Abstract Lyman S. Parks (1917-2009) was the mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1971 to 1976. He was the first African American to serve as mayor in Grand Rapids and was also the first African American elected as city commissioner. This collection was created by staff of the local history department at the Grand Rapids Public Library in anticipation of Park's retirement and recognition banquet on May 2, 1986. The collection contains Grand Rapids Press newspaper clippings, correspondence,...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Subject content of this generic collection is broad and constantly changing with new accessions. Included is a variety of subject matter from the AFL-CIO News to a small, local publication featuring poems and short stories about cats. Some issues are kept for a particular article about Grand Rapids, though the title may be generally out of scope. One example of this is “Fortune” magazine, an issue of which has been kept for an article on Great Lakes shipping, but is not a Grand...

Abstract Dr. Pearl Kendrick (1890-1980) and Dr. Grace Eldering (1901-1988) are credited with the development of a vaccine for whooping cough. This work was done while both were employed at the Michigan Department of Health, working in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is a devised collection which includes several accessions of materials related to their research. The collection includes biographical information, articles, photographs and some research documents. A photograph album compiled by...

Abstract

The New Hope Baptist Church was founded in Grand Rapids, Mich. in 1934 and today is a large and popular church with over 800 members. The Church leadership and congregation is primarily African American. The New Hope Baptist Church is very involved in the Grand Rapids, Mich. community and offer a wide range of community outreach services. The pastor of the Church as of this writing is Rev. Howard Earle Jr.

Abstract

Paul Collins (b. 1936) is an American realist painter who resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The collection includes biographical information, newspaper clippings and photographs of Collins as well as exhibit catalogs, ephemera and books illustrated by Collins. Additionally, there are several original art works by Paul Collins in the Grand Rapids Public Library art holdings. This collection would be of particular interest to those researching African American artists.

Abstract The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. is the largest historically African-American Catholic lay organization in the United States. The Order is named for St. Peter Claver, the Spanish Priest who ministered to enslaved people from Africa. The Order was founded in Mobile, Alabama and is presently headquartered in New Orleans. Both Cynthia Bailey and Teresa Lamarr, members of The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, donated material for the collection and Teresa was instrumental...