In conjunction with the inaugural year of Hope College's 11th president, the Joint Archives of Holland will present the exhibit "A Legacy of Leaders" to commemorate those who have served in the office.
In conjunction with the inaugural year of Hope College's 11th president, the Joint Archives of Holland will present the exhibit "A Legacy of Leaders" to commemorate those who have served in the office.
The exhibit will open with an unveiling and
reception on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 3:30 p.m. at the Joint
Archives, which is located on the ground level of the Van
Wylen Library.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Using unique photographic images and Hope
memorabilia found in the archives, the exhibit tells the
story of how the college was shaped by those who have served
as president since Hope was chartered in 1866.
In addition to chronicling the college's growth
and development, the display also describes some of the
challenges that have faced Hope's leaders. The exhibit
discusses the first president's reluctance to give up the
office and turmoil on campus in the 1960s.
"Our goal was to encapsulate some of the most
important impressions from each of the men who have served
as Hope's president," said Larry J. Wagenaar, who is
director of the Joint Archives of Holland and an associate
professor at Hope. "We hope the exhibit will lead those who
visit to a deeper understanding of the breadth of Hope's
leadership and how profoundly it can affect the direction
and success of the school."
The exhibition begins with the college's and
Holland's founder: the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The
display then runs chronologically, beginning with the Rev.
Philip Phelps Jr., who was Hope's first president, and
continuing through Dr. James E. Bultman, who took office on
July 1 and is being inaugurated on Friday, Oct. 22.
Those in between are the Rev. Charles Scott,
Gerrit J. Kollen, the Rev. Ame Vennema, Edward D. Dimnent,
Dr. Wynand Wichers, Dr. Irwin J. Lubbers, Dr. Calvin A.
VanderWerf, Dr. Gordon J. Van Wylen and Dr. John H.
Jacobson. The exhibit also discusses the Rev. Giles
Mandeville, who served as "provisional president" in the
late 1870s, between Phelps and Scott.
The exhibit will run through April of 2000.
The Joint Archives of Holland brings together the
archival collections of Hope College with those of the
Holland Museum, Western Theological Seminary, and other
organizations that contract for archival services. The
archives is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.