Grand Rapids Historical Society records
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 Also included are some historical documents.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
- Grand Rapids Historical Society (Organization)
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 The Grand Rapids Historical Society passes on to the Grand Rapids Public Library those historical documents sent to the Society, to become part of the Archives or sometimes the circulating collections of the Grand Rapids Public Library.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
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org