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Undergraduate Research Semester/Exploratory Grant Application
Cover Sheet
Amount Requested_$786.00__
Project Information
Hepworth, Steven_____________________________________________________________________
Student Participants (Last, First)
The History of the Christian Reformed Church of Ogden, 1957 -2002
Project Title (10 words or less)
MacKay, Kathryn___________________________________1205_______________________________
Faculty Mentor Name (last, first)
Mail Code
Social & Behavioral Science__________________________History______________________________
College (Weber State is the University, NOT college)
Department
This project ___ DOES/__X_ DOES NOT require review by the WSU Institutional Review Board for
Human Subjects or the WSU Animal Care and Use Committee.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
Date
____________________________________________________________________________________
Project Mentor Signature
Date
____1205___________
__6782____________
Campus Mail
Phone Ext.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Undergraduate Research Committee Representative
Date
___________________________________________
Faculty Mentor Department Chair
___________________
Date
Budget Worksheet
Budget Item
Materials
Archival quality
CDs for
interviewees,
$2.00X12
interviewees
Department or Outside Agency Personal Funds Undergraduate Grand Total
College Funds Funds
Research Funds
$24.00
$24.00
Equipment
History Dept. has
digital recorders
available for
student use
Transcriptions
$30 X 12
interviews +
transcription of
1983 speech by
Heersink at WSU
= $390.00
Mileage
To gather data
($.44 per
mile)=900 miles
Grand Total
$24.00
$390.00
$390.00
$396.00
$396.00
$786.00
$810.00
Project Description
My research question is: What is the history of the Christian Reformed Church in Ogden,
Utah and its impact on the area? This organization was affiliated with the Dutch Reformed
Church based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The congregation was one of five established in Utah
after World War II, in part to accommodate immigrants displaced by the war. During the sixty
years of its existence, the church sponsored numerous community events and service programs.
However, by 2002, the Ogden congregation acted to disband. I intend to research the
accomplishments of this religious community and the circumstances of its end.
The Christian Reformed Church made its way from Amsterdam to Michigan in 1857.
Reverend A.C. Van Raalte, with a small group of believers, sailed for the United States in search
of religious freedom and to escape poverty. When they arrived in Michigan they established
what would become the headquarters of the Christian Reformed Church in the United States.
(Richard De Ridder, My Church.) In 1957, the first Christian Reformed congregation in Utah
was formed in downtown Salt Lake City. Soon afterwards, four additional congregations were
established, including one in Ogden. Some of the challenges the members faced resulted from
being located in a state dominated by a single religion -- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints (Mormon) (Bitton and Irving, “The Continental Inheritance.”). As a minority, the
Christian Reformed Church continued to see a drop in membership as part of a larger, national
trend. As part of the historical investigation of this church, I want to explore what unique
challenges it faced as a minority in Ogden as well as the challenges it faced that were common to
the national religion.
Denomination in Utah
Percentage of Utah Population in 2000
Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
61%
Catholics
10%
Protestants
6%
Unaffiliated
16%
(U.S. Religious Landscape Survey 2000, The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 99)
One area of conflict between Mormons and the Christian Reformed Church was the
proselytizing efforts of both religious organizations. On the one hand some members converted
to Mormonism and contributed their energies to that faith. (Barbara Bernstein, “The Christian
Reformed Church Faces 2 Challenges”) On the other hand the Ogden church created the SWIM
program (Summer Workshop in Missions) which recruited the members to become missionaries,
away from home, for part of the summer. It was hoped that this program would encourage them
to remain loyal to their faith.
The Christian Reformed Church, according to one pamphlet, tries to meet the needs of its
ministers and members by meeting certain goals: worship, nurture, pastoral care, and outreach. I
want to investigate how this Ogden church met these goals. I believe an investigation of the
efforts to realize these goals will uncover the work of the members and their decision to disband.
Much of this research will be oral interviews with the church leaders and members.
William Heersink was the last pastor of this congregation. I intend to interview him and several
former church members. I will also be consulting with Reverend Heersink for access to the
church archives. These archives contain weekly announcements, minutes, and other documents.
Rev. Heersink has written an unpublished work on the first attempt to organize a Christian
Reform Church in Utah. Other than this unpublished work there is no scholarship on the history
of this church. (See: Appendix A).
All oral histories and the church archival collection (or copies) will be deposited in
Special Collections, Stewart Library, Weber State. I am a history major at Weber State
University and plan to use this research project as my senior thesis project. I plan on presenting
my research at the state annual Phi Alpha Theta conference and at WSU undergraduate
symposium. I also intend to submit my paper to the Utah Historical Quarterly
I will be working with Dr. Kathryn MacKay, History, who will help me conduct
interviews, following the guidelines established by the Oral History Association
(http://www.dickson.edu/oha). The project falls along this research continuum:
Dependent_____________________________________X____________Independent
(Student helping faculty to do research)
(Student doing own research)
Project Methods and Timeline
February – March 2012: Review the scholarly literature on Christian (Dutch) Reformed churches (See:
Appendix B). Research the Ogden congregation archives.
March –May 2012: Interview Rev. Heersink and nine members of his congregation. Have
interviews transcribed (See: Appendix C).
May-August 2012: Research and write senior thesis. Submit paper to Utah Historical Quarterly.
