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Collection Overview
Abstract
The Dutch Immigrant Letter Collection includes a wide spectrum of Dutch immigrant experience-Protestant, Catholic, and secular-and it is the only major collection of its kind. To assemble the Immigrant Letter Collection the archives conducted four major manuscript collection campaigns in the Netherlands and the United States between 1976 and 1990. These efforts accumulated at least eight thousand items-letters, travel accounts, immigrant memoirs, and photographs.
Of the 4,970 letters gathered (1838-1958), 2,793 were American postings and 2,179 were from the Netherlands to the United States. Half of the letters from immigrants cluster between 1873 and 1893, accurately reflecting the numerical configuration of Dutch immigration. Moreover, immigration peaks in 1848-1857, 1867-1888, and 1892-1915 are followed a year or two later by peaks in correspondence.
Unfortunately we acquired no useful examples of two-way correspondence. Furthermore, the immigrant letters represent at best 0.0032 percent of an estimated 889,000 letters mailed from the United States to Holland between 1890 and 1930.
All names reflect the original spellings, so try variants spellings (i.e. ij / y); variant spacing (i.e. vanden / van den); and variants of v.d. names (i.e. van de / van den / van der).
The collection includes letters, diaries, travel accounts, memoirs, recollections, and journals. These sources provide a wide range of viewpoints and materials for discovering the spirit and character of the immigration experience. Herbert J. Brinks, curator of the Archives from 1972-1995, collected and used the letters in the research for the following books: Schrijf Spoedig Terug, 1978; Write Back Soon, 1986; and Dutch American Voices, 1995. Nearly all the material in this collection has been transcribed and translated. This is indicated for each item in a separate alphabetized guide, Dutch Immigrant Papers Guide, and on our web site: http://library.calvin.edu/guide/collections/hh/in_house_resources/immigrant_letters/dutch_letters. Additions continue.
Subject/Index Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
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Series 1: Last Name: A],
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Series 2: Last Name: B],
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Series 3: Last Name: C],
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Series 4: Last Name: D],
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Series 5: Last Name: E],
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Series 6: Last Name: F],
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Series 7: Last Name: G],
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Series 8: Last Name: H],
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Series 9: Last Name: I],
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Series 10: Last Name: J],
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Series 11: Last Name: K],
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Series 12: Last Name: L],
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Series 13: Last Name: M],
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Series 14: Last Name: N],
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Series 15: Last Name: O],
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Series 16: Last Name: P],
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Series 17: Last Name: Q],
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Series 18: Last Name: R],
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Series 19: Last Name: S],
[Series 20: Last Name: T],
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Series 21: Last Name: U],
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Series 22: Last Name: V],
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Series 23: Last Name: W],
