Lawrence Case Urban Renewal Slides
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of 246 color 35mm slides, housed in 15 archival slide boxes. The slides are of Anscochrome and Kodachrome types. Slide numbers are often found on the verso, either stamped or handwritten, and many also include stamped or handwritten dates corresponding to when the film was developed—dates which therefore postdate the events depicted. Approximately one quarter of the slides have brief descriptive labels, while others have no identifying number, date, or description.
Notable subjects include the visit of Senator John F. Kennedy to Grand Rapids on October 13, 1960 during his successful presidential campaign against Richard M. Nixon; the demolition of unidentified downtown buildings in February and May 1964; and the demolition of the old City Hall clock tower on December 2, 1969.
Dates
- Creation: 1959 - 1980
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is open and available for researcher use.
Biographical / Historical
Lawrence "Larry" Harper Case (1914-2014) was born in Grand Rapids to parents Sidney A. Case (1878-1954) and Lillian R. Harper (1883-1925), the youngest of three children. His father had been the collections manager of Old Kent Bank, working for the company for 50 years. Lawrence graduated from South High School and Grand Rapids Junior College, and served as 1st Lieutenant with the Army Corps of Engineers in North Africa and Italy. After graduation, he was employed by Universal Credit Co. In 1957, he was part of the four-member Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area Study subcommittee on taxation. In the 1950s he was Assistant Secretary of the Grand Rapids Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association, and in 1959 was elected Vice President.
Full Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 document box.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This is a collection of 35mm slides that depict a changing mid-20th century Grand Rapids, Michigan. Taken by amateur photographer Lawrence H. Case (1914-2014), the images include the 1960s development around the Calder Plaza and Vandenberg Center areas of downtown. According to a historical marker placed at the site, "[t]he federal urban renewal program of the 1960s cleared the area, providing space for the new City-County complex, the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building and other office structures." Among the nearby buildings and spaces depicted, some in various states of destruction and construction, include the old City Hall, the old County Building, the Justice Building, Butterworth Hospital, the Pantlind Hotel, Campau Square and Calder Plaza. Also included are images of President Kennedy’s visit in the fall of 1960.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were donated by Lawrence H. Case; 2002.023
Processing Information
The slides were originally stored in seven labeled Bell & Howell Slide Cube Cartridges and were rehoused into archival boxes during processing.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Lawrence Case Urban Renewal Slides
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Robby Peters
- Date
- 2025-11
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
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