Pictorial History of Grand Rapids
Scope and Contents
The images depict the emergence of a concentrated urban core and the expansion from that core in a mid-size Midwestern city. As such it details the emergence and decline of a downtown business district, urban transportation, a spreading economic infrastructure, public and private sector development, the role of neighborhoods, recreational activities, schools and churches.
Included in the book publication are images that come from several other collections in the Archives at the Grand Rapids History & Special Collections Center, as well as Coll. 138. Many of the images/photos included in Coll. 138, however, are not actually items that were finally selected for use in the publication.
An index in this finding aid provides additional access to subject matter found in various folders.
Dates
- 1870-1975, n.d.
Creator
- Travis, Anthony (Person)
- Mapes, Lynn G (Person)
Copyright
None of the historical images carry any known copyright restrictions. Copyrights held by the authors were transferred to the Grand Rapids Public Library. Copyright of the Weidenaar graphics may still be held by the artist or his heirs.
Biographical / Historical
“Pictorial History of Grand Rapids” was created by Lynn G. Mapes and Anthony Travis, two United States History instructors at Grand Valley State University. The book was an effort to detail the social history of the city's people and the development of that people's urban environment. The authors surveyed pictorial collections throughout the city, particularly those at the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Extent
2.25 Linear Feet (Six boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A Pictorial History of Grand Rapids is a book published by Lynn G. Mapes and Anthony Travis in 1976. The book details the social history and development of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This collection includes photographs copied from various sources that document the metropolitan Grand Rapids area. Included are views of the city from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as images taken in 1975. The images depict street scenes, activities, churches, trucks, streetcars, theaters and churches. They focus on the emergence and decline of a downtown business district, urban transportation and a spreading economic infrastructure.
Arrangement
Photos were first grouped by general subject, with those items filed together in the same folder. The number in parentheses indicates the number of items in the folder. Subject folders are arranged alphabetically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lynn G. Mapes, accession number 1991.015
Index
28th Street views - b.1,f.1
A&P Store - b.1,f.2
Abe Schefman & Co. - b.1,f.3
Accordion player - b.1,f.5
Ada Covered Bridge - b.1,f.4
Airplanes - b.1,f.7
Airline schedule - b.1,f.6
Alabastine Co., plaster mill - b.1,f.8
Altar - b.1,f.9
Ambulance - b.1,f.10
American Legion drive - b.1,f.11
American Seating - b.1,f.12
Amos 'n' Andy - b.1,f.13
Apartment Building - b.1,f.14
Aquinas College - b.1,f.15
Attwood Brass Co. - b.1,f.16
Automobile sales lots - b.4,f.26
Automobiles - b.1,f.17;b.4,f.1
