Abstract

The David G. Winter papers contain material on racial imbalance in schools in mid-century Grand Rapids, Michigan. Researchers of Civil Rights, segregation in education, neighborhoods, and the history of public schools in Grand Rapids would find this collection helpful. for Included are official reports, a dissertation, a photograph, maps, and articles by other researchers and the donor.

Abstract The Grand Rapids Public Library underground newspapers collection is a devised collection which documents a genre of newspapers held in the Grand Rapids Public Library Archives. These Michigan underground newspapers share a time period in history from 1969 to 1973, during a time of civil unrest in the United States. In most cases only sample items are available, while for the title “Root”, several issues are included, though it is believed that this is not a complete run of the title. These...

Abstract Helen Jackson Claytor (1907-2005) was the first African-American president of the national YWCA. She lived much of her life in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Claytor sought to bring equal rights to women, children, widowed persons and orphans, and advocated for rights to justice, housing, education, health and death with dignity, as well as freedom from racial and other prejudices. Locally, Claytor was the first African-American president of the Grand Rapids YWCA and, among other...

Abstract Paul I. Phillips (1914-1976) was an African American community services leader of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This collection contains news clippings, writings, speeches, memorabilia and biographical information on Phillips. Phillips came to Grand Rapids in 1946 to work for the Borough Community Association of Grand Rapids. Working with the board, he affiliated this organization with the National Urban League. Phillips served as executive secretary/director for the Grand Rapids Urban...

Abstract William Melbourne Glenn (1903-1986) was a local political activist. Glenn began his activism in 1941, becoming the first African American hired at Hayes Manufacturing Company in Grand Rapids. Glenn was active in a number of organizations, including the Grand Rapids chapter of the NAACP, the Grand Rapids Urban League, the Family Service Agency, Planned Parenthood, Young and Old United, Concerned Senior Citizens, XYZ Senior Citizens Center and Senior Neighbors, Inc. In 1971, the Western...