Peter de Jonge Collection

Collection

Identifier: COLL-613

Scope and Contents

This collection contains several hand-written sermons by Rev. Peter de Jonge dating 1914-1921. During this time, Rev. de Jonge served three congregations in Racine, Wisconsin, Jamestown, Michigan, and Kenosha, Wisconsin, respectively. In addition to these sermons representing a period of change within de Jonge's ministry, they represent a shift in the Christian Reformed Church as the denomination became more "Americanized." Though the Christian Reformed community were increasingly American-born, ministers were expected to learn and preach in the Dutch language. Over the course of the 1920s Christian Reformed ministers began preaching in English.

Dates

Creation: 1914-1921

Creator

de Jonge, Peter, Rev. (1881-1940) (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Peter de Jonge was born on July 18, 1881, in Zeeland, Michigan to Willam Janse de Jonge and Marretje "Mary" Jans Staal. He attended Calvin Theological Seminary and was ordained as a minister of the Christian Reformed Church on October 22, 1911. His first charge was in Racine, Wisconsin where he served until 1915. In that time, he married Bertha H. Ekster (1912) and together, they had their first child, Willard Peter in 1914. the family then moved to Jamestown, Michigan, where de Jonge served the church there from 1915 to 1918. de Jonge then took on his his final charge in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he served from 1918 until his retirement in 1926. In that time, the family expanded with the birth of three more boys: Edwin R. in 1921, Maurice Jay in 1923, and Luis "Luke" Earl in 1926. After retirement, Peter and his family movied to Grand Rapids, Michigan where he lived until his death in 1940.

Full Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

English

Dutch; Flemish

Additional Description

Abstract

The Peter de Jonge Collection consists of handwritten sermons in both Dutch and English that were written by the minister between the years of 1914 and 1921.