Boorsma, Chad A.

Smith, Jenifer A.

Wagenaar, Larry J.

English

Digital Commons@Hope College

Hope CollegeDigital Commons @ Hope CollegeThe Joint Archives Quarterly College PublicationsWinter 1995The Joint Archives Quarterly, Volume 06.01:Winter 1995Jenifer A. SmithLarry J. WagenaarChad A. BoorsmaFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.hope.edu/jaquarterlyPart of the Archival Science CommonsThis Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at Digital Commons @ Hope College. It has been accepted forinclusion in The Joint Archives Quarterly by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Hope College. For more information, please contactdigitalcommons@hope.edu.Recommended CitationRepository citation: Smith, Jenifer A.; Wagenaar, Larry J.; and Boorsma, Chad A., "The Joint Archives Quarterly, Volume 06.01:Winter 1995" (1995). The Joint Archives Quarterly. Paper 18.http://digitalcommons.hope.edu/jaquarterly/18Published in: Joint Archives Quarterly, Volume 06, Issue 01, Winter January 1, 1995. Copyright © 1995 Hope College, Holland,Michigan.The omtArcVolume 6 Number 1 Winter/Spring 1995The Presidents of Hope CollegeAerial VIew ojHope College Campus, c.1925by Jcnifcr A SmithFor nearly onc hundred thirty years, a diverse groupof men have led Hope College through success and failure,prosperity and poverty. I Since I recently finished process·jog the records ofthe President's Office, I thought I'd sharesome interesting facts and achievements about the men whohelped make Hope the proud institution it is today.Hope's first president was Philip Phelps, Jr., who wasappointed to thai office in 1866, the same year the collegegained its charter. Dr. Phelps originally came to Hope asPrincipal of the Holland Academy in 1859. Hailing fromthe East, Phelps brought Hope a bit of the cu!lure of UnionCollege (Skcnectady, New York) in the form of the Frater-nal Society. This first literary society at Hopc" ... furnisheld]the means of social, mental and moral improvement to thoseadmitted to its fellowship."1 AnotheroneofPhclps' achicvc-ments was thc beginning of education for women. Whilethe Hope College Council was not particularly progressiveon the subjcct ofeducation for women, they agreed that suchan education was a good idea, and in 1868 stated that thereason for not moving further in providing this educationwas simply due to the many problems of getting the collegeon its feet.) President Phelps was strongly behind women'seducation and encouraged his daughter, Frances Phelps Otte,Ito attend Hope. Otte and a classmate, Sarah Gertrude Alcott,were the first two women to graduate from Hope; both inthc class of 1882. Even with the addition of female stu-dents. Hope continued to struggle both financially and spiri-tually; a casualty of that struggle, Phelps resigned in 1878.The Hope College Council namcd Rev. G. HenryMandeville, pastor of the Harlem Reformed Church in NewYork City, as provisional President of the financially strug-gling college after Phelps' dismissal. Mandeville contin-ued to live and work in New York, however, and many ofthe administrative duties fell to the Executive Vice Presi·dent, Professor Charles Scott. This rather precarious ad-ministration lasted until 1882, when Scott took over as pro-visional president. After six years as provisional president,Scott began his presidency in 1886. Despite difficult eco·nomic times and wavering support from the General Synodof the Refonned Church in America, students seemed con-tent as literary societies fonned, The Anchor started churn-ing out stories of student life at Hope, and an organizedsports program began.The Gerrit J. Kollen (class of 1868) administrationfaced a surgc in campus growth. Four major facilities wereconstructed during Kollen's term: Graves Library andWinants Chapel, Van Raaltc Memorial Hall, Carnegie Gym-(continued on page 3)From the Directorllope College vespers, Dimnenl Chapel, c.1950IChad A. BoorsmaHead Research AssistantAt the end of all aisle in the archives' stacks sits alarge gray filing cabinet with unusually narrow drawers.While most of our cabinets contain things such as photo·graphs, topical files, and biographical files, this one con-tains something special: the Hope College audio cassettecollection. In its drawers you will find hundreds of cas-sClles for events such as concerts, commencements, criticalissues symposiums, Christmas Vespers services, Womcn'sWeek speakers, Danforth Lccturers, baccalaureate services,and much, much more.Currently, I am involved in on·going reorgani71ltionprojcct for the Hope cassellc collection. This worthwhiletask involves sorting out duplicates, discarding blank tapes,adding new tapes, and alphabetizing the entire collection.Once the project is completed, the cassettes will be orga·nized into two separate inventorics. One inventory willcontain a listing ofall the musical events and the other willlist non-musical college rccordings. The main goal of thisreorganization is to make the audio cassetles more acces-sible. In the past, we have had difficulty in locating certaintapes because of the lack of efTeciellt organization. Afterthis effort is complete, we hope the cassene collection willbe both more visible and more accessibile to patrons.Behind the ScenesLt. Col. Malt L. Urban, 1919·1995The monthsofFcbroary and March were ones arlran-sition. OUT community lost four leading