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Series 24: Last Name: Y],
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Series 25: Last Name: Z],
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- Series 20: Last Name: T
- Box 61
- Folder 17: Taay, Jan. Letters: 2 items. Noordbroek, Groningen - Manton, Michigan. J. Taay to W. M. Hilbrands. --- 1946-1947
- Folder 18: Taffijn, C. Letters: 4 items, photocopy. Den Haag, Zuid Holland - Holland, Michigan. C. J. Taffijn to P. Van Tuinen. --- 1947-1948
- Folder 19: Talen, Jacob. Letters: 3 items, transcription. New Holland, Michigan - Staphorst, Overijssel. J. Talen to friends. --- 1883-1886
- Folder 20: Tamboer, Arie. Letters: 27 items. Zuid Holland and Noord Holland - Clifton, New Jersey. Relatives to A. Tamboer. --- 1950-1980
- Folder 21: Tamboer, L. Letter: 1 item. Alblasserdam, Zuid Holland - Clifton, New Jersey. L. Tamboer to A. Tamboer. --- 1979
- Folder 22: Tamboer, Steven. Letter: 1 item. Wellington, Ontario - Dirksland, Zuid Holland. S. Tamboer to A. Tamboer. --- 1926
- Folder 23: Tanis, Evert. Letters: 7 items. Hudsonville, Michigan - Ripon, California. E. Tanis to Alice Nykamp (Mrs. John W.). --- 1932-1934
- Folder 24-26: Te Baerts, Julia and Jan. Letters: 38 items, photocopy. Vancouver Island, British Columbia - Knoxville, Tennessee. J. and J. te Baerts to A. Benning. --- 1957-1981
- Folder 27: Teitsma, D. Letter: 1 item. Stiens, Friesland - Paterson, New Jersey. D. Teitsma to F. de Haan. --- 1914
- Folder 28: Te Kolste, H. and G. H. Doornink. Letters: 2 items, photocopy. Holland, Wisconsin - Netherlands. H. and G. H. te Kolste to J. H. Doornink. --- 1858
- Folder 29: Te Kolste, Hendrik. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Firth, Nebraska - Netherlands. H. te Kolste to relatives. --- 1904
- Folder 30: Teerink, Johannes Hendrikus. Letters: 4 items, with translation. Amsterdam, SS Leerdam, Le Mars, Iowa -Zutphen, Netherlands. J.H. Teerink to father and sisters. --- 1887-1889
- Folder 31: Temminck, J. A. Letters: 3 items, photocopy. Tuil, Gelderland - Grand Haven, Michigan. J. A. Temminck to Arie de Bruin, Mrs. Martines and E. Joh. van Doorne. --- 1898-1899
- Folder 32: Ten Cate, J. H. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Graafschap, Michigan - Orange City, Iowa. J. H. Ten Cate to children. --- 1876
- Folder 33: Ten Clay, Minnie Renskers (Mrs. Henry). Recollections: 1 item, 83 pages, transcription, English. Waukesha County, Wisconsin - Sheldon, Iowa. Entitled, History of the Christiaan Renskers Family. --- 1857-1969
- Folder 34: Ten Hoeve, E. Letter: 1 item, with translation. Burgwerd, Friesland - Prairie View, Kansas. E. Ten Hoeve to H. Guichelaar. --- 1920
- Folder 35-37: Ten Hoor, M. J. Letters: 39 items, photocopy. Various places, Groningen - Holland, Michigan. Relatives to M. J. ten Hoor. --- 1905-1937
- Folder 38: Ten Hove, H. John. Letters: 3 items. Black Falds, Alberta - USA. H. J. Ten Hove to Gordon Oosterman. --- 1974
- Folder 39: Ten Kate, Aaltje. Letters: 15 items, with translation. Kampen, Overijssel - Grand Rapids, Michigan. A. Ten Kate to Jan and Di Jansma. --- 1919-1927
- Folder 40: Te Paske, Anthony. Letter: 1 item, photocopy. Sioux Center, Iowa - Aalten, Gelderland. A. te Paske to J. B. te Paske. --- 1910
- Folder 41: Terborg, Jan. Letters: 2 items, photocopy. Groningen, Groningen - Roseland, Illinois. J. Terborg to relatives. --- 1900
- Box 62
- Folder 1: Te Selle, Derk Willem. Letters: 2 items, photocopy, with translation. Kotten/Winterswijk, Gelderland -USA; Rotterdam, Zuid Holland - Winterswijk, Gelderland. D. W. Te Selle to C. Grutters; K. L. E. Van Heerde to D. W. Te Selle. --- 1873-1882
- Folder 2: Te Selle, Gerrit Jan. Letters: 12 items, photocopy, with translation. Firth, Panama, and Holland, Nebraska - Winterswijk, Gelderland. G. J. Te Selle to Derk William te Selle and other relatives. --- 1873-1906
- Folder 3-5: Te Selle, Harmen Jan. Letters: 21 items, transcription, with transcription. Holland, Wisconsin; Firth, Nebraska - Winterswijk and Kotten, Gelderland. H. J. Te Selle to relatives. --- 1865-1888
