More than Dusty Boxes
In a quiet space on the campus of Calvin University, thousands of boxes hold the collective memory of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Inside those containers are folders full of letters from pastors, church council minutes, family histories, missionary reports, photographs, and handwritten notes—pieces of the long and complex story of the denomination.
These official archives of the CRCNA live in Heritage Hall—located on the main floor of the university’s Hekman Library. For many visitors, the archives might seem like a quiet repository of old papers. But for Dr. William Katerberg, the head curator responsible for overseeing them, the work is far more dynamic. His work, he said, is about preserving stories that help the church understand where it has been—and perhaps better understand where it is going.
What an Archivist Really Does
Many people might assume that an archive functions like a museum, collecting interesting artifacts and building exhibits. In reality, the work is quite different. “People often think we collect memorabilia,” Katerberg explained. “We generally don’t. Archives are mostly about paper—or the digital equivalent. Museums collect objects; archives preserve records.”
Those records include everything from correspondence and meeting minutes to denominational reports and publications like The Banner. The goal is to preserve the documentation that helps researchers reconstruct the life of the church.
Collecting records also involves an often-overlooked responsibility: deciding what not to keep. Like any institution that stores physical materials, Heritage Hall faces limits. It is also the archive for Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary, and it has hundreds of other collections from individuals and organizations related to Dutch North American and Reformed history. In addition, Heritage Hall houses a rare-books and magazines collection. With roughly 8,000 archival boxes already on site, storage space is a constant concern. Digitization, although an option, is not a quick or cheap fix. Scanning, processing, and cataloging one archival box of documents can cost anywhere from $300 to $900—not to mention the ongoing costs of maintaining digital media.
Archives respond in a few ways. They may expand their facilities or invest in more compact shelving. They always carefully evaluate new materials to determine what should be preserved. So far, Heritage Hall has managed to expand and reorganize its storage without discarding its existing archival or rare books—but the challenge remains constant, said Katerberg. It becomes a balancing act between preserving history and managing practical realities with budget concerns.
When History Becomes Personal
Working in an archive also involves encounters with individuals and families trying to preserve their own histories. People frequently contact Heritage Hall hoping to donate items that have been meaningful in their families for generations. These might include old hymnals, handwritten church records, or family Bibles—some even printed in Dutch from the late nineteenth century.
Often, the archive already possesses the same or very similar materials—and that can create a delicate situation. Families often want to honor their history by donating such items, but archives cannot always accept them. When that happens, Katerberg said, he finds himself performing a role he had not anticipated when he first took the job.
“I sometimes think of it as a pastoral role,” the head curator said.
He said he explains the situation to the would-be donors and helps them consider other options—even that the objects could be recycled. “I give people permission to throw things out,” Katerberg said with a smile.
Most people understand, he added, though occasionally the moment is emotional. “They don’t want the object themselves, or don’t have space,” he explained, “but they do want someone to keep it.”
In moments like that, the conversation can become less about documents and more about memories, identity, and a sense of belonging. Katerberg said he experienced that firsthand when he and his sisters made similar decisions after their father, a retired pastor, died a few years ago.
Why Church History Still Matters
The deeper purpose of Heritage Hall’s work extends beyond preserving documents, noted Katerberg. It touches on questions about the church’s identity in a changing cultural landscape.
North American Christianity, including the CRC, is navigating a period of significant transition. Religious identities are often more fluid, and people sometimes approach church membership in increasingly practical or transactional ways. Churches, meanwhile, are becoming more culturally diverse—a development Katerberg views as positive and important, though it can also bring challenges.
As institutions grow more diverse, some may wonder whether historical identities—such as the CRC’s Dutch roots—should be left behind. Katerberg said he believes that kind of thinking, while understandable, can be shortsighted. “Understanding where we come from doesn’t need to exclude anyone,” he said, “so long as we keep the stories of all the communities that make up the CRC today. It helps us develop deeper, shared, entangled roots.”
Ignoring historical roots can unintentionally suggest that cultural backgrounds should be left behind. Instead, said Katerberg, he believes a healthier approach recognizes that every community brings cultural influences into its faith life.
The goal, Katerberg said, is to cultivate a rich religious culture—a “thick” one that acknowledges many backgrounds while still taking traditions seriously. In that vision, he said, the CRC’s story includes backstories of not only Dutch immigrants but also Navajo believers, Korean congregations, African American churches, and many others who now shape the denomination’s life.
The mandate of the Heritage Hall archives helps to tell those broader stories, he said.
A Resource for Churches Today
The archives are not only for historians and researchers, but for churches and individuals too. Heritage Hall receives such inquiries several times each week—sometimes nearly every day, said Katerberg.
Local congregations often contact Heritage Hall to check whether they have submitted their council minutes and records properly. Others ask whether the archive holds copies of documents that were lost due to fires, floods, or simple misplacement.
Sometimes the archive has a backup copy. Sometimes it does not. It depends on how diligent the congregation has been in the past, Katerberg explained.
Congregations also reach out when preparing anniversary celebrations. The staff at Heritage Hall help by providing historical materials or offering advice on writing congregational histories.
Individual CRC members contact the archive for researching family histories or the stories of their home churches. Others reach out exploring theological topics or denominational history. Each request adds another small chapter to the relationship between the CRC and its memory.
Remembering for the Future
As Katerberg explained, the archive’s purpose is not simply to preserve the past. It is to help the church remember. In a time when institutions and identities often feel “thinner” than they once did, remembering those stories can help communities rediscover deeper roots. And inside the quiet boxes at Heritage Hall, many of those stories are waiting to be shared with future generations.
