On the Town photographs

Collection

Identifier: Collection 520

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection of images consists of negatives and contact sheets. With little exception they were taken in the 1980s, are black and white, and they are mostly identified. The images include restaurants, shopping centers, musical groups, artists, museums and other cultural institutions. They would be of interest to anyone researching the arts and entertainment scene in Grand Rapids during the 1980s.

Dates

1982 - 1999

Biographical / Historical

On the Town magazine began as Downtown in 1982, a free publication covering Greater Grand Rapids arts and entertainment, published by Roger W. Bruinekool, who founded Downtown Publishing, Inc. The first issue was published in September of that year and edited by Julie Christianson. In March of 1984 the magazine changed its name to On the Town to more accurately reflect the wider area it covered. It is now part of the MLive Media Group.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

On the Town is a free publication highlighting arts and entertainment in the Greater Grand Rapids area. It began in 1982 as Downtown magazine, changed its name in 1984 to On the Town, and is now part of the MLive Media Group. Donated by Joanne N. Bailey, former editor of On the Town magazine, this collection of negatives and contact sheets were produced in the 1980s for On the Town.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Joanne N. Bailey. Accession 2008.085.

Processing Information

This collection was formally part of the Grand Rapids Public Library newspapers collection 259. It was removed in August of 2023 and processed as its own collection.