Automobiles. Service Stations - b.1,f.18
Bands - b.1,f.19;b.2,f.58;
Banks. Interiors - b.1,f.20
Baptist Mission marker - b.1,f.21
Barber Shops. Interiors - b.1,f.22
Baseball teams - b.1,f.23
Bert Brother Trucking - b.1,f.24
Bibles - b.6,f.13
Bicycling - b.1,f.25
Blacksmiths - b.1,f.26
Blatz Brewing Co. - b.1,f.27
Bostwick Avenue Elms - b.1,f.29
Bostwick Avenue views - b.1,f.28
Bowling alleys - b.1,f.30
Bread deliveryman - b.1,f.31
Breen & Halladay Fuel Co. wagon - b.1,f.32
Breweries - b.2,f.38;b.4,f.47
Bridge Street views - b.1,f.33
Bridges - b.1,f.4;b.2,f.41;b.3,f.48
Brummeler-VanStrien Co. truck - b.6,f.8
Buggies - b.1,f.34
Burleson Sanitarium - b.1,f.35
Burlesque shows - b.1,f.36
Buses - b.1,f.37;b.4,f.23
Calkins Law Office - b.1,f.38
Calvin College - b.1,f.39
Camera Shop - b.1,f.40
Camera Shop truck - b.1,f.41
Campau Bank note - b.1,f.42
Campau Park - b.1,f.43
Campau Square views - b.1,f.44
Cascade Country Club - b.1,f.45
Cemeteries - b.4,f.25
Central Boiler Works - b.1,f.46
Cherry, SE (951-3) - b.1,f.47
Christmas - b.1,f.48
Churches - b.1,f.49;b.2,f.28,f.36,f.37;b.3,f.15;b.5,f.30
Churches, Interiors - b.1,f.50
Cigar factory interior - b.1,f.51
Circuses - b.1,f.52
Citizenship class - b.1,f.53
City Hall - b.2,f.51
City Market - b.1,f.54
City Rescue Mission truck - b.1,f.55
Civic auditorium - b.2,f.45
Classrooms - b.1,f.56
Clubhouses - b.2,f.1
Coal conveyor - b.2,f.2
Coal pile - b.2,f.3
Cobbler - b.2,f.4
Coca Cola truck - b.2,f.5
Columbia Storage Co. - b.2,f.6
Core drilling - b.2,f.7
Courtrooms - b.2,f.8
Covered bridges - b.1,f.4
Cranes - b.2,f.9
Creston Transfer truck - b.2,f.10
Creston views - b.2,f.11
Cultivating fields - b.2,f.12
Davenport College - b.2,f.13
Department stores. Interiors - b.2,f.14
Dinner meetings - b.2,f.15
Division Avenue views - b.2,f.16
Dray wagons and teams - b.2,f.17
Economy Dye House motorcycle - b.2,f.18
Elks Temple - b.2,f.19
Factories - b.1,f.16;b.2,f.29,f.44;b.3,f.8
Factories. Interiors - b.2,f.20;b.4,f.1;b.5,f.53;b.6,f.16
Factory workers - b.2,f.21
Family Theater - b.2,f.22
Ferry, Grand Haven, Mich. - b.2,f.23
Festivals - b.2,f.24
Fill the Barrel Campaign - b.2,f.25
Fire fighting - b.2,f.26
Fireworks display - b.2,f.27
First Church of Christ Scientist. Interior - b.2,f.28
Fisher Body - b.2,f.29
Fisherman - b.2,f.30
Fitch Carriage Works - b.2,f.31
Food baskets for needy - b.2,f.32
Football players - b.2,f.33
Football wire service report - b.2,f.34
Foresters - b.2,f.35
Fountain Street Church - b.2,f.36
Franklin Street Christian Reformed Church - b.2,f.37
Frey Brothers Co. - b.2,f.38
Front Street views - b.2,f.39
Fruit picking - b.2,f.40
Fulton @ Commerce views - b.2,f.43
Fulton Street Bridge - b.2,f.41
Fulton Street views - b.2,f.42
Furniture factories. Interiors - b.2,f.44;b.6,f.16
GOP Campaign headquarters - b.2,f.48
George Welsh Civic Auditorium - b.2,f.45
George Welsh Civic Auditorium site - b.2,f.46
Globe Knitting Co. employees - b.2,f.49
Golfing - b.2,f.47
Grand Rapids Art Museum - b.2,f.50
Grand Rapids City Hall - b.2,f.51
Grand Rapids Community College - b.2,f.52
Grand Rapids Felt Boot Co, workers - b.2,f.53
Grand Rapids Gas Co. window display - b.2,f.54
Grand Rapids Grain & Milling Co. - b.2,f.55
Grand Rapids Herald truck - b.2,f.56
