Herbert J. Brinks Collection, 1940-2011 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Herbert J. Brinks Collection, 1940-2011

ID: COLL/512

Primary Creator: Brinks, Herbert J. (1935-2011)

Extent: 7.5 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Professor of history at Calvin College, author, scholar in the field of Dutch immigration to North America, curator of the Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary Archives (Heritage Hall: Calvin Archives), Christian Reformed Church denominational archivist, creator and editor of Origins: Historical Magazine of the Archives, and community service volunteer in the Heartside area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The collection includes biographical information, correspondence, extensive articles and other writings, news clippings, materials regarding Heartside, book materials regarding Christian Reformed church history, miscellaneous research materials, and material regarding Sgt. Nicholas Cook (stepbrother).

Biographical Note

Herbert J. Brinks was born in the Dutch settlement town of South Holland, Illinois in 1935. Due to his surroundings, Brinks grew up learning about Dutch history and culture. Brink enrolled at Calvin College and entered their pre-seminary program. Brink soon realized that he did not have the natural inclination to become a seminary student, so he shifted his focus to history, English, and education. In 1957, two major events took place for Herb Brinks. First, he graduated from Calvin College and second, he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Kortenhoeven.

After graduation, Brinks began teaching English and history at Allendale Christian High School and two years later teaching Latin at Unity Christian High School. In 1960, Brinks moved to Ann Arbor to further his education at the University of Michigan, and in 1962, he earned his M.A. in history. The same year, Brinks joined Calvin College's faculty as assistant professor of history. By 1965, Brinks earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and founded Heritage Hall at Calvin.

The foundation of Heritage Hall started by Brinks researching and tracking down material on Dutch immigration in North America. He also began to collect archival material on Calvin College, Seminary and the Christian Reformed Church. From its conception to his retirement in 1995, Brinks served as Heritage Hall's Curator. During his tenure as Archives Curator, Brinks oversaw the cataloguing and housing of important records of the College, Seminary and denomination as well as personal documents from ministers, professors, and Dutch immigrants. He managed to acquire a large number of letters written by Dutch immigrates to their family and friends in the Netherlands as well as travel accounts, memoirs and photographs, now known as the Immigrant Letters Collection. He used a sampling of these letters to publish two books, Write Back Soon, 1976 and Dutch American Voices, Letters from the United States 1850-1930, 1995.

From 1969 to 1971, Brinks took time away from Calvin to lecture at Michigan State University and operate as the director of the Historical Society of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. When he returned to Calvin in 1972, he became a professor in the history department and continued to curate at Heritage Hall. In addition to his work at the archives, he began the publication of Origins, a magazine devoted to detailing the Dutch migration to America and the Christian Reformed Church. In 1989, he fully dedicated his time as the curator of Heritage Hall and editor of Origins until retirement.

Before and especially after his retirement, Brinks enjoyed serving the less fortunate members of the community. In 1989, he began to volunteer at Degage Community Center. Brinks organized Heartside Area Writers Club in 1991 for inner city residents who were interested in improving their reading skills. Also in Brinks' spare time, he enjoyed gardening and fishing. After a battle of myeloma, Herbert J. Brinks passed away on May 17, 2011. His wife, Ruth, their 4 children, and 7 grandchildren, survive him.

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 15 Boxes

Acquisition Source: Herbert J. Brinks

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Information, Correspondence, and Writings],
[Series 2: Book Materials],
[Series 3: Miscellaneous Research],
[Series 4: Course Materials],
[Series 5: Sergeant Nicholas Cook],
[All]

Series 1: Biographical Information, Correspondence, and Writings

Box 1

Folder 1: Biography and curriculum vita --- undated

Folder 2: The Allendale Memoirs (p. 2), dedicated to H. J. Brinks --- 1959

Folder 3: Obituary notice and comments made at funeral of Alyce Brinks Cook, mother of H. J. Brinks --- 1964

Folder 4: Honors and certificates --- 1960-2001

Folder 5: “Our Historical Collection,” Calvin Spark, v. 12 (Feb 1966), pp. 12-13

Folder 6: Correspondence --- 1967

Folder 7: "The Christian Reformed Attic," The Banner, v. 102, p. 19 --- 16 Jun 16 1967

