W88-1237.7. Hesselink, I. John, Jr. (1928- ).
Papers, 1953-1993. 4.50 linear ft. PARTIALLY RESTRICTED
Abstract
Missionary in Japan, 1953 1973; evangelist; writer; and president of Western Theological Seminary (WTS), 1973 1985; professor at WTS, 1985-1998. Collection includes correspondence, articles, essays, and books written by Hesselink. Subjects include theologians, doctrinal theology, books of the New Testament, the RCA, Japan mission, and Western Theological Seminary.
| Accession No.: | W88-0048.3; W94-1179, W88-1237.7 |
Provenance: | I. John Hesselink, Jr. |
Donor: | I. John Hesselink, Jr. |
Processed by: | Craig G. Wright, November 1990 |
| Leon Witteveen, September 1997, June 1999 |
Biography
Ira John Hesselink was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1928. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Central College (Iowa) in 1950. Hesselink attended the New Brunswick Theological Seminary from 1950 to 1951, during which time he also served as the Junior Assistant Pastor of Highland Park Reformed Church. In 1951, he married Etta Marie Ter Louw. Hesselink received his bachelor of divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in 1953. That same year, he was ordained in Holland, Nebraska, and became a missionary in Japan. He received his doctorate in theology from the University of Basel, Switzerland, in 1961. Dr. Hesselink gained a reputation as a Calvin scholar of renown with his dissertation, “Calvin’s Concept and Use of the Law.”
Dr. Hesselink then went back to Japan as a professor at the Tokyo Union Theological Seminary from 1961 to 1973, with the years 1965 to 1967 spent as a visiting professor at Western Theological Seminary. It was in 1973 that Dr. Hesselink became the president of Western Theological Seminary, a position he held until 1985. He received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Hope College in 1973, and an honorary doctor of divinity from Central College in 1981. In 1986, he was installed as the Albertus C. Van Raalte Chair of Systematic Theology at Western Theological Seminary.
Over the years, Dr. Hesselink has put his talents to good use in a wide variety of roles: evangelist, missionary, lecturer, instructor, translator, and administrator. He is a prolific writer who has published in the English, Japanese, and German languages. During his career, he has studied under Karl Barth and Emil Brunner, and Dr. Hesselink was responsible for the historic “reconciliation” meeting between the two men in Switzerland.
Scope and Content
The Dr. I. John Hesselink papers consist of materials from 1953 to 1993, which document his activities during that time period. Included are correspondence, reports, studies, articles, essays, and books. The folders have been arranged alphabetically by topical headings and the material within the folders has been arranged chronologically.
The strengths of this collection lie in the “correspondence” and “papers” subgroups. The correspondence consists of letters written to Hesselink while living in Japan and correspondence generated during his term as president of Western Theological Seminary. The papers subgroup includes several dozen samples of Dr. Hesselink’s writings, including articles, essays and several books.
Container List
Box 1
Advertising, 1971-1975
American Association of Theological Schools, 1973-1975
Biographical, n. d., 1953-1989 (scattered)
Building Expansion Project, 1977-1979
Bulletins, Worship Services, 1973-1974
Calendar, 1977-1978
Case Institute Workshop, 1975-1980
Celebration Year, 1981-1982
Chapel Services, 1973-1980 (4 folders)
Continuing Education Programs, 1976-1978
Correspondence
Accreditation, 1982-1984
Board of Theological Education, 1973-1975
Breward, Ian, 1971-1981
Brunner, Emil, 1960 (German)
Business Manager Job Search, 1975-1977 (RESTRICTED)
Calvin Seminary, 1973-1977
Copies of correspondence of others, 1973-1975
Ellens, Harold, 1976
General, 1963-1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1993 (4 folders)
Girod, Gordon H., 1976
Hageman, Howard, 1972-1981
Heideman, Eugene, 1953-1958, 1970 (3 folders)
Holland Home, 1982
Hostetter, Paul, 1973-1980
Japan Missionary Letters, 1962-1966
Jewish Chautauqua Society, 1973-1974
Karsen, Wendell, 1984
Laman, Gordon, 1976-1981
Laymen’s Publicity League, 1965-1985
Mulder Chair of Theology, 1974-1979 (3 folders)
Phillips, James M., 1973-1982
Redeker, Russ, 1975-1976
Ridder, Herman J., 1966-1967
Schuller, Robert H., 1975-1985
Schuller, Robert H., 1982 (Self-Esteem Book)
Shepherd, Victor, 1977-1979
Stapert, John, 1976-1981
Stark, Tom, 1975-1976
Box 2
Correspondence (cont.)