Grand Rapids Press Hall. Interior - b.2,f.59
Grand Rapids Press newsboys - b.2,f.57
Grand Rapids Press newsboys band - b.2,f.58
Grand Rapids Public Library - b.2,f.60
Grand Rapids Public Library. Interiors - b.2,f.61
Grand Rapids Public Museum - b.2,f.62
Grand Rapids Public Museum. Interiors - b.2,f.63
Grand Rapids Radio Co. broadcast - b.3,f.1
Grand Rapids Trust Co. - b.2,f.64
Grand Rapids views - b.3,f.2
Grand River views - b.3,f.3
Greenhouses - b.3,f.4
Grocery stores. Interiors - b.3,f.5
Grocers - b.1,f.2;b.5,f.15
Ground breaking - b.3,f.6
Gypsum mine - b.3,f.7
H.M. Reynolds Shingle Co. - b.3,f.8
Halladay Lumber Co. - b.3,f.9
Halloween - b.3,f.10
Hermitage Garage - b.3,f.11
Hermitage Hotel - b.3,f.12
Herpolsheimer Co. - b.3,f.13
Herrud & Co. truck - b.3,f.14
Highland Park Christian Reformed Church - b.3,f.15
Holland Furnace Co. - b.3,f.16
Hotels - b.3,f.50;b.4,f.33-4
Houses - b.3,f.17
Houses. Interiors - b.3,f.18
Hub Boys Club - b.3,f.19
Hunters - b.3,f.20
I-196 construction - b.3,f.21
Ice delivery - b.3,f.22
Independent Messenger Service truck - b.3,f.23
Installing drain tiles - b.3,f.24
Interurban construction camp - b.3,f.25
Interurbans - b.3,f.26
Isis Theater - b.3,f.27
J. Nicholas Moving truck - b.3,f.28
Jail cell - b.3,f.29
Jefferson @ Washington views - b.3,f.30
Jension Mill - b.3,f.31
John Ball Park - b.3,f.32
Kendall College of Art And Design - b.3,f.33
Kent Country Club - b.3,f.34
Kent County International Airport - b.3,f.35
Kent Theater - b.3,f.36
Kitchens - b.3,f.37
Knights of Columbus night school - b.3,f.38
Knitters - b.3,f.39
Kolkowski Orchestra - b.3,f.40
Kresge's. Interior - b.3,f.41
Lagrave Avenue views - b.3,f.42
Laying pipeline under Grand River - b.3,f.43
Leather Workers Union - b.3,f.44
Ledyard Building - b.3,f.45
Lemonade stand - b.3,f.46
Leonard Refrigerator Co. - b.3,f.47
Leonard Street Bridge construction - b.3,f.48
Lions Club Salvation Army Christmas Baskets - b.3,f.49
Livingston Hotel - b.3,f.50
Logging - b.3,f.51
Loraine Automobile Co. factory - b.4,f.1
Lumber mills. Interiors - b.4,f.2
Lumber yard - b.4,f.3
Lyon Street views - b.4,f.4
M.J. Clark Home - b.4,f.5
Madison Square Advertiser - b.4,f.7
Majestic Theater - b.4,f.8
McDonald's Restaurant - b.4,f.6
Meat markets - b.4,f.9
Michigan Street views - b.4,f.10
Milk man - b.4,f.11
Mines - b.3,f.7
Monroe @ Ottawa views - b.4,f.13
Monroe Avenue views - b.4,f.12
Monroe Center views - b.4,f.14
Monument Square building - b.4,f.16
Monument Square views - b.4,f.15
Morton House employees - b.4,f.17
Motorcycles - b.2,f.18;b.4,f.18
Nelson Good & Co. - b.4,f.19
New Street views - b.4,f.20
Newsboys Hall swimming pool - b.4,f.21
North Park School - b.4,f.22
North Stars busses - b.4,f.23
Nurse with equipment - b.4,f.24
Oakhill Cemetery - b.4,f.25
Oakland Motor Coach Co. car lot - b.4,f.26
Offices. Interiors - b.4,f.27
Offringa & Blok Wallpaper & Paint store - b.4,f.28
Ottawa Avenue views - b.4,f.29
Ottawa Indian Village site marker - b.4,f.30
Out Theater - b.4,f.31
Paddy wagons - b.5,f.4
Palmer School - b.4,f.32
Pantlind Hotel - b.4,f.33
Pantlind Hotel. Interior - b.4,f.34
Parades - b.4,f.35
Parks - b.4,f.36;b.6,f.9
Pearl Street views - b.4,f.37
Peck Building - b.4,f.38
Peninsular Club - b.4,f.39
