Scope and Contents
Contains the records of Fourth Reformed Church from 1896-1986. The collection is made up of two subgroups, CHURCH RECORDS and MISSIONARY MATERIAL. The CHURCH RECORDS consist of minutes, membership records, financial records, correspondence, annual directories, anniversary publications and photographs. Early consistory minutes, membership records and annual reports are in Dutch. The folders have been arranged alphabetically by topical heading.
A keen interest in missions is indicated by the volume of the MISSIONARY MATERIAL which contains a scrapbook of former and present missionaries, as well as biographical information, letters, newsletters and assorted mission publications. One publication related the harrowing experience of Stan and Junia Schauers and their pilot when the small plane they were traveling in ran low on fuel and were forced to land on the bank of a river in the jungle of Colombia. Since maps of Colombia were very primitive, they could not be found for three days. Through the cooperation of several governmental and private organizations, they eventually were flown to safety. There are also photographs of former and present missionaries.
The missionary folders have been arranged alphabetically by country of service, and missionaries listed with their latest assignment.
Dates
- Creation: 1896 - 1986
History
Fourth Reformed Church was organized in 1896 by fourteen charter members, nine of whom came from the Third Reformed Church, four of whom came from the First Reformed Church, and one person as a member by confession of faith. They felt a need for a church in the western part of the city in Holland, Michigan. The first church building was erected at 15th Street and Washington Avenue in 1896, and the parsonage was built in 1898. In 1912, the original church building was moved to the corner of 16th Street and Washington Avenue, and a new, larger church built in 1913. A new parsonage was built in 1952. An educational wing was added to the church building in 1961, and more remodeling completed in 1969. The congregation continues to use this facility at this time.
Extent
2.50 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Dutch; Flemish
Abstract
Contains the records of Fourth Reformed Church from 1896-1986. Minutes, membership records, financial records, correspondence, annual directories, missionary correspondence and information, anniversary publications, photographs. Early consistory minutes and annual reports are in Dutch.
Photographs
72 images (Box 2)
Provenance
Fourth Reformed Church
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Hope College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Van Wylen Library
53 Graves Place
Holland Michigan 49423 United States
616-395-7798
archives@hope.edu