Student Scholarships, 1971-1985 (3 folders)
Vander Werff, Lyle, 1973-1975
Women in Ministry, 1975-1982
Young Life, 1981-1984
Curriculum Revision, 1976-1980
Curriculum Vitae, Wayne E. Oates, 1980
D. Min. Program, 1976-1980
Dedication Program, 1981
Expand Western: Case Statement, 1978
Expand Western: Steering Committee, 1978-1979
Faculty
Bennink, Richard John, 1969-1985
Coughenour, Robert, 1973-1985
Cruz, Virgil, 1982-1984
Eenigenburg, Elton, 1964-1988
Granberg-Michaelson, Wesley, 1982
Heideman, Eugene, 1973-1982
Kansfield, Norman, 1970-1983
Kuyper, Lester, 1965-1975
Mueller, John R., 1982-1984
Nykamp, Robert A., 1975-1977
Oudersluys, Richard C., 1977
Piet, John, 1973-1984
Rink, Willard, 1976-1977
Schutter, William, 1977-1986
Van Engen, Charles, 1978-1985
Wilterdink, Garret, 1973-1985
Faculty Handbook, 1982
Faculty Retreats, 1975-1980
Faculty-Staff Memoranda, 1971-1979
Fall Institutes, 1979
Financial Aid, 1973-1977
Foreign Students, 1984-1985
Fund Raising
Conrad, Charles, 1983
Cook, Peter, 1980-1984
De Witt, Marvin, 1980-1984
Haworth, G. W., 1983
Herman Miller, Inc., 1981
Pella Foundations, 1979-1981
General Synod, 1978
Handbook of Supervised Ministry, 1983
Box 3
Inauguration as President of WTS, 1973
Installation into Van Raalte Chair of Systematic Theology, 1985 (3 folders)
Long Range Planning Committee, 1979-1984
Management Committee, 1981-1986
Memoranda, 1978-1982
Minutes, Administrative Committee, 1978, 1983
Orientation Committee, 1973-1982
Pamphlets
Arguments on the Yasukuni Shrine Issue, 1971
Barth, Karl - Study on Galatians 6:2, 1963 (German)
Disciples Divinity House of the U. of Chicago, 1972
Services of Western Theological Seminary, 1973-1974
Papers
Articles
Barth-Brunner Rivalry, 1962, 1987
Church Herald, 1957-1987 (scattered)
“The Dramatic Story of the Heidelberg Catechism,” 1994
“The Future of the Church in a Technological Society,” 1971
“Issues and Developments in Modern Theology,” 1992
Japan, 1954-1980 (scattered)
“The Quest for Authenticity,” 1966
Study on Philippians 3:10, “That I May Know Him,” 1957
Study on John 14:23-29, 1989
Women in Ministry, 1975-1982
Why Study Church History? 1968
Bible Study Book for R.C.W., “Christ’s Peace - Live it!” 1987
Bible Study Book for R.C.W., Leader’s Guide for above, 1987
Essays
Essays on Karl Barth, n. d., 1988
Essays on Emil Brunner, n. d., 1989
Essays on John Calvin, n. d., 1957-1990 (scattered)
Essays on Jesus Christ, n. d., 1988
Essay on Paul Tillich, n. d.
Lectures
“The Christian World Mission Today,” n. d.
“On Dying with Dignity - and Love: The History and Nature of the Hospice Movement,” 1986
Manuscripts
“On Being Reformed: Twelve Misunderstandings,” (1st Edition), 1975
“On Being Reformed: Twelve Misunderstandings,” (2nd Edition), 1980
Messages - General Synod, 1987
Photographs
Publications
On Being Reformed: Distinctive Characteristics and Common Misunderstandings, 1983
“The President’s Letter,” 1979
Preaching Chair, 1975
Programs and Brochures
Japan, n. d., 1962, 1967
Miscellaneous, 1973
Purposes and Goals, 1975-1976
Reports
Board of Theological Education, 1973, 1975, 1983
Dean Search, 1981
Miscellaneous, 1975, 1982
President’s Reports, 1974-1985
Student Aid, 1977-1981 (5 folders)
Salary Scales, 1973-1979
Special Dispensations, 1978-1981
Special Lectures/Programs, 1973-1978
Special Programs, 1975-1976
Student Record, Basel University, 1958-1961 (German)
Union Theological Seminary (Tokyo), 1960-1978
Unknown Index, 1973-1986
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