Abstract Marius Rooks was a commercial photographer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This collection contains 25 color images of the interior of the 1888 City Hall building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The images were taken shortly before its destruction during urban renewal in 1969. Also included are photographs of the circa 1885 architectural drawings by the architect, E.E. Myers (see collection 222 for the blueprints). The demolition of this building, near the end of the urban renewal phase in...

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Mary Richmond Kendall (1843-1918) was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of William Almy Richmond and Lorraine Page Richmond, prominent citizens of Grand Rapids. The bulk of her collection consists of photographs of her family members, ca. 1858-1892. Also noteworthy in the collection are interior photos of the Morton House (hotel), Grand Rapids, ca. 1884. Also included are photographs of "Heartsease," Mary Kendall's home in Hollywood, California, ca. 1913.

Abstract The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) photograph collection contains photographs of buildings in Grand Rapids, Michigan shortly before they were demolished for the construction of US 131 and I 196 expressways (1960-1962). This is only a sampling of the buildings that were razed, not a complete documentation. The images in the collection are copies taken from original negatives held by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Accompanying the images are photocopies of maps which...

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This collection of slides documents the building of the new Palmer School from 1953-1954. Included are images of the construction of the school, classrooms, teachers, and events surrounding the dedication of the building.

Abstract A Pictorial History of Grand Rapids is a book published by Lynn G. Mapes and Anthony Travis in 1976. The book details the social history and development of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This collection includes photographs copied from various sources that document the metropolitan Grand Rapids area. Included are views of the city from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as images taken in 1975. The images depict street scenes, activities, churches, trucks, streetcars, theaters and churches. They focus on...

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Pitsch Companies is a Grand Rapids, Michigan based demolition, salvage and land development company. This collection includes images taken by Pitsch staff at sites where the firm was involved in the demolition of structures. The images are for scattered or unidentified locations, primarily in Grand Rapids, Michigan where the firm is based, but also for other Michigan cities.

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The Robert Imhoff negatives collection includes over 1400 negatives and prints related to the Grand Rapids Fire Department from about 1950-1980. Included are images of fire stations, fire engines, firemen and Grand Rapids Fire Department staff, fire prevention weeks, and fires at local homes and businesses.

Abstract Robert Veit (1920-1987) served the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Fire Department for forty years, beginning in 1944. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1948, Captain in 1949, District Chief in 1952, Deputy Chief in 1961 and Chief in 1967. He retired in 1984. This collection consists of photographs, 1927-1983, depicting fires and other disasters (such as tornadoes), which required the aid of the Grand Rapids Fire Department. Also included are images of fire department equipment, personnel and...

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The collection consists of images owned by librarian Roger Patterson who worked in the Grand Rapids Public library from the 1960s through the 1980s. The presence of descriptive tags for some of the photos as well as construction paper lettering imply the images were used in displays in branches of the Grand Rapids Public Library. The images are primarily of Grand Rapid's West Side and include churches, parks, bridges, and private and public buildings.

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The Seven family immigrated from the Netherlands to Grand Rapids, Michigan circa 1880. Family members operated several businesses, including the John Seven Paint & Wallpaper Co. (later Seven's Paint & Wallpaper). The collection includes 66 4x5 glass plate negatives depicting Grand Rapids, Michigan area views, Grand River flood views and images of Seven family members, homes and businesses, primarily on the West Side.