March 2013: Present research at Undergraduate Research Symposium and Phi Alpha Theta Conference.
Budget Explanation
Materials: I will purchase archival quality CDs for each of the 12 persons interviewed. 12 X
$2.00 = $24.00
Equipment: History Department has a digital recorder; I own a digital camera
Transcription: The transcriber contracted through Weber State charges $30 per one hour of
interview time.
Travel Expenses: Members of the congregation live throughout Weber and Davis counties. Some
of the Church’s archives are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. 10 interviews X 10 roundtrips plus
one trip to Salt Lake City (80 miles round trip) X $ .40 per mile = $288.0
Appendix A
January 30, 2012
To whom this may concern:
I am Bill Heersink, the person Steve Hepworth, student at Weber State University, contacted in
regard to his history research project.
I was the pastor of Family in Christ Christian Reformed Church (formerly Ogden Christian
Reformed Church) from 1975 to 2003. The history of this organization, particularly the last
years, is the topic Steve has inquired about, asking me for assistance.
I am pleased to be asked and will do my best to provide him with materials and persons to
interview, as well as offering my own recollections and perspectives.
Cordially,
Bill Heersink (801) 479-3954
Appendix B
Bibliography
Christian Reformed Church, Our Worlds Belong Together. Grand Rapids, Michigan: CRC
Publications, 1988.
Christian Reformed Church, Our Mission. Grand Rapids, Michigan: CRC Publications, 1990.
Harms, Richard H. Historical Directory of the Christian Reformed Church. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: CVC Publishing, 1996.
Heersink, William. ”The Seedling.” Unpublished manuscript, Special Collections, Stewart
Library, 1981.
The Heidelberg Catechism. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Board of Publications of the Christian
Reformed Church, 1975.
Hoezze, Scott and Christopher Meehan, Flourishing in the Land: A Hundred-Year History of
Christian Reformed Missions in North America. Gran Rapids, Michigan: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing, 1996.
Hoezze, Scott. Grace Through Every Generation: The Continuing Story of the Christian
Reformed Church. Grand Rapids, Michigan: CRC Publications, 2006
Rev. Richard Ridder, My Church. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Committee On Education of the
Christian Reformed Church, 1967.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey
http://religions.pewforum.org/, 2000, 99.
Appendix C
>>> Angela SWANER 1/30/2012 10:04 AM >>>
My rate for transcription service is $30 per recorded hour of interview. This includes
transcription, proof and CD of final transcript.
Thanks
Angela Swaner
Office Manager, Department of History
Weber State University
1205 University Circle, Ogden, UT 84408
SS234
801 626-6706
fax 801 626-7613
WITHOUT STUDENTS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A JOB!!
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMESTER/EXPLORATORY GRANT
APPLICATION
FACULTY MENTOR RECOMMENDATION FORM
Student Name (last, first): Hepworth. Steven__________________________
Project Title: The History of the Christian Reformed Church of Ogden, 1957 -2002
1. How long and in what capacity have you known this student? Mr. Hepworth has been a
student of mine these past two years.
2. Briefly describe the proposed project. Is this part of a larger research project? Is this part of a
course? If so, how is the project apart from the nature and scope of activities normally taken for
the course (Please attach a copy of your course syllabus)? Mr. Hepworth has long been
interested in the history of religions. I encouraged him to consider focusing this interest on a topic
which would be accessible to him. This research will become the basis for Mr. Hepworth’s senior
thesis; however, his having to create his own primary documents (oral histories) and to work with
institutional records which are not curated goes beyond the scope of activities normally taken
for the course. A copy of the syllabus for 4990 is attached.
3. Give an assessment of the project’s significance to the student’s discipline and of the
project’s educational and/or professional benefit to the student. Mr. Hepworth will gain
experience in processing records, in oral history interviewing, and in writing critically a history
based on those sources. I will be encouraging Mr. Hepworth to submit his finished thesis to the
Utah Historical Quarterly – since it will add to the scholarship of non-LDS religions in Utah.
.
4. Comment on the qualifications of the student to successfully complete this project, both in
terms of the project’s scope and its time frame. Mr. Hepworth is a hard-working, self-directed
student. I have every confidence he will complete the project in the proposed time frame.
5. Comment on the justification and appropriateness of the project budget, including the
necessity of a stipend (if requesting one). The proposed budget is modest.
6. Describe your role in the project. I will be training Mr. Hepworth to do oral interviews. It is I who
put him in contact with Rev. Heersink.
7. Include anything else that you think will be helpful to the committee in evaluating this
application. Mr. Hepworth will do excellent work on this research project,
This project ____ DOES _X___ DOES NOT require review by the WSU Institutional Review Board for
Human Subjects or the WSU Animal Care and Use Committee.
The U.S. Office for Human Research Protection (OHRP), part of the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), working with the advice of the American Historical Association (AHA) and the Oral History Association
(OHA), has determined "that oral history interviewing activities, in general, are not designed to contribute to
generalizable knowledge and, therefore, do not involve research as defined by Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) regulations at 45 CFR46.102(d) and do not need to be reviewed by an institutional review board
(IRB)." 2003
Project Mentor Signature
Date
Campus Mail Code
History 4990
Campus phone
Senior Seminar
A seminar for History majors requiring the completion of a thesis project.
seminar: A group of students who meet regularly for reports and discussion in an area of
research under the guidance of a professor.
thesis: A thesis (literally: 'position' from the Greek θέσις) is an intellectual proposition. ----In
academia, a thesis or dissertation is a document that presents the author's research and findings
Texts:


