The Grand Rapids Humanities Council was organized in 1976 to celebrate the nation's Bicentennial, and continues today (2000). The Council is involved in helping organize and fund programs for the arts and other historical and cultural endeavors, such as symphony performances and art exhibits.

Under the leadership of Mary Pierce, the Council became heavily involved with the organization of the local celebration of Michigan's Sesquicentennial in 1987. A local Sesquicentennial Committee was formed in 1984. This effort was guided by two subcommittees, Executive and Campaign.

The Executive Committee was composed of Frederik Meijer (chairman, Meijer Inc.), Robert Pew (Chairman and Ceo, Steelcase Inc.) and Jay VanAndel (Chairman, Amway Inc.).

The Campaign Committee was chaired by John Logie, partner in the Warner, Norcross & Judd law firm, and currently mayor of Grand Rapids. City historian, Gordon Olson, was also quite involved with this project. The committee members were Robert Becker (president, Metrobanc Federal Savings Bank), Kenneth Boden (owner, McDonald's at 28th and Michael), Bruce Brown (president, United Development Real Estate Corp.), Michael Cuncannan (managing partner, Seidman & Seidman), Edward E. Duba, Sr. (owner, Duba's Restaurant), Robert C. Geyer (partner in Crowe, Chizek & Co. C.P.A.), Robert L. Hooker (president, Mazda Distributors Great Lakes), Dr. Norbert Hruby (president, Aquinas College), William Johnson (vice president, District Operation Michcon), Ronald LaReau (senior vice president, Prime Bank), Hank Meijer (vice chairman, Meijer Inc.), Milton W. Rohwer (president, G.R. Area Chamber of Commerce), Craig Schopf (president, Union Bank), Max E. Smith (managing partner, Touche-Ross), Howard Sutton (director of corporate communication, Steelcase Inc.), Nan VanAndel (vice president communications, Amway Inc.), David Wagner (president, Old Kent Bank & Trust Co.), Thomas Wesholski (president, Michigan National Bank).

Linda Samuelson became Executive Director in the late 1980s, retiring in 2004. In 1999, Samuelson’s position was made part of the Grand Rapids Public Library, and called “Library Program Manager.” With Samuelson's retirement in 2004, the position was moved to Grand Valley State University, with Cheryl VanTil as the new Executive Director.

Linda Samuelson was the project manager for the book, with the initial research team lead by Andy Schrier. The book was published in 2003 by Wm. B. Eerdmans of Grand Rapids, funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council, but is unfortunately already out of print as of Summer 2006. Acquisition of the images and information included in this collection began in 2000. Many of the images in the publication came from the archival collections at the Grand Rapids Public Library. However, some original materials were provided by individual donors from the community.