Vander Meulen, John Marinus (1870-1936). Papers, 1907-1936.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 12, 1870, to Rev. and Mrs. John Vander Meulen. He was a grandson to Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen, who founded Zeeland, Michigan, in 1848.

He attended the Hope College Prep School and graduated in1887. He then went on to attend and graduate from Hope College with a B.A. degree in 1891, a D.D. in 1909, and a MA in 1927. Other higher education included Princeton Theological Seminary from 1893-1895, McCormick Theological Seminary 1895-1896, Columbia University, receiving a Ph.D. in 1912, and Southwestern College with a LL.D, 1921.

He was ordained into the Classis of Michigan in 1896 and soon after became the pastor of Second Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he served from 1896-1899. Subsequent pastorates included First Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan (1899-1901), Hope Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan (1907-1909), Hamilton Grange, New York City, New York (1909-1912), Second Presbyterian Church, Louisville, Kentucky (1912-1917), and First Presbyterian Church, Oak Park, Illinois (1917-1920).

He also served as a missionary to the white population in Oklahoma from 1901-1903 until taking a position at his alma mater, Hope College. There he served as professor of psychology and pedagogy (education) from 1903 1909 before serving as a pastor for several Reformed Church in America and Presbyterian congregations. In 1920, he became president of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and served in that position until 1930. He later served as a professor of systematic theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary from 1934-1936.

He passed away of a heart attack while visiting friends in Forest Park, Illinois, on June 7, 1936. He is buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland, Michigan.