Streets, grading and widening #10. Grading of Eastern Ave. at Maybelle Sts. 11-21-31. [View from the hill top down in opposite direction of #9 above. Men working in foreground, in 2 trenches, with some on the rise, near the higher graded hill at right. Houses at the base of the road in the background.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains approximately 500 photos of various projects undertaken by the program, such as parks improvements, road construction, sewer and water main projects, food preservation and distribution and two drives to raise food at Thanksgiving ("Fill the Barrel") and Toys at Christmas ("For an Empty Stocking"). The photos present a vivid depiction of local municipal welfare activities during the Great Depression, prior to any such federal action.
Most of these photo prints are 8x10, with two sets of old numbers on the back. A set of handwritten descriptions is usually found at the top, including the numbers used in the descriptions below. Another set of “PBD” or “OBD” numbers was probably from early library file processing.
While this is basically a photo collection, ancillary documents are now being appended which are associated with the images, such as the “City Social Service Grocery Order” form, which would have been used by those making requests from the various food stores depicted in the photos.
Dates
- 1930-1932
Extent
From the Collection: 1.25 Linear Feet (Three boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org