Skip to main content

Grand Rapids (Mich.) -- History

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Found in 388 Collections and/or Records:

Widdicomb Company and John Widdicomb Company records

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 017
Abstract The Widdicomb Company records include correspondence, papers, account books, a few photographs and miscellaneous materials of the various companies associated with the Grand Rapids, Michigan based Widdicomb family furniture companies. The papers in this collection illustrate the every day business of the various companies from 1865 to 1951. In addition, there are some records pertaining to the Halladay Lumber Co., of which Harry Widdicomb was part-owner. The earliest Widdicomb...
Dates: 1854-1951

William Albert Johnson papers

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 026
Abstract William Albert Johnson (1909-1994) was a Grand Rapids, Michigan policeman and local politician. Johnson became a patrolman in the Grand Rapids Police Department in 1940. After serving in the Marine Corps during World War II he returned to his old job in Grand Rapids, rising through the ranks to police chief. After retirement, he served on the Grand Rapids Charter Commission and as a city commissioner from the First Ward. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper...
Dates: 1936-1979

William Alden Smith papers at the Grand Rapids Public Library

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 282
Abstract William Alden Smith (1859-1932) was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. He was also a lawyer and businessman active in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Smith is known for being in charge of the United State's investigation into the sinking of the Titanic. This is a small, devised collection bringing together miscellaneous accessions and found materials related to Smith. The bulk of the collection are scrapbooks with national news clippings and telegrams of...
Dates: no date

William Bennett Grand Rapids Kiwanis Club scrapbooks

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 312
Abstract The William Bennett Grand Rapids Kiwanis Club scrapbooks provide documentation of that organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan from its local founding in 1916 to 1993. These are not the official files of the organization, and there do not appear to be comprehensive sets of minutes or other key files of the organization here. However, the scrapbooks contain a variety of information about the local Kiwanis, such as programs, news clippings, photographs, biographies of presidents, rosters of...
Dates: 1916-1993

William Hill images of Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 346
Abstract

William Hill is a photographer in Grand Rapids, Michigan who documented the installation of Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse. The collection includes color slides showing the construction of the sculpture on the plaza at Vandenberg Center and the dedication ceremony. Also included is information relating to the Big Red Thing project at Grand Valley State University (circa 2007) and some biographical information on Hill.

Dates: circa June 1969

William L. Bennett collection

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 298
Abstract William L. Bennett (1912-2006) was an historian from the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. This collection includes historical materials he collected or created, primarily including photographs taken from albums, but also scrapbooks, ephemera and reference documents. Also included is a copy of his publication “Memories of East Grand Rapids, 1834-1982.” The bulk of this collection are the photographs. Bennett was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Rapids, among his other activities. His...
Dates: no date

William M. Glenn papers

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 049
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...
Dates: 1903-1986

William Ryland slides

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 442
Dates: Majority of material found within 1976 - 1980; 1973 - 1980

Wilson and Seydel Family papers

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 497
Abstract The Wilson and Seydel family papers contain material related to William Wallace Wilson (1899-1997) and Frances Louise Seydel Wilson (1901-1995) and their families. William’s father, S.H. Wilson, is well known for platting and developing Wyoming Park, Michigan. These papers include plat maps of the areas he developed, real estate advertisements, business records, correspondence, ephemera, and photographs. William Wilson graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School in 1916. A portion of the...
Dates: 1850 - 1991