Scope and Contents
The Jacob Blaauw collection consists primarily of correspondence pertaining to his work in four major areas: Board of Domestic Missions, Director of Canadian Immigrant Work, Committee on Church Union, and Western Theological Seminary Board.
The collection is arranged in four series: Board of Domestic Missions, Canadian Work, Committee on Church Union, and Western Theological Seminary Board, plus a few miscellaneous folders, including one containing personal information. Within each series the folders are arranged according to type of material.
The bulk of the material consists of correspondence with or pertaining to ministers and churches in Canada during his tenure as Director of Canadian Immigrant Work from 1955-1960. It also includes 51 photographs, mostly of ministers, church buildings, and groups of immigrants. Many, but not all, of the individuals in the photographs are identified.
Dates
- Creation: 1942 - 1960
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1955 - 1960
Biography
Jacob Blaauw was born in the Netherlands on June 24, 1897, and came to the United States in 1910. He was a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Hope College, and Western Theological Seminary. He pastored Reformed churches in Decatur, Grandville, South Holland (Illinois), Grand Rapids, and Beaverdam, Michigan, and also served as director of Canadian work for the RCA from 1955-1960.
Blaauw served on the board of directors of Western Seminary for eight years and on the Board of Trustees of Central College for six years. He was president of the Synod of Chicago and served on its Expansion Committee. He also was a member of the Board of Domestic Missions and chairman of the Canadian Committee. In 1953, he represented the General Synod of the RCA at the Synod of the Hervormde Kerk, and enlisted five young theological students to finish their studies in the United States in preparation for service in the Canadian field.
In 1928, he was married to Henrietta Dekker of Chicago, and that same year was ordained to the ministry. He retired from the ministry in 1968 and died at the age of 90 in 1987.
Extent
4.50 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Hope College class of 1925; Western Theological Seminary class of 1928; minister of the Reformed Church in America; missionary to Canada, 1956-1960. This collection contains Board of Domestic Missions annual reports, correspondence, manual, minutes and reports. Articles pertaining to Canadian work and budgets are also contained. Correspondence with several churches and individuals such as Eugene Heideman, Jacob Kuiper, Richard Oudersluys, and Jacob Prins is contained. Photographs, church dedication booklets, and Church Herald correspondence is also housed in this collection.
Photographs
55 images (Box 3)
Provenance
Jacob Blaauw
- 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
