material on Frisian Mennonites in the U.S. --- 1975
Folder 5: Willem DeVries poetry, 3 booklets --- undated
Folder 6: M. DeJong autobiography Immigrant Child --- [1988?]
Folder 7: Frisian atlas - Lound un Noomen by P. Kramer --- 1994
Folder 8: Paper: The Motif of Freedom and Independence Throughout Frisian History by Eldon de Jager --- 1970

Box 9

Folder 1: Material on Frisian Theater Productions --- 1919-1952
Folder 2: Material on Frisian/American relations --- 1952-1982
Folder 3: Material on Friesland history and language --- 1985, undated
Folder 4: Frisian Information Bureau promotional material --- undated
Folder 5: Twenty-fifth anniversary of the Frisian Information Bureau --- 1943-1968
Folder 6: Frisian Information Bureau mailing lists --- undated
Folder 7: Frisian Information Bureau book service correspondence --- 1946-1996
Folder 8: Newsletter: Friese Stemmen --- 1956-1958
Folder 9: Newsletter: Frisian Roundtable --- 1976-1978
Folder 10: Newsletter: Frisian Roundtable --- 1979-1982

Box 10

Folder 1: Articles --- 1920-1929
Folder 2: Articles --- 1930-1939
Folder 3: Articles --- 1940-1949
Folder 4: Articles --- 1950-1959
Folder 5: Articles --- 1960-1969
Folder 6: Articles --- 1970-1979
Folder 7: Articles --- 1980-1989
Folder 8: Articles --- undated

Box 11

Folder 1: Poetry --- 1915-1917
Folder 2: Catechism certificate --- undated
Folder 3: High school report on Merchant of Venice --- 1919
Folder 4: High school physics notes --- 1920-1921
Folder 5: High school chemistry lab book --- 1921-1922
Folder 6: Clifton, New Jersey high school reflector --- 1922
Folder 7: Autobiography --- January 6, 1925
Folder 8: The Place of Frisians in Dutch History --- 1927, 1928
Folder 9: Teaching positions/student pranks --- 1927-1934
Folder 10: Booklet: The Place of Frisians in Dutch History --- 1928
Folder 11: Class papers --- 1938-1939
Folder 12: Master of Arts diploma from University of Michigan --- 1939
Folder 13: Frisian Literature --- [1946?]
Folder 14: Talks/speeches by Bernard J. Fridsma --- 1948-1976
Folder 15: Material re PhD studies at University of Michigan --- 1950-1956
Folder 16: French and German class notes --- 1951, undated
Folder 17: Material re retirement --- 1970

Box 12

Folder 1: Book: Twaklank (two languages) by Bernard J. Fridsma --- 1989, 1991, 2002
Folder 2: Gift agreement with public museum of Grand Rapids --- 2004
Folder 3: Psalter Hymnal selections translated to Frisian --- 1993-1998
Folder 4: Booklet of Frisian Psalms: Sjong God Dyn Liet --- 1997
Folder 5: Frisian translations of Psalter Hymnal songs --- 1997-2004
Folder 6: Bible songs for children translated from Frisian --- undated
Folder 7: Essays by Bernard J. Fridsma --- undated
Folder 8: Paper: In Mannich Ferson by Bernard J. Fridsma --- undated

Box 13

Folder 1: Draft of chapter II of Friesland and the Frisians --- undated
Folder 2: "History of Friesland," mss --- undated
Folder 3: Booklet: Oer De Grutte Dobbe by Bernard J. Fridsma --- undated
Folder 4: Annual Frisian Service "Fryske Tsjerketsjinst" --- 1950-1960
Folder 5: Annual Frisian Service "Fryske Tsjerketsjinst" --- 1960-1980
Folder 6: Annual Frisian Service "Fryske Tsjerketsjinst" --- 1980-2005
Folder 7: Booklet re Frisian service --- May, 21, 2000
Folder 8: Frisian worship service program (in Frisian) and sermon (in English) - in honor of Bernard J. Fridsma --- 21 May 2006
Folder 9: Genealogy of Jouke Fridsma and Hiltje Bakker
Folder 10: Fridsma family death notices --- 1903-1949
Folder 11: Family school lesson books --- 1905, undated
Folder 12: Photographs - People: Fridsma, Bernard J.
Folder 13: Photographs - People: Fridsma, Bernard J. family
Folder 14: Photographs - People: Friesland vacation --- 1947
Folder 15: Photographs - Prof. B Fridsmastrjitte
Folder 16: Photographs - People: Riemersma, J.
Folder 17: Photographs - People: Van Dyke, Lena
Folder 18: Photographs - People: group
Folder 19: Photographs - People: unidentified
Folder 20: Photographs - Grand Rapids Christian High School student groups
Folder 21: Photographs - Northside Christian School (Prospect Park, New Jersey)
Folder 22: Photographs - Friesland
Folder 23: Photographs - Leeuwarden
Folder 24: Photographs - S. Kutsje "Twee Gebroeders"
Folder 25: Photographs - Turf barge (Turfskip)

Box 14

Folder 1: Scrapbook of "Letters to the Editor" --- December, 1931 - October, 1998

Box 15

Folder 1: College class notes --- 1920s

Box 16

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1932-1940

Box 17

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1941-1949

Box 18

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1950-1958

Box 19

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1959-1964

Box 20

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1965-1970

Box 21

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1971-1975

Box 22

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1976-1981

Box 23

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1982-1987

Box 24

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1988-1991

Box 25

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1992-1997

Box 26

Folder 1: Diaries --- 1998-2002

Box 27

Folder 1: Scrapbooks: Omtwa Boeken Hinne and Reis Nei It Heitelan Yn Krante En Tydskrift --- 1971

Box 28

Folder 1: Memoir: Never Broken Bond --- 1991

Box 29

Folder 1: Album of photos: Bernard Fridsma presenting Frisian plaque to President Ford --- 1976
Folder 2: PhD dissertation: Social and Cultural Criticism in the Works of Ernest Wiechert --- 1955

Box 30

Folder 1: Memoir: Never Broken Bond, 1991 (Vol. 1-3, chapters 1-6)
Folder 2: Memoir: Never Broken Bond, 1991 (Vol. 4-7, chapters 7-14)
Folder 3: Memoir: Never Broken Bond, 1991 (Vol. 8-11, chapters 15-22)
Folder 4: Memoir: Never Broken Bond, 1991 (Vol. 12-14, chapters 23-28)
Folder 5: Memoir: Never Broken Bond, 1991 (Vol. 15-17, chapters 29-34)
Folder 6: Memoir: Never Broken Bond, 1991 (Vol.0, chapters 35-40) --- 18-2
Folder 7: Memoir: Never Broken Bond, 1991 (Vol. 21-22, chapters 41-45)
Folder 8: Introduction to Frisian --- [1979]

Box 31

Folder 1: Visit to Friesland (16mm motion picture film) --- 1948

Box 32

Folder 1: Book: Fryske Folkskinst [Annotation to B. Fridsma] --- 1945
Folder 2: Genealogy of the Krudop Family, 1535-1937; compiled by Louis P. de Boer --- 1942
Folder 3: Genealogy of the Dorner Family --- undated
Folder 4: Portrait, unidentified --- undated
Folder 5: Louis P. de Boer, Genealogist and Heraldrist Materials [Frisian Information Bureau]

Series 2: Photographs