A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, Rampolla
Elements of Style, Strunk & White
Learning Goals: Students should be able to:




Apply the historical method in the critical evaluation and interpretation of primary source
material.
Have some proficiency in the categories, concepts, and forms of argumentation that
professional historians used to derive meaning from complex historical events;
Evaluate and critique the work of your fellow historians in a respectful and constructive
manner;
Be fluent with the conventions of the writing process including drafting, critique,
revision, proofreading, and copy editing.
The Senior thesis paper:


Needs to be 25-30 pages long, typed, double-spaced, in a twelve-point font, with one inch
margins.
Is a unique contribution to your chosen area of historical research. This requirement can
be fulfilled by
o using under-utilized or unutilized primary source materials;
o identifying and addressing an unacknowledged problem of historical sourcing or
interpretation;
o applying conceptual categories in a way that offers new insight into established
areas of historical scholarship;
o making innovative use of interpretive theory in the analysis of your sources.
In short, your paper must offer something in its interpretations or in its presentation of the
evidence that cannot be found elsewhere.

You need to have an ARGUMENT that you are trying to PROVE. This is more than just
retelling events that occurred; you must analyze those events and support a specific
thesis.




All of you citations need to be either footnotes or endnotes in Rampolla/Turabian form.
(Chicago Manual of Style).
You need to have at least 12 primary sources, and at least 12 secondary sources.
o At least 3 of the primary sources must not be from a digital source.
o At least 6 of the secondary documents must be monographs not articles.
You will have to have a bibliography also in Rampolla/Turabian form. The bibliography
will be divided between primary and secondary sources.
You will also need a cover sheet for the final draft. You should NOT bind the paper.
Just staple it in the corner
Grades:
You must write a senior thesis which meets the standards for a "C" in order to pass this course.
The thesis is worth 190 points However, there are additional points to be earned:



Because this is a seminar class you need to attend all scheduled class sessions.
Attendance is worth 10 points
You will receive points for your statement of purpose, scholarly review, bibliography,
rough and final drafts (Points will be taken off for lateness. )
o Brief statement of topic
5 points
o Report of meeting with research librarian
5 points
o Scholarly review
10 points
o Annotated bibliography
15 points
o Rough draft
Peer Review: Each student must provide on the scheduled date writings for a peer
review. 5 points for the comments on a fellow student's paper. (Peer reviews will be
done on: critique of scholarly article, rough draft, bibliography.)
Your total grade will be broken down in the following way:


Final Draft of Thesis Paper
Additional Assignments
90%
10%
Consultation:
Each student will meet periodically with the professor on an assigned day to go over
her/his draft. Students may stop in any time to discuss his/her project, but there will be specific
times when the student MUST meet with the professor.
Process of constructing the senior thesis:
Statement of project/purpose
Finished Draft
Scholarly literature search
Final Paper
Rough Draft
Oral presentation
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
SEMESTER/EXPLORATORY GRANT APPLICATION
Additional Questions
1. What funding have you received from OUR in the past, Where has your previous project
been disseminated? I have not received any funding from the OUR in the past.
2. Is this project part of a required course? If so, please indicate the support (monetary and
in-kind) provided for this project by the academic department. This project is part of my
senior project or history course 4990. There is no monetary and in-kind support provided
by the history department for the project.
3. What additional sources of funding have been solicited? Is your department willing/able
to fund any equipment they will be retaining? I have not sought additional funding for
this project. The history department has in their possession a digital recorder which I will
be using.
4. Where do you plan to disseminate the results of this project? I plan to submit my project
for publishing in Utah Historical Quarterly. I will present my research at the
Undergraduate Research Symposium and Phi Alpha Theta Conference.
5. If you are requesting a stipend, please list all significant time commitments (5+ hours per
week) that you expect to maintain over the duration of your project including, for
example, class and work schedules. I am not requesting a stipend.