DUTCH PIONEERS OF WESTERN MICHIGAN

De Kleine, William

Derk de Kleine and His Descendants: 100 Years in America [Genealogy Michigan]

Western Michigan?, Privately Printed, May 1956.

A privately printed Dutch-American immigration and genealogy history centered on early settlers of Western Michigan.

A scarce mid-century privately printed Dutch-American family history documenting the immigration of Derk de Kleine and his descendants from the Netherlands to Western Michigan in 1847–48. Combining immigration narrative, settlement history, maps, and genealogical records, the booklet preserves the memory of one of the Dutch pioneer families associated with the Holland and Zeeland communities of Ottawa County, Michigan.

The work opens with approximately twenty-two pages of historical narrative recounting the family’s origins in Drenthe, the Atlantic passage, and settlement in the wilderness regions of Western Michigan before transitioning into detailed genealogical records of descendants. Particularly notable is the large illustrated centerfold map identifying homesteads, migration locations, and related family settlements throughout Ottawa County and surrounding regions.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION / CONDITION: Illustrated stapled wraps on light cardstock. 45 pages. Centerfold map. Decorative Art Deco-influenced cover typography and design by E. Hoyt De Kleine dated 1956. The bindings are tight and square. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. Minimal shelf handling wear.

OVERVIEW —
Privately printed immigrant-family histories such as this were commonly produced in small numbers for reunion gatherings or limited family distribution and frequently disappear from the market entirely. This example is especially appealing for its blend of genealogy, local history, settlement mapping, and period graphic design.

Beyond straightforward family lineage, the booklet documents broader Dutch migration into Western Michigan during the nineteenth century, referencing Holland, Zeeland, Vriesland, Drenthe, and related settlements tied to the religious migration movement led by Dominie Albertus Van Raalte. The text reflects the pride and preservationist impulse common among second- and third-generation immigrant communities during the mid-20th century.

The striking cover design and mapped centerfold also elevate the piece beyond ordinary genealogical pamphlets, giving it crossover appeal to collectors of Dutch-American history, Michigan regional history, and vernacular graphic design.

SUBJECTS: Dutch-American genealogy, Ottawa County Michigan, Holland Michigan settlers, Zeeland Michigan history, Dutch immigration to America, family history publications, Western Michigan pioneers, Derk de Kleine family, Genealogy, Local History, Immigration History.

Item #21987

Price: $125.00