citizens· MattUrban, Chuck Conrad, Ed Prince, and Jay Wecncr. Each ofthese men influenced our town in ways we can only beginto appreciate.The same day that we heard oCthe loss of Prince andWccncr, my wife and I experienced the joy of the birth ofour first child. Amy Imogene Wagenaar joined OUT familyin the early morning hours of March 2. The events of thatday impressed on me the phrase from last summer's popu-lar Disney film, The Lion King: "The Circle crUfe" con·tinues on.At the Joint Archives of Holland we deal daily withthe circle of life. Our work involves preserving the timesand experiences of many who have lived before us. In addi-tion, the decisions we make today will detcrminc how thcfuture sees us. Preserving photographs of downtown, col-lecting the letters of World War II veterans, recording theoral histories of community members arc just a few of theways we contribute to an understanding of the circle in ourtimes.When someone I know passes away I often wish thatwe had taken more time to talk, Maybe I could have takensomc notes of importanI impressions or set up thc timc for arecorded intcrview. A great deal of history is lost becausewe do not take the time to stop and listen.I encourage you to take time to share wilh your chil-dren the storics ofyour past. Pul togcther a serapbook or aphoto album and share it with thcm as they grow up. Maybetake time to record a few memories on a high quality tape.My wife and I have started a scrapbook for Amy. Wehope that our impressions, photographs, and various othermemorable items will serve as a keepsake for her for a life·time. Please take the time to share your memories withyour family. You, 100, arc caretakers of archives.Larry J. Wagenaar2,(continued on page 4)The Rev. Philip Phelps, Jr., D.O.The Rev. Charles Scott, D.O.Gerrit J. Kollen, L. L. D.The Rev.Arne Vennerna, D.O.Edward D. Dimnent, Litt.D.Wynand Wichers, Lill.D.Irwin J. Lubbers, Ph.D.Calvin A. VanderWerf, PhD.Gordon J. Van Wylen, Sc.D.John H. Jacobson, Jr., Ph.D.Hope's Presidents1866-1878:1880-1893:1893-1911:1911-1918:1918-1931:1931-1945:1945-1963:1963-1970:1972-1987:1987-tributions was the constructJon ofthc Science BUIlding (no\\Lubbers Hall). Even after his rellrement, Wichers' contin-ued dedicatJon to and knowledge of the college was evidentin his history of his alma mater entitled A Century ofHooc.Invin 1. Lubbers (class of 1917) took office in 19-15,amidst the turbulent years of the second World War. Due tothe sudden increase in the number of students attendingHope after the war, three new residence halls were built.From 1945-1947 enrollment tripled. During Lubbers' eigh-teen year presidency, the college built the Nykerk Hall ofMusic, the Van Zoeren Library, and the Physics Math Build-ing. The Vienna Summer School, a popular program atHope, was founded during this era as "ell. In 1960. Presi-dent Lubbers helped to form the Great Lakes Colleges A.5-sociatJon (GLeA). Hope College still remains a member ofthis twdve-college consortium.Calvin A VanderWerf (class of 1937), an admims-trator remembered for his love of teaching, invested muchof his energy into strengthening the science depanmentsand furthering international education. During his admin-istration an exchange program with Meiji Gakuin Univer-sity of Tokyo. Japan, and a May Term in Yugoslavia wereestablished. In 1982, the Physics Malh Building was re-named VanderWerf Hall in recognition of his considerablecontributions to the college and its students.Gordon J. v.m Wylen concentrated his tremendousenergy and fund raising skills on campus development.During his administration, Hope saw the construction ofthe DePree Art Center and Gallery, the Dow Physical Edu-cation and Health Center, the Mans Conference Center, andthe Van Wylen Library. The Critical Issues Symposium, anannual event which draws the college and community to-gether in thinking about current events, also found its be-ginnings during Van Wylen's presidency.John H. Jacobson has shown a strong commitment 10strengthening Hope's endowment, nowupwardsofS45 mil-lion. By 1994, successful fund misingcampaigns had helpedI/ope's First President: Dr Philip Phelps. Jr.Presidents. .. (continued/rom page I)nasium. and Voorhees Hall. Both Graves Halland VoorheesHall have become campus landmarks. Change was evidentin morc than just the physical campus, however; as the firstHope president not to be an ordained minister, Kollen was asymbol of the changing times.During the Arne \knnema (class of 1879) adminis-tration a conunuing emphasis on scholorly achievementled to the 1916 accreditation of Hope College by theNonh Central Association of Colleges and SecondarySchools. Although Vcnnema's term is also marked bychange, he was not fully comfonable with this progress(when Vcnnema attended Hope all but one of his class-mates became ordained ministers.) A Hope alumnusrecalls Vcnnema's distaste that this particular student wasstudying thc scienees in prcparation for medical schoolinstead of focusing on the morc traditional curriculumwith its emphasis on training young men for furthertheological study.4As with Vennema's administration, Edward D.Dimnent (class of 1898) saw Hope's cnrollment continue toincrease significantly. Curriculum changes continued toplace a greater emphasis on liberal ans learning as well.During hIS administration Hope changed to a two semesteracademic year. Another highlight