Folder 8: Guide to Dutch-American Historical Collections of Western Michigan --- 1967

Folder 9: News clipping --- 1967

Folder 10: Correspondence --- 1968

Folder 11

Item 1: "Scholia: The Heritage Hall Historical Collection," Calvin Theological Journal, v. 3, pp. 47-50 --- April 1968
Item 2: "Revivalism and Reform in America," Reformed Journal, v. 18, pp. 16-21 --- Nov 1968

Folder 12: "Era of Pig Iron in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, 1857-1877," Inland Seas --- 1969

Folder 13

Item 1: "The White Man, the Black Man," The Banner, v. 107, pp. 10-11 --- 18 Aug 1972
Item 2: “Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte,” DIS Magazine, v. 2, pp. 18-19 --- Mar 1972

Folder 14

Item 1: “The Sabbath,” Dialogue, pp. 4-7 --- 31 Jan 1973
Item 2: “The Sabbath,” Origins --- 2004

Folder 15: "Dutch-American Tales and Folkways" --- 1973

Folder 16: "Reunion: A Short Story," Reformed Journal, v. 24, pp. 25-28 --- 1974

Folder 17

Item 1: "Calvin's Centennial Photo Exhibit," The Banner, v. 110, p. 24 --- 17 Oct 1975
Item 2: "Reformed Politics in North Prairie," Dialogue, pp. 29-31 --- Apr 1975
Item 3: "Hoe Het was en Soms Nog Is: Dutch American Folkways," DIS Magazine, v. 6 p. 10 --- Sep 1975

Folder 18

Item 1: "Dutch American Folkways: Historical Highlights . . .," DIS Magazine, v. 6, p. 29 --- Dec 1975
Item 2: "Dutch American Folkways: Tips from the Treasurer," DIS Magazine, v. 6, pp. 8-9 --- Jun 1975
Item 3: "Papa's Last Word," Reformed Journal, v. 25, pp. 14-17 --- Sep 1975

Folder 19: Correspondence --- 1976

Folder 20

Item 1: "No Bland Kettle of Fish," The Banner, v. 111 --- 2 Jul 1976
Item 2: "Hoe Het Was! En Soms Nog Is?" DIS Magazine, v. 7, pp. 16-17 --- Jun 1976

Folder 21: "One of Us" --- 1976

Folder 22: Correspondence --- 1977

Folder 23: News clippings --- 1977, 1978

Folder 24: "En Kleine Wereld: A Small World," "De Poorten des Tijds: The Gates of Time," and "Tijd om Oud te Worden: Time to Get Old," DIS Magazine --- 1977

Folder 25: "Letters in Your Attic?" and "Lost Roots," The Banner --- 1977

Folder 26: "Gesprek in Grand Rapids," Wereld Contact --- 1977

Folder 27: Book reviews, Schrijf Spoedig Terug --- 1978

Folder 28: Twelve-part series, "Voices from Our Immigrant Past," The Banner --- 1978

Folder 29: "Letters from Holland" project correspondence --- 1978

Folder 30: "Letters from Holland" project organizational material --- 1978-1979

Folder 31: Correspondence --- 1979

Folder 32: "The Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America - A Study of Comparative Cultural Adaptation in America" --- 1979

Folder 33: "Holland-American Churches: A Study of Comparative Adjustment in North America, 1834-1880" --- 1979

