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Grand Rapids Historical Society records

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 141

Abstract

The Grand Rapids Historical Society was officially founded in 1895 as the Historical Society of Grand Rapids. It was reorganized in 1906 and again in 1951. Through its programs and publications, members explore the history of Western Michigan, and in particular Kent County and the Greater Grand Rapids area. Records documented in this finding aid are the collected filed of the organization. Included are minutes, working files, membership records, books and student papers on local history topics, society newsletters and manuscripts, scrapbooks and copies of The Grand River Valley Review, as well as copies of the photos used in that publication. Also included are some historical documents.

Dates

  • 1888-1992

Creator

Biographical / Historical

The Grand Rapids Historical Society was organized in 1894 and reorganized again in 1906, under the auspices of the Grand Rapids Public Library. In 1951 the organization was reorganized a second time, by Donald W. Kohlstedt, Director of the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Since the 1951 reorganization the group has remained active. During its early years it published a chatty newsletter, sponsored various speakers, and conducted local history essay contests for high school students. In 1973-1974 a reprint of Baxter's History of Grand Rapids was issued through the Society.

The newsletter, begun in 1954, underwent a major format and content change in 1979. Part of this change resulted when the city commission established the office of City Historian. The City Historian was able to devote more time to the goals of the society than had previously been possible. That same year the society began publishing the Grand River Valley Review (later History), a journal of studious articles on the history of the region.

Since 1980, the Society has given the annual Albert E. Baxter Award to a person who has made significant contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Grand River Valley history.

The Society interfaces with several related historical organizations in the Grand Rapids area. From its beginnings the Society has had a close relationship with staff of the Grand Rapids Public Library. Directors Lucy Ball, Samuel Ranck and Donald Kohlstedt were all active members and leaders of the organization. The Grand Rapids Historical Society passes on to the Grand Rapids Public Library those historical documents sent to the Society, to become part of the Archives or sometimes the circulating collections of the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Extent

15.3 Linear Feet (Approximately 30 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Grand Rapids Historical Society

Accessions 1987.00; 1979.020; 1999.108; 00.[627].1; 2006.049 plus continuous additions.

Materials Specific Details

For the most part the publications highlight holdings in the Grand Rapids Public Library Archives. A large percentage of the images are taken from other collections in the Grand Rapids Public Library Local History Department, including images and items in the Archival collections as well as images from books and periodicals in the collections.

In July 2004, the negatives were added to the GRPL copy negative database, as they may be the only negative source for the image in the collections.

In the case of the photo prints, the negatives for most of these exist in the GRPL copy negatives or in other archival collections.

In some cases, original materials may have been obtained independently for a new publication, but the source of these items have apparently not been documented. Alternatively, the original items may have been removed from other collections in the GRPL Archives, and without benefit of original markings to the contrary are now believed to belong to this collection.

Pictorial Index

Airplane parts, c.1918 - Box 10, Folder 17

Airplanes - Box 10, Folder 17

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel - Box 11, Folder 1

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Interiors - Box 11, Folder 1

