Collection Overview
Title: Harold Dekker Collection, 1945-1984
ID: COLL/555
Creator: Dekker, Harold (1918-2006)
Extent: 0.5 Cubic Feet. More info below.
Arrangement: Folder level description
Abstract
Professor, dean of students, chair of mission, and academic dean at Calvin College. Pastor of Engelwood, New Jersey and radio preacher for the Back to God Hour. This collection includes papers; reports; booklets; programs; correspondence; lectures; newspapers.
Biographical Note
Harold Dekker was born in Wichert, Illinois and grew up in Roseland, on the Southside of Chicago. He attended Chicago Christian High School and then studied at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary. He served in the U.S Navy as a chaplain. After his service, he became faculty at Calvin College in 1946. From 1947 to 1950 he was the pastor at Christian Reformed Church of Engelwood, New Jersey. In 1950, along with Rev. Peter Eldersveld joined the Back to God Hour as a radio preacher. In 1954, he returned to Calvin College and became their dean of students. Eventually he was appointed as chair of missions and academic dean. Among his various commitments to the CRC and Calvin College, he also a member of the Grand Rapids City Commission (Third Ward) during the 1970s and 1980s. Also a founding member of the Area Agency on Aging and Human Relations Commission of Michigan. He retired in 1987.
Administrative Information
Alternate Extent Statement:
1 Boxes
Acquisition Source:
Dan Dekker
Box and Folder Listing
- Series 1: [General Materials]
- Box 1
- Folder 1: "The Relation of Church and College in the Spiritual Care of Students" --- 1955, 1958
- Folder 2: Misc. correspondence --- 1945, 1955
- Folder 3: Paper re: "The Future Academic Program of Calvin Seminary" --- [undated]
- Folder 4: Lecture re: Christian Reformed Ministers' Institute --- 1957
- Folder 5: Student paper re: "The Small Church," by Michael S. Hoag --- 1984
- Folder 6: Reports re: Home Missions --- 1955, 1961, 1964
- Folder 7: Booklets
- Item 1: The Motive and Aim of Missions, by Rev. John M. L. Young, D. D. --- 1964
- Item 2: "Medical Missionary Compendium" --- 1958
- Item 3: misc. material for missions --- [undated]
- Folder 8: Misc. programs, pamphlets, and articles --- [various dates]
- Folder 9: Booklets
- Item 1: "The Christian and Literature, A Symposium" --- [undated]
- Item 2: Youth Speaks…on Christianity and Civilization, by various authors --- [undated]
- Folder 10: Booklets
- Item 1: "What's Right with The Orthodox Presbyterian Church?" By Rev. R. B. Kuiper --- 1946
- Item 2: Our Guilty Silence: The Church, the Gospel, and the World, by John R. W. Stott --- 1967
- Item 3: "John Calvin on God and Political Duty" --- 1950
- Folder 11: "The Anti-Revolutionary Principle," by Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer --- 1860
- Folder 12: Correspondence re: Robert Schuller at Calvin --- 1979