- Folder 6: Te Selle, Jan Hendrik. Letters: 4 items, photocopy, with translation. Holland, Nebraska - Kotten, Harderwijk, and Winterswijk, Gelderland. J. H. Te Selle to relatives. --- 1868-1895
- Folder 7: t Hart, Arie and Cornelia de Ruiter. Letters: 5 items, photocopy. Grand Rapids, Michigan - Pernis, Zuid Holland. A. and C. 't Hart to Jan 't Hart. --- 1892-1906
- Folder 8: Thiele, Wilhelm. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Pocahontas, Arkansas - Netherlands. W. Thiele to relatives. --- 1889
- Folder 9: Tholens, A. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Tiel, Gelderland - [Pella, Iowa]. A. Tholens to J. Schippers. --- 1888
- Folder 10: Thym, Frans. Letters: 26 items, photocopy. New York, New York - Netherlands. F. Thym to relatives. --- 1878-1880
- Folder 11: Tiesenga, A.L. Letter: 1 item, photocopy. Appelscha, Friesland - Hudsonville, Michigan. A. L. Tiesenga to Pieter Karsten. --- 1906
- Folder 12: Tigelaar, Jacob. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Forest Grove, Michigan - Appelscha, Friesland. J. Tigelaar to Jan Stevens Tigelaar. --- 1891
- Folder 13: Tijmes, Roelof and Hendrikje. Letters: 2 items. Graafschap, Michigan - Netherlands. R. and H. Tijmes to relatives. --- 1900
- Folder 14: Tillema, Erik. Letter: 1 item, photocopy. Sappemeer, Groningen - Lynden, Washington. E. Tillema to Clarence van Dijken (Klaas van Dyken). --- 1979
- Folder 15: Tilma, Antje. Letters: 7 items, photocopy. Onderdendam, Groningen - Momence, Illinois and Richland, Missouri. A. Tilma to Pierre Tilma and Grie. --- 1956-1960
- Folder 16: Tilma, E. Letters: 8 items, photocopy. Winsum and Bedum, Groningen; Arnemuiden, Zeeland - St. Anne, Illinois. Harm and Yte Poelman to E. Tilma. --- 1957-1960
- Folder 17: Tilma, Jens and Tine. Letters: 9 items, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Spijk and Loppersum, Groningen - St. Anne, Illinois. J. and T. Tilma to E. Tilma. --- 1956-1961
- Folder 18: Tilma, M. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Onderdendam, Groningen - Richland, Missouri. M. Tilma to E[elke] Tilma. --- 1956
- Folder 19: Tilma, P. Letters: 10 items, photocopy. Onderdendam, Groningen - Richland, Missouri. Momence, Illinois. P. Tilma to E. Tilma. --- 1956-1959
- Folder 20: Tilma, Scott (donor). Letters: 10 items, photocopy. Groningen, Groningen - St. Anne, Illinois. Relatives to Jan and Dri, Eelke, and Jantje Tilma. --- 1949-1960
- Box 63
- Folder 1: Tilma, Siebe and Akke. Letters: 4 items, photocopy. Kootstertille, Friesland - Richland, Missouri. S. and A. Tilma to E. Tilma. --- 1961
- Folder 2: Tilma, Sjoerd and Peggy. Letters: 5 items, photocopy. Fort Victoria, Rhodesia - Momence, Illinois. S. and P. Tilma to E. Tilma. --- 1956-1958
- Folder 3: Tilma, Wiets. Letters: 9 items, photocopy. Onderdendam, Groningen - St. Anne, Illinois. W. Tilma to Eelke Tilma. --- 1959-1961
- Folder 4: Timmer, Jan, Jr. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Zeeland, Michigan - Beilen, Drenthe. J. Timmer to relatives. --- [1890]
- Folder 5: Timmer, John M. Letters: 2 items. Hamilton and Moline, Michigan - Ripon, California. J. M. Timmer to Alice Nykamp (Mrs. John W.). --- 1932-1933
- Folder 6: Timmer, Klaas. Travel account and letters: 3 items, transcription, with translation. Orange City, Iowa - Aalden, Drenthe. K. Timmer to relatives and friends. --- 1880-1881
- Folder 7: Timmer, L. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Lake City, Michigan - Oosterwijtwerd, Groningen. L. Timmer to Siewke Smit. --- 1888
- Folder 8: Timmerman, Roelof. Letters: 32 items, photocopy. Michigan (New Holland, Holland, Black River, Olive Centre, North Holland Zeeland, Drenthe, Borculo, Noordeloos) - Staphorst, Overijssel. R. Timmerman and others to friends and relatives. --- 1849-1945
- Folder 9: Timmerman, Sarel. Letter: 1 item. Grand Rapids, Michigan - Yerseke, Zeeland. S. Timmerman to D. Schipper. --- 1884
