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The Enduring Legacy of Albertus C. Van Raalte as Leader and Liaison

The celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of Albertus C. Van Raalte in October 2011 provided a distinct opportunity to evaluate the enduring legacy of one of the best-known Dutch immigrants of the nineteenth century.

This book of essays demonstrates his unique role not only in the narrative of the migration to America but also in the foundation of theological education for Seceders prior to his emigration. Three broad categories serve as the organizing principle for this book: biographical essays, thematic essays and reception studies.

Van Raalte began to emerge as a leader within the Seceder Church in the Netherlands, but his leadership abilities were both tested and strengthened through leading a group of Dutch citizens to the United States in 1846. In his role as leader, moreover, he served as liaison to the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the eastern United States, to the Seceder Church in the Netherlands and to the civil authorities in the United States, as well as between businessmen and their employees.

These fifteen essays illuminate the many facets of this energetic, multi-talented founder of the Holland kolonie. This collection further enhances and strengthens our knowledge of both Van Raalte and his Separatist compatriots.