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Steffens, Nicholas M. (1839-1912). Papers, 1866-1913, 2014.

 Collection
Identifier: W05-1295.50

Scope and Contents

The collection contains biographical information, letters, his Western Theological Seminary inaugural address, a lecture, an article and newspaper clipping, as well as his certificate from the Theological School of the Christian Reformed Church at Kampen, Holland. The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Dates

  • Creation: 1866 - 1913
  • Creation: 2014

Biography

Nicholas Steffens was born in Embden, Germany, on March 13, 1839. He attended school there and, at seventeen, became a teacher at a female seminary in Oldenburg. Two years later, he was in Constantinople with the Free Church of Scotland as a missionary to the Jews. It was there he met Jane Graham, whom he married on April 14, 1862. They had eight children, seven of whom survived him.

In 1863, Steffens went to the Theological School of the Christian Reformed Church at Kampen, the Netherlands. He served the church of Newmoor two years and the Veldhuizen Church in Bentheim four years. He returned to Embden in 1870 to pastor.

Coming to America in 1872, Steffens first pastured the Reformed Church of Silver Creek in German Valley, Illinois, until 1876, when he worked for eight months at the Avenue B German Church, New York City, before returning to Silver Creek until 1878. From 1878-1882, he was pastor of the First Reformed Church of Zeeland, Michigan, and then the First Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan, from 1883-1884. He then became Professor of Systematic and Polemic Theology at the Western Theological Seminary (Holland, Michigan) from 1884-1895 and then held the same position at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa) from 1895-1898. From 1898-1900, he was pastor of the First Reformed Church, Orange City, Iowa. He then returned to his position at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa) from 1900-1903. From 1903-1910, he served as Professor of Historical Theology at the Western Theological Seminary (Holland, Michigan) and then Professor of Systematic and Polemic Theology from 1910 until his death on July 24, 1912, in Holland, Michigan.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

German

Abstract

Minister of the Reformed Church in America and professor of theology at Western Theological Seminary. The collection contains biographical information, letters, his Western Theological Seminary inaugural address, a lecture, an article and newspaper clipping, as well as his certificate from the Theological School of the Christian Reformed Church at Kampen, Holland.

Provenance

Nicholas M. Steffens

Status
Completed
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Hope College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Van Wylen Library
53 Graves Place
Holland Michigan 49423 United States
616-395-7798