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Allegan School Card

 Item — Box: 1 of 1
Identifier: RH-A-4304

Scope and Contents

The collection is composed of one card from District No. 6, Allegan school dating from the 1889-1890 Winter Term.

At the top of the card, the phrase “He who conquers self is the greatest victor” can be found. The card also contains a class roster for the 1889-1890 Winter Term class, including three columns of 29 student names and the names of three school board members below that. On the back of the card, written in black ink, is the name “May Van Keuren” as well as “Allegan, Michigan” and “F.E. Semon” (the teacher’s name).

Dates

  • Creation: 1889-1890

Creator

Van Keuren School Bio

Allegan County, Michigan was home to over 200 one room schoolhouses, some dating back to the 19th century. One such school was the Van Keuren School (also known as the Mapleview School) built in 1846 in Allegan County’s District No. 6. at the corner of 118th Ave. and 26th Ave., though it was later moved to the northwestern corner of the property. This section of land was purchased in 1846 by Philo Van Keuren (1815-1887), Nina “May” Van Keuren’s grandfather. The Van Keuren School was the first schoolhouse to be built in Allegan Township, though it no longer exists today.

Nina Van Keuren Bio

Nina “May” Van Keuren (1877-1909) would have been twelve years old when she attended the school named for her grandfather. Also listed in her class are her siblings, Jennie (1879-?) and Philo Van Keuren (1880-1962), their cousins Oliver (1880-1958) and Rachel Van Keuren (1882-1962), and their uncle Virgil Van Keuren (1873-1951).

Extent

.05 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased with funds from the Starring Endowment.

Physical Description

The collection amounts to .05 cubic feet and is composed of singular card from a District No. 6, Allegan school. The card is pink in color and made from a heavier cardstock material. It is printed with a thin border that has a small grouping of flowers at each corner. The front left side of the card contains what appears to be some ink smudges. The bottom of the card has some brown ageing on both sides, with the worst of it being on the back. Overall, the card appears to be in good condition.

General

Also listed but unidentifiable are a Walter and John Van Keuren.

Title
Allegan School Card finding aid
Status
Completed
Author
Stephanie Chapman
Date
2022-07-27
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository

Contact:
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490