People. Mapes, Lynn & Travis, Anthony - b.4,f.40
People. Tillman, George P. - b.4,f.41
People. Unidentified - b.4,f.43
People. VanderVelde, Craig - b.4,f.42
People. author - b.4,f.44
People. children - b.4,f.45
People. groups - b.4,f.46
Petersen Brewing Co. - b.4,f.47
Picnics - b.4,f.48
Pierce's Ice Cream advertising - b.5,f.1
Plainfield Avenue School - b.5,f.2
Plaster mills - b.1,f.8
Police - b.5,f.3
Police Paddy Wagon - b.5,f.4
Political Campaign dinner - b.5,f.5
Political Rally - b.5,f.6
Polonia Cafe - b.5,f.7
Pool Rooms - b.5,f.8
Princes Theater - b.5,f.9
Public Health Clinic - b.5,f.10
Public Works Project - b.5,f.11
Radio broadcasts - b.3,f.1;b.5,f.12;b.6,f.17-18
Railroad timecard - b.5,f.13
Railroads - b.5,f.14
Ray Watkins Grocery - b.5,f.15
Rayfeld Carburetor Shop - b.5,f.16
Reeds Lake - b.5,f.17
Regent Theater - b.5,f.18
Regent Theater. Interior - b.5,f.19
Restaurants - b.4,f.6;b.5,f.20
Richards Tow Truck - b.5,f.21
Road grading - b.5,f.23
Roads - b.5,f.22
Rogers Plaza - b.5,f.24
Ryskamp Grocery display - b.5,f.25
Schools - b.3,f.38;b.4,f.22;b.4,f.32;b.5,f.2,f.29,f.39
Second Reformed Church - b.5,f.30
Security Storage & Transfer Co. - b.5,f.31
Skeleton - b.5,f.35
Sledding - b.5,f.32
Snow plowing - b.5,f.33
Snow removal - b.5,f.34
St. Adalberts Basilica - b.5,f.26
St. Andrews Cathedral - b.5,f.27
St. John's Orphanage - b.5,f.28
State St. @ Jefferson Ave. - b.5,f.36
Statues - b.4,f.15
Stocking @ Franklin views - b.5,f.37
Stocking theater - b.5,f.37
Storefront - b.5,f.38
Straight Street School - b.5,f.39
Strand Theater - b.5,f.40
Street cars - b.5,f.41
Street sweeper - b.5,f.42
Streetcars - b.1,f.33;b.4,f.9
Streets - b.5,f.43
Strike pickets - b.5,f.44
Students exercising - b.5,f.45
Students field hockey - b.5,f.46
Sun Oil Co. trucks - b.5,f.47
Swimming pools - b.4,f.21;b.5,f.48
Tax chart - b.5,f.49
Telephone operators - b.5,f.51
Telephones - b.5,f.50
Temple Theater - b.5,f.52
Textile factories. Interiors - b.5,f.53
Theater productions - b.5,f.55
Theater projection booth - b.5,f.56
Theaters - b.2,f.22;b.3,f.27,f.36;b.4,f.8,f.12,f.31;b.5,f.18-19;b.5,f.40,f.52,f.54
Tow trucks - b.5,f.21
Tractors - b.4,f.19
Traffic accidents - b.6,f.1
Trucks - b.1,f.24,f.27,f.41,f.55;b.2,f.3,f.5,f.10,f.56;b.3,f.11, b.3,f.14,f.16,f.22-3,f.28;b.4,f.7,f.35;b.5,f.21,f.47;b.6,f.2,f.8
US 131 construction - b.6,f.3
Union Bank - b.6,f.4
Union Station - b.6,f.5
Utility crews - b.6,f.6
Valley City Milling Co. - b.6,f.7
Veterans Memorial Park - b.6,f.9
Vincroft Fruit Wagon - b.6,f.10
Vinkemulder warehouse - b.6,f.11
Voigt Milling Co. - b.6,f.12
WLAV studio - b.6,f.17
WOOD studio - b.6,f.18
Wagons - b.1,f.32;b.2,f.17
Weldon Frankforter and Baptist Mission bible - b.6,f.13
West Michigan Fairgrounds - b.6,f.14
West Side views - b.6,f.15
Widdicomb Furniture Co. Interior - b.6,f.16
Woodland Mall - b.6,f.19
Woodman of America - b.6,f.20
YWCA Cornerstone Laying - b.6,f.21
York Motor Co. garage - b.6,f.22
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Pictorial History of Grand Rapids
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Richard H. Harms
- Date
- November 1991
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
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