This weekend Holland and Hope will celebrate the 200th birthday of their founder, Albertus C. Van Raalte. If you’re interested in brushing up on your Van Raalte history before attending the various events this weekend or the conference next week, a variety of resources are available on campus.
The first floor of the library currently features an exhibit about Van Raalte that includes a brief biography and several books from Van Raalte’s personal collection. The Joint Archives of Holland has the papers of Van Raalte, including articles, a day book, sermons, letters, and biographical information. The library and archives also have a number of publications on Van Raalte’s life and influence in the area.
If Founder’s Festival sparks your interest in Holland’s history, the library has many resources on the history of the city. Some of these resources are held in the Joint Archives, which has a large collection of archival and published works about Holland.
— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger