Here and There in New Netherland Studies New Netherland Institute establishes R. J. Jippe Hiemstra Annual Conference Travel Fund
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HE NEW NETHERLAND Institute suffered a tremendous loss with the death of its president R. J. Jippe Hiemstra on April 12, 2020. Mr. Hiemstra passed away peacefully of pneumonia and congestive heart failure at his home in Buskirk, New York, with his loving wife, former Holland Society of New York executive director Annette van Rooy, by his side. Mr. Hiemstra played a prominent role in Dutch-related activities in the United States for decades. He served as president of the Manhattan-based The Netherlands Club from 1996–2002. For his role in helping to promote Dutch culture in the United States and abroad, Queen Beatrix bestowed upon him the honor of Membership of the Order of Orange-Nassau on April 30, 2005, at the Netherlands Club’s centennial ball. Mr. Hiemstra was also a Friend of the Holland Society of New York as well as an active supporter of the Jacob Leisler Institute in Hudson, New York. Mr. Hiemstra’s particular interest in the Dutch role in shaping American history caused him to join the New Netherland Institute’s board of trustees in 2007, serving as its president from 2012 until his death. He helped guide the Institute during a period of considerable growth. “Working with Jippe for seven years” said Marilyn Douglas, current president of the New Netherland Institute, “I can attest to his deep commitment to increasing NNI’s resources by acquiring grants and other financial contributions. Working closely with the board, he secured funding from corporations and garnered donations from private individuals that increased NNI’s endowment significantly.” In memory of their late president, the New Netherland Institute has established the R. J. Jippe Hiemstra Annual Conference Travel Fund to support the travel of a select group of students to our annual conference each fall. Mr. Hiemstra believed strongly in
The late R. J. Jippe Hiemstra, president of the New Netherland Institute from 2012 to 2020, inspires travel fund for scholars in New Netherland studies.
the importance of NNI’s engagement with the next generation of New Netherland scholars. Donations to the fund established in his name will help those scholars engage with the latest scholarship on New Netherland and make lasting connections with others in the field of New Netherland studies. Should you wish to donate to the R. J. Jippe Hiemstra Annual Conference Travel Fund, go to https://crm.newnetherlandinstitute.org/ civicrm/?page=CiviCRM&q=civicrm%2Fc ontribute%2Ftransact&reset=1&id=14.
Dr. Janny Venema Retires from New Netherland Research Center
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ANNY VENEMA, associate director of the New Netherland Research Center, has retired from the Research Center at the end of April 2020. Dr. Venema arrived in Albany, New York, from The Netherlands thirty-five years ago with a teaching degree
Dr. Janny Venema at the New Netherland Research Center. Photo credit Albany Times Union.
Spring 2020
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