Recent Posts

Architecture and Philosophy on Calvin’s Campus

Architecture and Philosophy on Calvin’s Campus

This blog post summarizes, excerpts, and links to a story done by Chimes, the student newspaper at Calvin University. The Chimes story is based on a summer research project done by student researchers Gabby Freshly and Natalie Sytsma and supervised by art history professor Craig 

Counting Presidents

Counting Presidents

Dr. Wiebe Boer is the __________ president of Calvin University. a) Second b) Tenth c) Eleventh d) Twelfth The answer to the multiple-choice question is trickier than you might think. Anyone who tells you that facts are facts is half wrong. The answer depends less 

The Rivals – The Origins of Basketball at Calvin

The Rivals – The Origins of Basketball at Calvin

While researching the origins of the Calvin-Hope men’s basketball rivalry, I was intrigued by references to a group of Calvin students around 1920 who played basketball under the name “The Rivals.” Who were these guys? Who were they rivals for (if anyone)? And was the 

A Hausa Boy at Heart – Calvin University’s New President

A Hausa Boy at Heart – Calvin University’s New President

A significant number of students at Calvin University are “third-culture kids” (TCKs). Calvin’s newly-appointed president, Wiebe Boer, is one of them. Boer will be inaugurated this Fall, succeeding Michael le Roy who served as president since 2012. Many TCKs at Calvin are also “missionary kids” 

Evacuees Return Home after the Dutch Surrender to Germany, 1940

Evacuees Return Home after the Dutch Surrender to Germany, 1940

This blog post has a different title, but is “Part II” of the previous post, “DUTCH REFUGEES FLEEING GERMAN INVASION, 1940.” It includes the second half of letter that is part of our World War II Collection, 1940-2011 (COLL 454, Box 8, Folder 21), dated Friday 10 

Dutch Refugees Fleeing German Invasion, 1940

Dutch Refugees Fleeing German Invasion, 1940

Heritage Hall has a rich collection of documents related to World War II. They offer windows into the experiences of Dutch people who lived through the war and the German occupation, members of the resistance movement, and American soldiers. The document below is part of 

Archival Work and Oddities

Archival Work and Oddities

When Dr. Katerberg, the curator of the archives, asked me to write a blog post about what I do here at Heritage Hall, he suggested I use a restaurant analogy, with a ‘front-of-house’ and ‘back-of-house’ divide. I’ve waited tables in past summers, and I’ve gotten 

Migrations, Celebrations & Relations (Origins 39:2–Free Article)

Migrations, Celebrations & Relations (Origins 39:2–Free Article)

The Fall 2021 issue of Origins: Historical Magazine of the Heritage Hall Archives is in print and has been mailed to subscribers! The issue does not have a central theme. It explores a variety of topics related to Dutch North American and Reformed history. This 

“Problems and Opportunities in Canada”

“Problems and Opportunities in Canada”

In 1957 the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) celebrated its 100th anniversary. The central themes in the centennial celebration were theological unity and the faithfulness of the CRC and its members. The Centennial programs would acknowledge Dutch origins and immigrant history but downplay them in a 

Remember Your Confession

Remember Your Confession

This week a patron donated a couple of small items to Heritage Hall. Our thanks to him. We often get donations when a family member finds something in the attic or wants to clear a shelf. It’s often a book, such as a Dutch psalter