- Folder 10: Tinkham, John F. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, English. Grand Rapids, Michigan - Holland, Michigan. J. F. Tinkham to K. Schaddelee. --- 1872
- Folder 11: Tobi, L. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with transcription. Tholen, Zeeland - USA. L. Tobi to Ben Schipper. --- 1882
- Folder 12: Toering, Harmen Fokkes and Johanna Klases Knol. Letters: 12 items, photocopy, with translation. Mc Cool, Indiana; Hinckley, Minnesota - Luinjeberd, Friesland. H. F. and J. Toering to relatives. --- 1881-1932
- Folder 13: Tolkamp, Annie E. Pieterman. Letter: 1 item, photocopy. Aalten, Gelderland - Hawthorne, New York. A. E. Tolkamp to Sue and Jan de Man, Sr. --- 1979
- Folder 14: Tolsma, S. C. (and J. S. de Jong - scribe). Letters: 4 items, photocopy. Leeuwarden and Hallum, Friesland - USA. S. C. Tolsma to relatives and friends. --- 1900-1911
- Folder 15: Tonnis, Albert. Letters: 4 items, photocopy. Rivera, California - Eext, Drenthe. A. Tonnis to H. Rutgers. --- 1924-1926
- Folder 16: Trap, Jan. Letters: 2 items, photocopy. Oosterend, Texel, Noord Holland - Los Angeles and Escalon, California. J. Trap to J. de Visser and S. Tilma. --- 1952-1973
- Folder 17: Triezenberg, Herman. Letter: 1 item, photocopy. Chicago, Illinois - Opwierde, Groningen. H. Triezenberg to Jan Smit. --- 1918
- Folder 18: Tromp, Geertje Bandringa. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Chicago, Illinois - Pieterburen, Groningen. G. Tromp to Klaas Jansen. --- 1884
- Folder 19: Tromp, M. H. Letter: 1 item, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Woudsend, Friesland - Grand Rapids, Michigan. M. H. Tromp to D. Bloksma. --- 1878
- Folder 20: Tuokkola, Jouko. Letters: 4 items, photocopy. Loretto, Ontario - Cuyk, Noord Brabant. J. Tuokkola to H. Werten Diels. --- 1987-1989
- Folder 21: Turkenburg, Wim and Trudy. Letters: 19 items, photocopy. Madison, Wisconsin; Grand Rapids, Michigan - Boskoop, Zuid Holland. W. and T. Turkenburg to Piet de Man. --- 1951-1959
- Folder 22: Tuttle, Ethel and Charles. Letter: 1 item, photocopy. Fairport, New York - Cadzand, Zeeland. E. and C. Tuttle to W. J. Robijn. --- 1971
- Folder 23: Tysseling, Mina. Letter: 1 item, photocopy. Pella, Iowa - Schoonebeek, Drenthe. M. Tysseling to relatives. --- 1888
- Folder 24: Tysseling, Willem and Hermina Overbergen. Letters: 7 items, photocopy. Elkton, Minnesota - Amsterdam, Noord Holland. W. and H. Tysseling to R. A. van Holthoorn. --- 1914-1919
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Last Name: A],
[
Series 2: Last Name: B],
[
Series 3: Last Name: C],
[
Series 4: Last Name: D],
[
Series 5: Last Name: E],
[
Series 6: Last Name: F],
[
Series 7: Last Name: G],
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Series 8: Last Name: H],
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Series 9: Last Name: I],
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Series 10: Last Name: J],
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Series 11: Last Name: K],
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Series 12: Last Name: L],
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Series 13: Last Name: M],
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Series 14: Last Name: N],
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Series 15: Last Name: O],
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Series 16: Last Name: P],
[
Series 17: Last Name: Q],
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Series 18: Last Name: R],
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Series 19: Last Name: S],
[Series 20: Last Name: T],
[
Series 21: Last Name: U],
[
Series 22: Last Name: V],
[
Series 23: Last Name: W],
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Series 24: Last Name: Y],
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Series 25: Last Name: Z],
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All]