was the separation of theHope Preparatory School Program (of which he wasagradu·ate) from that of the college. The culmination of years offund-raising, Hope Memorial Chapel wasdcdicated in 1929.This beautiful chapel is now named in honor of PresidentDimnent.Wynand Wichers (class of 1903) provided leadershipto lhe eollege during both the Greal Depression and theyears leading up to World War Ii. The arts flourished atHope during this period with the organization of the firstNykerk Cup competition, May Day festivities, and the A11-College Sing. A dramatic society, Polelle andMasque, alsofonned during this era and became the foundation for thetheatre department. One of Dr. Wiehers' most lasting con-JPresidents... (continued from page 3)build the De Wilt Tennis Center. Plans for the 1995 ground-breaking oflhc Haworth Conference Center continue to moveforward. Dr. Jacobson has focused his energies on increas-ing multi<ultural diversity, renewing and fulfilling Hope'smission, and utilizing slrategic planning to chart the courseof the college during the 1990s.The achievements of each new administralion con-linue to build on the successes of the old. The determina-lion and diligence of these men has helped ensure lhat aSlrong Hope College will be ready to embrace a new centuryof students.I The wl,ll'(:e for much of the infonnation prcacnted hcTe il the inaugurlltionprogram of John II. Jacobson, Jr., 1190-1088. Offiee of the President.Box II.2 Orneral Circular, 1873. p.29 (bound with Hope College Bulletin. 186~­188~).3 "CClltennial" University CirculaT. 1876, p.91 (bound with Ilops: CollcllC!lli!.IIs1i!:l. 186.5-188.5).4 M. Jay Flipsc Pa~, 1982. 1l81l.QO'la.Rev. Charles Scott. c. l885/rwinJ. Lubbers. CalvinA. VanderWerf and Ujmand Wichers, Commencemenl19634QntheNew0Immigrant Women Focus of Archives ProgramThe Joint Archives of Holland announces the 7th an·nual Spring Speaker Program. The event this year will fca-ture Dr. Suzanne Sinkc of Clemson University. Her illus-trated presentation, entitled "Wijfis nol Wife: Dutch Immi-grant Women Around the Turn of the Century," will begiven in Winants Auditorium ofGravcs Hall, Tuesday, April4th, at 7:30 p.rn ..History has often neglccted to recognize the rolewomen have played, and the intent of this program is tohighlight the contributions of women as the Dutch immi·grated to the United States. Sinkc will illustrate her talkwill photographs from the period.Sinkc is an assistant professor of hislory at ClemsonUniversity, ill Clemson, SC She received her PhD fromthe University of Minnesota with a dissertation entitled"Home is Where You Build It Dutch Immigrant Women inthe United States, 1880-1920." She also holds degrees fromKent State University and the University of Northern Colo·rado.Fluent in both Dutch and German, Sinke brings abroad understanding to this important topic.Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.A reception will be held aner the program in the readingroom of the Joint Archives.Archives Director PromotedThe Hope College Board of Trustees approved thepromotion of Joint Archives Director Larry 1. Wagenaar tothe rank of Associate Professor at its mccting in January.The promotion from Assistant Professor becomes effectivein August.Wagenaar has served as director of the joint archivalprogram since its inception in 1988. The archives bringstogcther the collections ofHopc, the Holland Historical Trost,and Western Theological Seminary into one research loca-tion on the lower level of the Van Wylen Library. Over thepast seven years the archives has more than doubled in sizeand seen a tri·fold increase in the number of patrons usingthe collections.Wagenaar is a graduate of Holland Christian HighSchool, Hope College. and Kent State University. He iscurrently serving as president of the Michigan ArchivalAssociation, as a board member of the Historical Society ofMichigan, and as Public Infonnation Officer for the Mid-west Archives Conference.5Mr. and Mrs. Gerril Brouwer on theIr wedding day. J894Jenifer Smith on State Program CommitteeCollections Archivist Jenifer Smith has been work-ing on the program and local arrangements committees forthe 1995 annual meeting of the Michigan Archival Asso-ciation. The Joint Archives will be hosting the meeting onthe campus ofHopc College June 16 & 17. Archivists fromacross Michigan will be in attendance.Working with other committee members, Smith hasassembled an outstanding program that will feature a key-note address by Dr. Robert M. Warner, fanner Archivist ofthe United States. A variety of other sessions will discussnew issues and trends in archival theory and practice andexplore the history of the greater Holland area.She is also working on developing a records manage-ment program for Hope College that will provide a moreelTecient record-keeping system for the college and that willstreamline records transfers to the archives.Hope College Basketball Champions, /908-/909.HoI'\" CollcJ.:\.o Cllnrm • Iloll,lnJ, MJ 49421The Joint Archives of HollandJIlSTORY RESEARCII CENTERI~ .,,Jll,.~ .IT"", 'It'f'<l .\\. Tn' .1' ..."Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. POSTAGEPAIDPermit #392

The Joint Archives Quarterly, Volume 06.01: Winter 1995

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The Joint Archives Quarterly, Volume 06.01: Winter 1995

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