Box 2

Folder 1: Correspondence --- 1980
Folder 2: "Dirk Jellema: 1924-1982," Calvin Spark, v. 26, p. 30 --- Dec 1982
Folder 3: "A Profile of the History Department," Calvin Spark, v. 26, pp. 8-11 --- Sep 1980
Folder 4: "Immigration One Hundred Years Ago" --- [1980]
Folder 5: Netherlandic Studies Conference program --- 1980
Folder 6: Letter, "Last Time: Wooden Shoes," The Banner, v. 115, p. 2 --- Dec 1980
Folder 7: Correspondence --- 1981
Folder 8: "The America Letters," Grand River Valley Review, v. 2, no. 2 --- 1981
Folder 9: "The America Letters - News from Hollanders in West Michigan," and "Ostfrisians in Two Worlds" --- [1981]
Folder 10: Sample research questionnaires, "Recent Dutch Immigration to the United States," in Contemporary American Immigration --- [1981]
Folder 11: "Celebrate!" guest editorial, The Banner, v. 117, pp. 7-8 --- 27 Sep 1982
Folder 12: "The 'Kolonization' of West Michigan," Grand Rapids Magazine, pp. 75-77 --- Jul 1982
Folder 13: “Why the Dutch Are Different,” West Michigan Magazine, pp. 19-22 --- Jun 1982
Folder 14: "The Origins of Christian Education in the CRC" --- 1982
Folder 15: "Recent Dutch Immigration to the United States," "Recent Dutch-American History," and "Leaders of the Afscheiding" --- 1982
Folder 16: "From Grafschaft to Graafschap," speech and program --- 1982
Folder 17: A Time to Keep, CRC Publications Bible Way --- 1982
Folder 18: Correspondence --- 1983
Folder 19: "Bernardus de Beij (1815-1894)," Origins, v. 1 no. 1 --- 1983
Folder 20: "Archives Receives More Material," Origins, v. 1 no. 2 --- 1983
Folder 21: Book chapter, "Immigrant Letters: Religious Context of Dutch-American Ethnicity," Dutch Immigration to North America --- 1983
Folder 22: "Archives Presents Origins," Chimes --- Jan and Feb 1983

Box 3

Folder 1: Correspondence --- 1984

Folder 2: "Castle Garden," "Crossing the Atlantic," "Teunis Bos Vanden Hoek," and "Beginnings of the CRC in New Jersey 1855-1866," Origins, v. 2 no. 1 --- 1984

Folder 3: "De Afscheiding 1834-1984," "Journey to Despair," "The Avinks from Borculo to Ripon 1869-1917," and "The Burning of the Phoenix," Origins, v. 2 no. 2 --- 1984

Folder 4

Item 1: Book review, "To All Our Children, by A. Vander Mey," The Banner, v. 119 --- 18 Jun 1984
Item 2: "Dr. Henry Ippel: Professor of History," Calvin Spark, v. 30 --- May 1984

Folder 5: Correspondence --- 1985

Folder 6: "Border Crossings," "Oak Harbor, Washington," "The Saga of Klaas De Vries," and "WWII: The Invasion and Liberation of the Netherlands - Eyewitness Reports," Origins, v. 2 no. 1 --- 1985

Folder 7: "Grand Rapids: An Immigrant's First Impressions," Origins, v. 3 no. 2 --- 1985

Folder 8: "Religious Continuities in Europe and the New World . . ." --- [1985]

Folder 9: Unpublished response to John Douglas column, Grand Rapids Press --- 1985

Folder 10: Sabbatical application --- 1985

Folder 11: "Institutions of the Reformed Community in the US - Pine Rest" --- [1985]

Folder 12: Pine Rest Christian Hospital -- 75th Anniversary History, final draft

Folder 13: Pine Rest Christian Hospital - 75 Years --- 1910-1985

Folder 14: Correspondence --- 1986

Folder 15: "A View from the Roseland Parsonage," "Another Look at 1857, the Birth of the CRC," and "Christian Mercy: Pine Rest and Bethesda Hospitals," Origins, v. 4 no. 1 --- 1986

Folder 16: "Bastiaan Broere," "Father Budding 1810-1870," Origins, v. 4 no. 2 --- 1986

Folder 17

Item 1: "M. Howard Rienstra: 1931-1986," Calvin Spark, v. 32 --- Sep 1986
Item 2: "Roundtable: Christian Ethics in Nazi Germany," Dialogue --- Oct 1986
Item 3: "A Scholar in the Polis," Reformed Journal, v. 36 --- Jul 1986

Folder 18-19: Heartside Happenings and Casey's Club materials --- 1991-1996

Folder 20: "The Vanden Hoeks in Harrison 1884-1895," Origins, v. 5 no. 1 --- 1987

Folder 21: "The Era of Ymen P. DeJong 1920-1950," "WWII: California," and "Rural Life: When the Farmer Prospers," Origins, v. 5 no. 2 --- 1987

