/ Van Raalte Institute

Research and Publications

The institute’s library is a significant resource for our work. It includes over 1,700 books and pamphlets and continues to expand.

Research Library

Our focus on research requires extensive use of books and pamphlets in the area of Dutch American studies. Elton Bruins’ collection of over 450 books was the beginning of our specialized research library and serves as its cornerstone.

The next major gift was received from the Rev. Dr. Gerrit Ten Zythoff, professor emeritus, Southeast Missouri University, who is a noted scholar in Dutch American studies. After his retirement, he gave the bulk of his collection of Dutch works to the institute. These books, many of which are rare and invaluable resources, are an important part of our collection.

The Fellows’ need for works in our field prompts us to purchase materials and solicit contributions, so our library can become a premier resource in Dutch American studies. 

We are interested in:

  • Copies of documents relating to the Dutch migration of the 19th century
  • Copies of documents relating to A.C. Van Raalte
  • Works published in the Netherlands which relate to our field of interest and increase our understanding of the context out of which the Dutch immigrants came to America
  • Selected publications that pertain to the research of the institute and the current projects on which the fellows are working
  • The minutes of the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America

The institute does not collect original documents — these are housed in the Joint Archives of Holland at Hope College.

  • The exterior entrance of the Thiel Research Center, Joint Archives of Holland, A.C. Van Raalte Institute at Hope College, with beige walls and a glass block window.
  • A modern, carpeted stairwell with metal handrails leads down to a well-lit area. At the bottom of the stairs, a single potted plant sits next to a large wall made of glass blocks that allow natural light to filter through.
  • A well-lit research library at Hope College with tall wooden bookshelves filled with numerous books and pamphlets. In the foreground, there is a large wooden table surrounded by upholstered chairs. A window to the right lets in natural light, illuminating the red-painted walls and a framed picture hanging near the window.
  • A library room with shelves filled with books and pamphlets along the walls. In the center, there is a large wooden oval table surrounded by six chairs. The table has a few small items on it, including a jar and a coaster. The room has a carpeted floor and a ceiling with fluorescent lights.
  • A spacious research library at Hope College, featuring multiple wooden tables and chairs for studying. The room is well-lit with fluorescent lighting and has bookshelves filled with numerous books and pamphlets along the walls. A reception desk is visible on the left side.
  • Shelves filled with a collection of old, leather-bound books titled "Minutes of the General Synod" with volumes ranging from the early 1800s to the early 1900s.
  • Bronze statue of a bearded man in 19th-century attire, including a long coat and vest, with one arm raised and the other resting on a draped cloth beside him. The figure stands on a wooden surface against a plain background.
  • A display of decorative Dutch tiles featuring blue and white illustrations of various figures, including musicians and soldiers, arranged in a grid pattern on the left. On the right, additional tiles depict a ship, a flower, and another ship.
  • A cozy reading area in Hope College's research library, featuring a red upholstered sofa, two vintage chairs—one red and one purple—and a matching purple footstool. Shelves filled with books line the walls, and a portrait of a man in a gold frame hangs above the sofa. A statue and framed artwork are displayed on the left side of the room.
  • Bronze statue depicting two figures, one seated and one standing, both holding books. The seated figure appears to be a young person looking up at the standing figure, who is holding a book and gesturing with one hand. The statue is placed on a red marble base with an inscription.
  • A shelf filled with old, worn books labeled "MINUTES OF THE GENERAL SYNOD R.C.A." with volumes ranging from 1813 to 1845. On the left side, there are additional books and pamphlets, including one titled "DIGEST AND INDEX OF MINUTES OF THE RCA SCHUPPERT."
  • Plaque featuring a black-and-white photograph of Henri and Eleonore Theil from 1981 on the left side, and a detailed description of their contributions to Hope College on the right side.

Theil Research Center

We conduct our research and publish original works from the beautiful Theil Research Center on the Hope College campus. We share the building with the Joint Archives of Holland and are fortunate to be able to draw upon materials from its Dutch American Heritage Collection.

Hope CollegeVan Raalte Institute

Theil-Nyenhuis Research Center9 East 10th StreetHolland, MI 49423

workP. 616.395.7678

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