Anti-Tuberculosis Society - Box 10, Folder 17

Armenians – Box 20, Folder 4

Ball gravesite marker - Box 10, Folder 16

Baseball parks - Box 10, Folder 17

Baseball players - Box 10, Folder 17

Blacksmith shop - Box 10, Folder 18

Bunk houses. Interiors - Box 10, Folder 17

Calvin Seminary - Box 10, Folder 17

Campau Square views - Box 10, Folder 16

Civil war soldiers - Box 10, Folder 15

Clocks - Box 10, Folder 15

Coit School - Box 10, Folder 16

Corduroy road - Box 10, Folder 15

Eagle Hotel - Box 10, Folder 15

East Bridge Street School - Box 11, Folder 13

Funerals - Box 10, Folder 18

Fur traders – Box 20, Folder 2

Furniture - Box 10, Folder 15-16; Box 11, Folder 15

Furniture factories. Interiors - Box 10, Folder 17

Furniture industry – Box 20, Folder 3

Goat cart - Box 10, Folder 18

Grab Corners. views - Box 10, Folder 16

Grand Rapids. Art Museum - Box 10, Folder 17

Grand Rapids. Felt Boot & Shoe Co. Employees - Box 10, Folder 17

Grand Rapids. Gas Co. Office - Box 10, Folder 17

Grand Rapids. Study Club - Box 10, Folder 17

Grand Rapids. views - Box 11, Folder 1

Grocery stores. Interiors - Box 10, Folder 17

Handley-Page Bomber - Box 10, Folder 17

Hannah & Sons delivery wagon - Box 10, Folder 17

Harvesting wheat - Box 10, Folder 18

Hayes Body Corp. Trucks - Box 11, Folder 2

Horse and hearse - Box 10, Folder 18

Horse and milk wagon - Box 10, Folder 17

Horse and wagon - Box 10, Folder 17

Hospitals. Interiors - Box 10, Folder 18

Hotels - Box 10, Folder 15; Box 11, Folder 1

Houses - Box 10, Folder 15,17

Houses. Currier, A.A. - Box 11, Folder 16

Infant Feeding Clinic - Box 10, Folder 17

Jewelry stores. Interiors - Box 10, Folder 15

Ladies Literary Club building - Box 10, Folder 17

Ladies Literary Club members - Box 10, Folder 17

League of Women campaign - Box 10, Folder 17

Log cabins - Box 10, Folder 15, f.17

Logging - Box 10, Folder 17

Logging. Sled - Box 10, Folder 18

Map. Dvina-Vaga Fronts, 1918-19 - Box 11, Folder 03

Map. Green River - Box 10, Folder 15

Map. Yankee Springs - Box 11, Folder 1

Market Street view, 1857 - Box 10, Folder 15

Michigan history – Box 20, Folder 2

Milk wagons - Box 10, Folder 17

Monuments and markers - Box 10, Folder 16

Mussell drugstore - Box 10, Folder 17

Old Ironsides Table - Box 10, Folder 15

Oxen team - Box 10, Folder 18

People. Ball, Daniel: Box 20, Folder 2

People. Ball, John: Box 20, Folder 2-3

People. Brower, Mrs.: Box 10, Folder 15

People. Brown, Mr.: Box 10, Folder 17

People. Campau, Abbie H.: Box 11, Folder 17

People. Clark, Billy: Box 11, Folder 2

People. Colby, Mr.: Box 10, Folder 16

G.R. Study Club members: Box 10, Folder 17

People. Gilbert, Thomas D.: Box 10, Folder 15

People. Gronberg, John G.: Box 11, Folder 18

People. Kramer, John: Box 10, Folder 15

People. LaRue, Mr.: Box 10, Folder 17

People. McColl, John Alexander: Box 11, Folder 19

People. Merkle, Marion: Box 10, Folder 15

People. Moore, Orlando H.: Box 10, Folder 15

People. Morgan, John H.: Box 10, Folder 15

People. Powers, William H.: Box 10, Folder 16

People. Preusser, Albert: Box 10, Folder 15

People. Sackett, Mr.: Box 11, Folder 20

People. Simmons, Red: Box 11, Folder 2

People. Spring, Henry: Box 11, Folder 21

People. VanRaalte, D.B.K.: Box 10, Folder 15

People. VanSchelven, Gerrit: Box 10, Folder 15

Pharmacies - Box 10, Folder 17

Preussers Jewelry - Box 10, Folder 15

Ramona Athletic Park - Box 10, Folder 17

Ramona Theater. Interior - Box 11, Folder 2

Red Cross headquarters, c.1918 - Box 10, Folder 17

Reeds Lake - Box 10, Folder 17

Register of Deeds. Office - Box 10, Folder 18

Row boats - Box 10, Folder 17

Schools - Box 10, Folder 16-17

Schools. Interiors - Box 11, Folder 13

Soldiers - Box 10, Folder 15

St. Cecilia Chorus - Box 10, Folder 17

St. Cecilia. Auditorium - Box 10, Folder 17

Stoves - Box 10, Folder 16

Students - Box 11, Folder 13

Tables - Box 10, Folder 15

Telephone switchboard - Box 10, Folder 17

Theaters. Interiors - Box 11, Folder 2

Trucks - Box 10, Folder 17; Box 11, Folder 2

Veteran's Park - Box 11, Folder 14

Wall papers - Box 10, Folder 18

Title
Finding aid for the Grand Rapids Historical Society records
Status
Completed
Author
Richard H. Harms
Date
August 1992
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

Contact:
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497