Research Materials
As I mention in my August newsletter (coming soon!) I’m working on a new book. For a long time, I’ve wanted to trace the lives of various members of my family when they left Holland, traveled to North America, and settled in Pella, Iowa. Researching genealogy has helped me understand the forces influencing their lives. The process of research fascinates me and grows my awareness of who I am and where I came from.
This new book focuses on the life of the main character and hero of the story, Jacob Grandia. He’s a young man who emigrated from the province of Gelderland, Netherlands, in the year 1847.
The heroine of the story is Maria Colyn, a young woman who emigrated with her family from the province of Noord Brabant, Netherlands, also in the year 1847. I will share more about their characters in future blog posts, but for today I want my readers to know that they were real people, and these are their actual names. I plan to use their real names in the finished book unless an editor or publisher would suggest otherwise.
Jacob and Maria were married in Pella a couple of years after arriving in Iowa. They fit into my family as the grandparents of my great-grandmother, Adrianna Grandia Van Zante. That’s a little ways back, I know. I believe that gives my family six generations between me and Jacob and Maria as the first arrivals.
As I found more information on their lives, I realized that their story is woven into the founding of Pella, which is the town where I live. I’ll get into more details on that in future blog posts, but in this first post about the historical research behind this new book, I thought I’d share the resources I’ve relied on to make this story as accurate as I possibly can. This new book won’t be a comprehensive history of the settling of Pella. That hasn’t been my goal. The style of writing required for fiction uses only the facts necessary for developing the characters and their motives, revealing the setting, and ultimately moving the story forward.
I trust that the descriptions I include in the book will give the reader a glimpse into Dutch life and culture, their piety and devotion, and their experiences of settling in the American Midwest.
This book hasn’t yet found a publisher, but I trust that the right team of people at the right publishing house for this story will help me at just the right time. In the meantime, I will enjoy sharing with you the behind-the-scenes research and writing process.
Today, let’s take a look at the books I’ve acquired that have helped me with research. Each one has its own story, so they add a rich dimension to the characters and the overall theme.
Local History
The first category is local history. A book that has been really helpful to me in understanding the politics in Holland in the 1830’s and 1840’s is Hendrik P. Scholte, His Legacy in the Netherlands and in North America by Eugene P. Heideman. It is one of the books in the Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America, and is published by Van Raalte Press in Holland, Michigan. I have a signed copy because the author came to Pella as part of a conference held at the Opera House in August of 2018, which also happens to be the year my first book Hope for Tomorrow was published. This conference focused on H.P. Scholte and featured presenters from Pella and from Amsterdam, and also authors who have written on the topic of Dutch immigration.
Another helpful book is the Souvenir History of Pella 1847-1922. It has early town history, lists of families and which ship they sailed on, and brief biographies on notable citizens. Jacob Grandia is mentioned on page 146 as one of the surveyors in platting the town of Pella.
I’ve also enjoyed reading through volumes one and two of the Pella history books. I don’t own a set, but I am able to access them at the Pella Public Library. These volumes contain stories of pioneers, letters, and much good information on the families that helped to establish Pella.
Dutch Immigration
The next category of books covers the topic of Dutch Immigration to America. They include Netherlanders in America by Jacob Van Hinte, Dutch Transplanters on the Grasslands by Brian W. Beltman, and Iowa Letters by Johan Stellingwerff. I have a signed copy of this book as well because the editor for the work, Robert P. Swierenga, presented at the conference I referenced above.
A delightful book I have enjoyed perusing is Dutch Treat by Rien Poortvliet. He is a Dutch artist, and this book serves as his own illustrated memoir. It contains drawings of the Dutch countryside, animals, buildings, and people. I like the house on the cover. The shape of the roofline and the colors on the shutters are reminiscent of building design in Pella.
Psalters, Liturgy, and Doctrine
The next category of research I’ve done is on the topic of psalters, liturgy, and doctrine. I will devote a separate blog post to this subject someday, but here I will list the titles of books. The Psalms, and Hymns, with the Catechism, confessions of Faith, and Canons, of the Synod of Dort; and Liturgy of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America is a thick book of psalms and liturgy. The lengthy title pretty much covers it. The book contains information dating back to 1847, and has been helpful to me in knowing what kinds of prayers were used and what lyrics were sung during worship services in the era when my story takes place.
The Heidelberg Catechism published by Faith Alive in Grand Rapids, Michigan is the copy I received in high school when the catechism was taught at my home church during the Sunday school hour.
The New Genevan Psalter published in Canada by Premier Printing is a book that shows the printed music of each metered psalm. It is the best resource I can find that shows the original lyrics and melodies from the Genevan Psalter, inspired by John Calvin and composed by assisting musicians in the 1550’s, during the time of the Reformation. These metered psalms are what the Calvinist Dutch immigrants would have sung in their worship services. An accompanying website, genevanpsalter.com, has recordings of choirs singing each psalm. So beautiful!
Family Heritage
The last area of research I’ve done is on my own family’s heritage. During my grade school and teen years, my grandparents lived one mile away in the large house on their farm. Grandpa grew up there, and also raised his family there. Many artifacts were stored in the house including the Bibles belonging to his parents, my great-grandparents. These Bibles are a small 5 x 7 size in the Dutch language. They contain the New Testament, the catechism, and a full psalter in the back. These Bibles are special to me because they signify the heritage of faith that has been passed down through each generation. The Bible from my great-grandmother has written inside the front cover
Adrianna Grandia, Pella, Iowa, December 25, 1889.
This makes me wonder if perhaps she received it as a gift.
The research of the topics of local history, Dutch Immigration, and psalms and liturgy has been so fascinating. The writing of this new book is going well, and I look forward to someday sharing the finished product with readers.
