Exploring Dutch Heritage Through Research 

Exploring Dutch Heritage Through Research 

Sarah Rapalje (1625–1685) was the first recorded European female child born in New Netherland. Born at Fort Orange (later Albany), she became the matriarch of a large colonial family, marrying twice and bearing fifteen children whose descendants spread widely throughout early New York society.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte (1811–1876) was a Dutch Reformed minister and immigrant leader who founded Holland, Michigan, and led nineteenth-century Dutch settlement in western Michigan.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn (1811–1877) was a New York lawyer, politician, and educator who served in the U.S. House of Representatives during the Civil War era and later became Chancellor of the University of the State of New York.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Erik Prince (b. 1969) is an American businessman and former U.S. Navy SEAL best known as the founder of the private military contractor Blackwater Worldwide (later Xe Services and Academi). His company became a major security contractor for the U.S. government during the Iraq War.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Edgar Prince (1931–1995) was an American engineer and entrepreneur who founded Prince Manufacturing in Holland, Michigan. His company became a major supplier of automotive components, particularly die-cast parts and lighted sun visors, before being sold to Johnson Controls.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Cornelius Plantinga Jr. (b. 1946) is an American theologian and scholar of Reformed theology who served as president of Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is known for influential writings on sin, Christian worship, and theology.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Leon Plantinga (b. 1935) is an American musicologist and pianist known for his scholarship on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century European music. A longtime professor at Yale University, he authored the influential textbook Romantic Music and studies on Clementi, Schumann, and Beethoven.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Alvin Plantinga (b. 1932) is an American philosopher known for influential work in philosophy of religion, epistemology, and metaphysics. A longtime professor at the University of Notre Dame, he is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary Christian philosophers.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

John Watts de Peyster (1821–1907) was an American military historian, philanthropist, and New York militia officer who was later breveted major general. Though not a battlefield commander, he influenced Civil War tactics through his writings and supported many historical and educational institutions.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

David H. Petraeus (b. 1952) is a retired four-star U.S. Army general and former Director of the CIA. He commanded coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and is known for shaping modern counterinsurgency strategy during the Iraq War.

Created by NNI

William Penn (1644–1718) was an English Quaker leader and colonial proprietor who founded the Province of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia. His colony became known for religious freedom, democratic governance, and peaceful relations with Native Americans.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

William Kaiser Van Pelt (1905–1996) was an American businessman and Republican politician who represented Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1951 to 1965. Before his congressional career, he owned and operated the City Fuel Company in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Alfred Peet (1920–2007) was a Dutch-American coffee roaster and entrepreneur who helped launch the American specialty coffee movement. Founder of Peet’s Coffee & Tea in Berkeley in 1966, he influenced the founders of Starbucks and transformed U.S. coffee culture.

Created by NNI

Colonel Tom Parker (1909–1997), born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in the Netherlands, was the longtime manager of Elvis Presley and one of the most influential figures in popular music management. His aggressive promotion helped turn Presley into a global superstar.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Abraham Pais (1918–2000) was a Dutch-American theoretical physicist and science historian who made important contributions to particle physics and later became known for his influential biographies of leading physicists, including Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Heiko A. Oberman (1930–2001) was a Dutch-American historian and theologian known for his scholarship on the Reformation and late medieval theology. His influential biography Luther: Man Between God and the Devil reshaped modern understanding of Martin Luther and the Reformation.

Created by NNI

Sarah Rapalje (1625–1685) was the first recorded European female child born in New Netherland. Born at Fort Orange (later Albany), she became the matriarch of a large colonial family, marrying twice and bearing fifteen children whose descendants spread widely throughout early New York society.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte (1811–1876) was a Dutch Reformed minister and immigrant leader who founded Holland, Michigan, and led nineteenth-century Dutch settlement in western Michigan.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn (1811–1877) was a New York lawyer, politician, and educator who served in the U.S. House of Representatives during the Civil War era and later became Chancellor of the University of the State of New York.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Erik Prince (b. 1969) is an American businessman and former U.S. Navy SEAL best known as the founder of the private military contractor Blackwater Worldwide (later Xe Services and Academi). His company became a major security contractor for the U.S. government during the Iraq War.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Edgar Prince (1931–1995) was an American engineer and entrepreneur who founded Prince Manufacturing in Holland, Michigan. His company became a major supplier of automotive components, particularly die-cast parts and lighted sun visors, before being sold to Johnson Controls.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Cornelius Plantinga Jr. (b. 1946) is an American theologian and scholar of Reformed theology who served as president of Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is known for influential writings on sin, Christian worship, and theology.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Leon Plantinga (b. 1935) is an American musicologist and pianist known for his scholarship on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century European music. A longtime professor at Yale University, he authored the influential textbook Romantic Music and studies on Clementi, Schumann, and Beethoven.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Alvin Plantinga (b. 1932) is an American philosopher known for influential work in philosophy of religion, epistemology, and metaphysics. A longtime professor at the University of Notre Dame, he is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary Christian philosophers.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

John Watts de Peyster (1821–1907) was an American military historian, philanthropist, and New York militia officer who was later breveted major general. Though not a battlefield commander, he influenced Civil War tactics through his writings and supported many historical and educational institutions.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

David H. Petraeus (b. 1952) is a retired four-star U.S. Army general and former Director of the CIA. He commanded coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and is known for shaping modern counterinsurgency strategy during the Iraq War.

Created by NNI

William Penn (1644–1718) was an English Quaker leader and colonial proprietor who founded the Province of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia. His colony became known for religious freedom, democratic governance, and peaceful relations with Native Americans.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

William Kaiser Van Pelt (1905–1996) was an American businessman and Republican politician who represented Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1951 to 1965. Before his congressional career, he owned and operated the City Fuel Company in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Alfred Peet (1920–2007) was a Dutch-American coffee roaster and entrepreneur who helped launch the American specialty coffee movement. Founder of Peet’s Coffee & Tea in Berkeley in 1966, he influenced the founders of Starbucks and transformed U.S. coffee culture.

Created by NNI

Colonel Tom Parker (1909–1997), born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in the Netherlands, was the longtime manager of Elvis Presley and one of the most influential figures in popular music management. His aggressive promotion helped turn Presley into a global superstar.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Abraham Pais (1918–2000) was a Dutch-American theoretical physicist and science historian who made important contributions to particle physics and later became known for his influential biographies of leading physicists, including Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Created by NNI
2 months Ago

Heiko A. Oberman (1930–2001) was a Dutch-American historian and theologian known for his scholarship on the Reformation and late medieval theology. His influential biography Luther: Man Between God and the Devil reshaped modern understanding of Martin Luther and the Reformation.

Created by NNI
About New Netherland Institute

For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. NNI is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

About New Netherland Institute

For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. NNI is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.