Folder 22: "The Unlikely Heretic," Reformed Journal, v. 37 --- Jan 1987

Folder 23: Book reviews, Write Back Soon, 1987

Folder 24: Letters from Immigrants in America: 1847-1920 --- 1987

Folder 25: "Then and Now," reflections on the early years of Calvin College --- 1987

Folder 26: News clippings --- 1987

Box 4

Folder 1: Correspondence --- 1988

Folder 2: "Chicago: the Americanization of Bernardus De Beij (1815-1894)," "Civil War: View from Iowa," and "Dutch American Reactions," Origins, v. 6 no. 1 --- 1988

Folder 3: "Factory to Pulpit," Origins, v. 6 no. 2 --- 1988

Folder 4: Book review, "A Century of Grace," and "Home Missions: Conscience of the Church," The Banner, v. 123 --- Feb 1988

Folder 5: Tribute to Samuel Greydanus --- 1988

Folder 6

Item 1: "The Third Gift," and "Ethnic Wrappings," The Banner, v. 123 --- Feb 1988
Item 2: "Ethnic Wrappings," The Banner, v. 123 --- 26 Sep 1988

Folder 7: Alumni lecture, "Calvin College - the Turn of the Century" --- 1988

Folder 8: Correspondence --- 1989

Folder 9: "The CRC and World War II," Origins, v. 7 no. 2 --- 1989

Folder 10: Fall conference sectional, "On Being Reformed in Admissions and Appointments"

Folder 11: "Hudsonville, Hillcrest CRC, 1956-1989" lecture

Folder 12: Correspondence --- 1990

Folder 13: "Oakdale Park: Introduction" and "Ocean Voyage Accounts" in Origins, v. 8 no. 1 --- 1990

Folder 14: "The Yff family and the Kuiper Connection," Origins, v. 8 no. 2 --- 1990

Folder 15: "Experiences of American Dutch Immigrant Society Members," DIS Magazine, v. 21 --- Mar 1990

Folder 16: Netherlands Immigrant Letter Campaign news clippings --- 1990

Folder 17: Friends of the Archives Endowment Fund

Box 5

Folder 1: Correspondence --- 1991
Folder 2: "Missaukee County - A Wilderness Colony 1869-1938," "Frederick Diemer Letters 1824-1928," "The Meekhof Farm," and "Impressions of the 'Old' Country 1848-1940," Origins, v. 9 no. 1 --- 1991
Folder 3: "Germans in the Christian Reformed Church 1857-1872," and "Letters to My Wife: A. C. Van Raalte to Christina," Origins, v. 9 no. 2 --- 1991
Folder 4: "Burning Shoes and Banana Peels . . .," The Banner --- 14 Oct 1991
Folder 5: "After Fifty Years: Pearl Harbor and the CRC," The Banner, v. 126 --- 2 Dec 1991
Folder 6: Heartside Happenings, newsletter edited by H. J. Brinks --- 1991-1996
Folder 7: Heartside Happenings art work by Rick Schaafsma --- 1992-1995
Folder 8: Correspondence --- 1992
Folder 9: News clippings --- 1991-2008
Folder 10: "From Polder to Polder," Origins, v. 10 no. 2 --- 1992
Folder 11: Calvin History, "The Plato Club: Shaping Calvin Minds," Calvin Spark, v. 38, p. 38 --- Dec 1992
Folder 12: Archives and Historical Collection Handbook --- [1992]
Folder 13: "The Dutch," chapter for Encyclopedia of American Social History --- 1992-1997
Folder 14: Correspondence --- 1993
Folder 15: "Johanna (Gelderloos) La Maire," "Peter Lankester," and "Ralph Dekker's Englewood," Origins, v. 11 no. 1 --- 1993
Folder 16: "Silk City: News from Paterson's Mill Workers," Origins, v. 11 no. 2 --- 1993
Folder 17: "'Very Special' Volunteers' Efforts Will Be Recognized," "One-Shot 'Della' is a Big Show," Grand Rapids Press; Della's Diner program and certificate --- 1993

Box 6

Folder 1: Correspondence --- 1994

Folder 2: "Memoirs: Rev. Arnold Brink 1913-1990," and "The CRC in the 1930s: The Era of Henry J. Kuiper," Origins, v. 12 no. 1 --- 1994

