W93-1067. Michigan-Kalamazoo. Third Reformed Church.
Records, 1889-1989 5.00 linear ft. PARTIALLY RESTRICTED

Abstract

Contains the records of Third Reformed Church from 1889-1989. Minutes, financial records, women's organizations records, directories, anniversary information, photographs. The current pastor is Rev. Donald E. Jansma.

Accession No.:W93-1067
Provenance:Third Reformed Church
Donor:Custody Agreement
Photographs:54 images (in Boxes 5, 6)
Processed by:Carolyn Nienhuis, December 1993

History

Third Reformed Church of Kalamazoo was formally organized in August of 1889. Its first church was built in 1890, and was remodeled and enlarged with a pipe organ installed in 1903. The congregation used this building until 1927 when it became apparent the building needed extensive repair and they decided to build a new church. The second building was completed in 1929 and an educational unit was added in 1963. In 1977 the congregation purchased property on North 10th Street. The North Westnedge property was sold in 1979, and the new church building was completed in 1981. There have been 22 pastors, the current pastor being Rev. Donald E. Jansma.
In 1924 the evening service was changed from the Dutch language to English. In January of 1942 it was decided that the morning service should also be in English which left only the afternoon service being conducted in the Dutch language. The afternoon Dutch service was discontinued in December of 1956.
In November of 1954 women were permitted to vote at congregational meetings.
Third Reformed Church was instrumental in the organization of Hope Reformed Church and North Community Reformed Church, also in Kalamazoo.

Scope and Content

The collection contains records of Third Reformed Church of Kalamazoo from 1889-1989 including minutes of the consistory and other organizations of the church, financial records, records of church organizations, directories, anniversary programs and information.
Minutes of the consistory from 1889-1943 are in the Dutch language, translation to English of the 1889-1929 minutes are included. ALL CONSISTORY MINUTES CLOSED FOR THIRTY YEARS.
The Girls League for Christian Service records indicate they were organized in 1917 and minutes were kept in Dutch until 1926.
Women of the church were active from the beginning of the churches organization. Records of the Women's Missionary Society from 1890-1940 are in Dutch, then the Ladies Mission Society was active for many years. The Guild for Christian Service was organized in 1958, later to be known as Reformed Church Women.
Records of the Lord's Willing Workers Sunday School Class indicate they were very active in their early years. Later the records show it became known as the Adult Sunday School Class.
The church has celebrated five anniversaries in it's more that one hundred years.
Photographs are in Box 6 except for an oversized photograph of the Excelsior Sunday School Class which is in Box 5. Many of the photographs were taken for the 75th anniversary celebratiion in 1964, including photographs of several athletic teams, all classes of the Sunday School, choirs, and Men's and Women's organizations.

Container List

Box 1

Anniversaries
50th - Directory, 1939
70th - Program, 1959
75th - Committees, 1964
75th - Program, Directory, 1964
100th - Program, 1989
Annual Directories, 1923-1991 (scattered) (2 folders)
Annual Report, 1907 (Dutch) (English translation)
Bulletins, 1955-1979 (scattered)
Christian Endeavor
"Our Endeavor", 1933-1935
Records, 1900-1906
Church Dedication, 1929
Church Wedding Rules, n.d.
Consistory Minutes (RESTRICTED)
1889-1943 (Dutch) (6 volumes)
1944-1966 (English) (4 volumes)

Box 2

Consistory Minutes (cont.)
1967-1981 (English) (2 volumes)
1889-1929 (English translation) (4 volumes)
Correspondence
General, n.d., 1962, 1980 (Dutch/English)
75th Anniversary, 1973-1974
Dedication of Church, 1981
Dismission Certificates, 1967-1980
Educational Unit Dedication, 1963
Far and Near Mission Band, 1947-1958 (2 volumes)
Financial Records
Bond Fund Offering Circular, 1983
Building Fund Offerings, 1957
General Fund Offerings, 1945-1957 (2 volumes)
Women's Missionary Society, 1890-1940 (Dutch)
Financial Reports
1914-1952 (4 volumes)

