Abstract The Christian Meyer (Meijer) postcards is a small collection of 65 postcards, most of which were sent in 1912/1913 by Chris Meyer, along with his traveling companion Jurien Kuiper, back to the Meijer family in Leiden, Netherlands. The postcards document the immigration of these two young men to the United States and to Grand Rapids, Michigan. They provide a glimpse into the life changing experience of immigrating to a new country and a new life. The cards depict scenes from Hoboken, New...

Abstract Community Voices is a project at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan that aims to teach students to listen and carefully record life stories from the Grand Rapids community. This is an oral history collection of numerous interviews and video productions from various Calvin College classes. Each series is composed of the particular output from a class that participated in the project. Each class produced oral histories or a video production of community residents in the city of Grand...

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Eduard Adam Skendzel (1921-1999) was a linguist and historian from Grand Rapids, Michigan. His research focused on the history of the Polish community and the Roman Catholic church. This collection focuses on the Polish community in Grand Rapids and southwest Michigan, including churches associated with the Polish community. Included are Skendzel's own writings, his research notes, other reference titles, 84 oral histories and some original documents. Some of the material is in Polish.

Abstract The Edward V. Gillis Growing Up in Old Lithuanian Town Collection contains 200 photographs or copy photos of illustrations collected by Gillis over several years, from the Lithuanian community in Grand Rapids, Michigan of which he was a part. Accompanying the photos is descriptive information that Gillis, born Edvardus Bartholomeus Vikoras Gylys (1920-1999), gathered along with the photographs. Several of the photographs were used in his book “Growing Up in Old Lithuanian Town”, published by...

Abstract This devised collection contains oral histories of Grand Rapids, Michigan Hispanic immigrants, coming from a variety of Spanish speaking countries. The interviews were conducted by various individuals, through several different forums. Several of the interviews were conducted by college students of Calvin College or Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Audio tapes and some form of transcriptions are available in most cases. Also, ancillary data, photographs, student interviewer essays...

Abstract The Hattem family owned and operated Hattem's Cafe in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Moses Hattem was the proprietor and Maxine, his wife, played the organ at the restaurant. The property, at the corner of Division Street and Wealthy, was originally acquired by Moses' father, Deeb Hattem, who came to the United States from Lebanon. This collection includes advertising material, ephemera, photographs and documents relating to Hattem's Cafe, as well as a few family papers and items relating to the...

Abstract Hellenic Horizons was incorporated in 1979 to celebrate Greek heritage in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The group produced an exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, "Greek-American Family: Continuity through Change", and a booklet, "Grand Rapids Greek Heritage." This collection includes historical images gathered for the projects, as well as project files, oral histories and ephemera. Some material also represents the larger Michigan Greek community. Records from Hellenic Horizons date from...

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The Van Malsen family emigrated from the Netherlands to Grand Rapids, Michigan around 1900. This collection includes photographs, diplomas, religious articles and photograph albums collected by Joan Van Malsen. The photographs are mainly of the Van Malsen, Bradford, Luttel and VanderWall families.

Abstract

This collection includes materials gathered to document the Latin American community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It includes newspaper clippings, photographs and oral histories. The material documents area Latino culture, work, family life and some festival celebrations. Also included are histories of the Latin American community and population data.

Abstract The Lipczynski family immigrated to Grand Rapids, Michigan from Poland in the 19th century. They were the first Polish family to settle east of the Grand River. John Lipczynski was part owner of a pottery works and Valeria Lipczynski was a correspondent for Polish newspapers and was active in helping other immigrants find homes and jobs. In 2011, Valeria was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. This is a small collection including family photographs, an ad for the...