1940-1950

File — Box: 4

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

This series includes the text for the exhibit's panels. For the originals and their locations, see Boxes 3-5.

Dates

1900-2000

Extent

From the Collection: 6.6 Linear Feet (Seven boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Exhibit Captions

Senator Arthur Vandenberg, an isolationist before World War II, became a strong United Nations supporter and member of the United States delegation to the founding meeting in San Francisco. [Speaking at Pantlind, Mar. 23, 1946. Robinson Studio Collection 125-H017930; 125-942-6]
Jess Elster’s baseball team was a fixture on the local sports scene from the 1900s to the 1950s. [Acc. 90.038]
Grand Rapids Press Newsboys picnicked and played at Ramona Park in 1945. [Newsboys on roller coaster, Ramona Park, June 23, 1945. Robinson Studio Collection. 125-HO12045C; 125-942-6]
Home-grown “Victory Gardens,” like this couple’s efforts, assured adequate fresh produce at home to replace goods sent to troops overseas. [Oakleigh Rd. Aug. 14, 1943. Robinson Studio Collection. 125-HO18083; 125-942-5]
On May 23, 1946, Grand Rapids honored Pfc. Dirk Vlug who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for single-handedly destroying five Japanese tanks in the Philippines. [Robinson Studio Collection. 125-H018120F]
During World War II, women took jobs in area factories replacing men who had joined the military. [Women in Machine Shop, Interior for Reid Weber, July 15, 1943. Robinson Studio Collection 125-C-020018A]
Opened in 1949, the new Herpolsheimer store was the first major construction project in postwar Grand Rapids. [GRPH Photo Collection 54-13-18].
In 1949, Greenville entrepreneur Hendrick Meijer, shown here (third from right) with his family opened a new store on Eastern Avenue, continuing his expansion into the Grand Rapids area. [Meijer’s Store #4, 1645 Eastern S.E., Sept. 16, 1949. Meijer Family in front of store. Robinson Studio Collection. 125 #C022,492; 125-924]
[Dorothy Judd. Robinson Studio Collection 125-H003192A]
[Citizen’s Action Rally, May 12, 1949. Robinson Studio Collection 125-H003102B]
Supporters of Citizen’s Action hung brooms on their homes to indicate their desire to clean up city government. [Mrs. Tierney Sweeping. May 16, 1949. Robinson Studio Collection 125-H017242A].
Television came to Grand Rapids in 1949 and retailers attracted customers by placing operating sets in their store windows. [Pete’s Radio Service. Aug. 2, 1949. Robinson Studio Collection 125-C030,928.]