Box 3

Financial Reports (cont.)
1956-1968 (3 volumes)
Mission and Benevolence, 1948-1969 (oversized)
Sunday School, 1977-1983
Girls League for Christian Service
Minutes, 1917-1926 (Dutch), 1927-1930, 1950-1954 (English) (2 volumes)
Minutes, 1926 (Dutch), 1927-1930, 1950-1954 (English)
Guest Book, 1961-1967, 1980-1984 (2 volumes)
Guild for Christian Service
Bylaws, 1958
Committees, 1960-1980
Executive Committee Minutes, 1959-1981
Miscellaneous, n.d.
Roll Call, 1958-1982 (2 volumes)
Secretary Minutes, 1958-1980 (2 volumes)
History of Hope Reformed Church, 1947
History of Third Reformed Church, 1889-1975
Ladies Mission Society, 1940-1974
Marco Club Minutes, 1952-1967
Membership Book, n.d. (FRAGILE, Dutch) (2 volumes)

Box 4

Miscellaneous, n.d.
Missions, Annville, Kentucky, n.d.
Newspaper clippings, 1927-1988 (scattered) (copies)
Pastor's Congregational Record, n.d.
"A pastor's perspective", by Jeff Porte, n.d.
Program of Progress, 1978
Reformed Church Women Minutes, 1981-1983
Servicemen's News, 1945
Specifications for addition to Third Reformed Church, n.d.
Statistical Report of the Congregation, 1979

Box 5

Sunday School
Attendance Records, 1938-1964, 1971-1980 (2 volumes)
Constitution, n.d.
(Lord's Willing Workers Class) Adult Sunday School Class, minutes, 1927- 1985
Young Narried Couples Class, Finnacial Records, 1947-1960
Vander Vord, Robert Allen, (ordination), 1989
Photographs
Excelsior Sunday School Class, 1917 (oversized)

Box 6

Photographs (cont.)
Individuals
Former Pastors
De Haan, Rev. and Mrs. J., n.d.
De Jong, Rev. Peter A, n.d.
Frieling, Rev. Heystick family, n.d.
Laman, Arend T., (family photos, copies), 1952-1957
Postma, Rev. Chester family, 1964
Van Heukelom, Rev. Norman, 1973
Vriesman, Rev. Dick, n.d.
Miscellaneous
Biegel, Albertha (missionary), n.d.
Bos, Henry B. (church organist, 1905-1955), 1955
Buehout, Hilda, n.d.
Bussema, Mrs. Carl (church secretary), 1964
Smeenk, A. (custodian), 1964
Servicemen
De Haan, John, n.d.
Delger, John, n.d.
De Wolf, Jim, n.d.
Doornbos, Ray, n.d.
Drenth, John, n.d.
Drenth, Louis, n.d.
Jager, n.d.
Klok, John R., n.d.
Stillman, Andrew, n.d.
Stillman, Jim, n.d.
Vander Weele, Bob, n.d.
(2 unidentified photos)
Sons of the church
Jager, Rev. and Mrs. Henry, 1955
Rhem, Rev. Richard A., n.d.
Weesies, Rev. Leonard, n.d.
Groups
Athletic Teams
Bowling, 1964
Girls Softball, 1964
Golf, 1964
Junior Basketball, 1964
Junior Softball, 1964
Senior Basketball, 1964
Senior Softball, 1964
Softball, n.d.
Brotherhood, 1964
Catechism Teachers, 1964
Choir Directors, 1964, 1973
Choir, Junior, 1964
Choir, Senior, 1964
Christian Endeavor Convention Registration, n.d.
Church Librarians, 1964, 1973
Church Organists, 1964, 1973
Consistory, 1928, 1964, 1973
Consistory, Greater, 1964
Dorcas Circle, 1964
Former Pastors, (Bulletin Board), 1973
Girls League for Service, 1964, 1973
Ground Breaking Educational Unit, 1962
Guild for Christian Service, 1964
Intermediate RCYF, 1964
Junior Fellowship, 1964
Ladies Missionary Circle, ca. 1920, ca. 1950, 1964. (3 photographs)
Marco Club, 1964
Missions, Annville, Kentucky, n.d.
Nursery, 1964
Senior RCYF, 1964
Service Club, 1964
Summer School, circa 1890
Sunday School
Adult Class, 1964
Beginners Department, 1964
Intermediate Department, 1964
Junior Department, 1964
Picnic, 1913
Prough, Dena (teacher), n.d.
Primary Department, 1964
Senior High Department, 1964
Teachers and Staff, 1964
Unidentified class, 1955
Young Adult Class, 1964
Church Building, ca. 1900, 1964, 1989 (3 folders)
Unidentified Photographs, n.d. (5 photographs)
Negatives
Annville, Kentucky, n.d. (15 negatives)
Third Reformed Church ministers, n.d. (17 negatives)
Slides
Ministry Offering Sunday, 1990 (39 slides)

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