Folder 3: "Hard Times in Grand Rapids . . .," Origins, v. 12 no. 2 --- 1994

Folder 4

Item 1: "Faculty Meetings, the First and Last" --- Nov 1994
Item 2: "It's Not Easy to Be Dutch," speech given at Trinity Christian College --- Sep 1994

Folder 5: Correspondence --- 1995

Folder 6: "50 Years Ago," and "Johannes Jager," Origins, v. 13 no. 1 --- 1995

Folder 7: "Henry Wierenga," and "West Side Letters 1880-1923," Origins, v. 13 no. 2 --- 1995

Folder 8: "Dutch Americans," chapter in Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America --- 1995

Folder 9: Dutch American Voices: Letters from the US, 1850-1930, introduction --- 1995

Folder 10: Dégagé Newsletter, Spring --- 1995

Folder 11: "Opening Your Ancestors' Mail," The Banner, v. 130 --- 12 Jun 1995

Folder 12: Book review --- 1995

Folder 13: Heartside area of Grand Rapids --- [1995]

Folder 14: Retirement tributes --- 1995-1996

Folder 15: Dutch American Voices, reviews and receptions --- 1995-1998

Folder 16: Correspondence --- 1996

Folder 17: "Home Builders: Women on the Frontier," Origins, v. 14 no. 1 --- 1996

Folder 18: "Eastern Avenue and Baxter, 1920-1950," and "Muskegon Lumberman: Jan Vogel," Origins, v. 14 no. 2 --- 1996

Folder 19: Correspondence --- 1997

Folder 20: "Pella in 1855," Origins, v. 15 no. 1 --- 1997

Folder 21: "California Immigrants," and "Grand Haven Fishing," Origins, v. 15 no. 2 --- 1997

Folder 22: Correspondence --- 1998

Folder 23: "Celery," "Church History via Kalamazoo," and "Mail from Kalamazoo," Origins, v. 16 no. 1 --- 1998

Folder 24: "Henry Beets, 1869-1947," Origins, v. 16 no. 2 --- 1998

Folder 25: Memoir - Between Rivers and Valleys --- [1998]

Folder 26: Recollections of Conrad Bult --- [1998]

Box 7

Folder 1: Correspondence --- 1999

Folder 2: "Montana: Introduction - The Trek," Origins, v. 17 no. 1 --- 1999

Folder 3: "Recollections of Arnold (Dick) Zandstra - 1999," Origins, v. 17 no. 2 --- 1999

Folder 4: "With Us Today: Herbert J. Brinks," Grand Rapids Press --- 1999

Folder 5: "Hollandale, Minnesota," Origins --- 2000

Folder 6: "Heartside Neighborhood," history of Grand Rapids --- 1850-2000

Folder 7: ESL tutoring correspondence --- 2000-2005

Folder 8: Correspondence --- 2002

Folder 9

Item 1: Historical sketch of Bethany CRC (South Holland, IL) --- 2003
Item 2: Poem, "Ode to Bethany CRC" --- 2002

Folder 10: "Ridge Road and Illiana, 1949-1953," class fiftieth reunion --- 2003

Folder 11: "The Icon," Perspectives, v. 18 --- Feb 2003

Folder 12: Breakfast at Casey's, Woodlawn World article --- 2003

Folder 13: Devotional meditation

Folder 14: "The Plain Truth," Perspectives, v. 19 --- Apr 2004

Folder 15: Vini Apacheche documents --- 2005

Folder 16

Item 1: "Mixed Marriages," Perspectives, v. 21 --- Dec 2006
Item 2: "Speed," Perspectives, v. 21 --- Feb 2006

Folder 17: "Christian Reformed Preachers," Woodlawn World --- 2006

Folder 18: Latin American Sports and Culture Club --- 2006

Folder 19: "Nicholas J. Cook: S SGT 483 AAF Bomb GP, 1924-1944," Origins, v. 25 no. 1 --- 2007

Folder 20: Manuscript, unpublished novel (Notes) --- 2007

Folder 21: Leandra's Christian Education Support Center; Consuelo, Dominican Republic --- 2008

Folder 22: Correspondence --- undated

Folder 23: Correspondence --- 2010

Folder 24: "Heartside Neighborhood, 1850-2000," Origins, v. 29 no. 1 --- 2011