Zonta Open House
Thursday, February 9, 7-9:30PM
Zonta is celebrating 90 years with an open house at at the Hope Network Education Facility, 775-755 36 SE at Eastern.
Zonta is the only international organization focused on advancing the political, economic, social and educational status of women and girls worldwide.
RSVP to Cindy McMillan at ckmbakk@gmail.com or call 616/481-3394.
For more information see the flyer below.
More Information (PDF) “Jesse Buttrick Davis and ‘His Boys’: A History of the Early Grand Rapids Junior Chamber of Commerce”
Thursday, February 9, 7PM
“Jesse Buttrick Davis and ‘His Boys’: A History of the Early Grand Rapids Junior Chamber of Commerce”: by Nan Schichtel, Grand Rapids Community College. Davis was a prominent educational and civic leader during the 19-teens.
Location: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
A Grand Rapids Historical Society Program. Click here for more information.
Dutch Immigrant Women and Their Work in Grand Rapids, 1880-1900
Thursday, February 16, 1:30-2:30PM
Among the many nationalities that settled in Grand Rapids, the Dutch were well represented. Underrepresented is the history of the Dutch women. Many immigrant women are subordinated in
the records as wives and daughters; but in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, among the 10,640 immigrants from the province of Groningen alone were 791 single women, unmarried or widowed. Who were these women and what work did they engage in? Born in the Netherlands herself, Janet Sheeres has been able to search Dutch sources about the plight of women
and their occupations in the Netherlands and to follow them to Grand Rapids. What were conditions like for them in their new homeland? Finally, Sheeres will reflect on how first-generation immigrant Dutch women contributed to their new community as well as what hindered them from engaging fully in the American culture.
Janet Sjaarda Sheeres has been president of the Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies, chair of the Christian Reformed Church Historical Committee, and is the associate editor of Origins, the historical magazine of Calvin College’s Heritage Hall Archives. Besides publishing dozens of articles, Sheeres has presented talks dozens more times on Dutch historical and genealogical topics. Her book Son of Secession: Douwe J. Vander Werp rescues a founding father of the Michigan Dutch community from obscurity. Sheeres' presentation will do the same for thousands of ordinary Dutch women.
Location: Calvin College Chapel Choir Room
Free and open to the public. Please call 616/526-8777 or call@calvin.edu if you plan to attend.
Blandford Nature Center to Host Open House for Mary Jane Dockeray
Saturday, March 3, 1-5PM
Blandford Nature Center is holding an Open House in honor of the 85th Birthday of Mary Jane Dockeray, the founder. On Saturday, March 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., visitors will have the opportunity to greet Mary Jane, have a piece of free birthday cake, preview a new film profiling Mary Jane and the founding and operation of the Center (shown at 1, 2, 3, & 4 p.m.) and give a gift to the Blandford Nature Center endowment fund in Mary Jane's honor. There's no greater tribute to this incredible woman, or a greater gift to her than to ensure the Nature Center's future by a gift to the new endowment fund. That day coincides with the opening of Sugarbush and tours will be available for a small fee. All are welcome.
Read more about Mary Jane's accomplishments on our website at http://www.ggrwhc.org/proj-twelvewomen-dockeray.php
Ladyfest Grand Rapids
Saturday, March 3, 4PM
On March 3rd, 2012 the Pyramid Scheme will be hosting the first Do It Yourself showcase of women's art, music, and performance to take place in Grand Rapids in over 6 years. We are proud to be a part of organizing this event, which has been named LadyfestGR, in solidarity with other Ladyfests that have been taking place around the world since 2000.
Our goal is to put together some of the best workshops, vendors, variety show style performers, and a music showcase of local, regional, and national acts. All performers will be self-identified female in an effort to celebrate the abilities of women in many different media. Proceeds will benefit the Grand Rapids chapter of the National Organization for Women (http://nowgr.org/).
For more information email LadyfestGR@gmail.com or call 616/826-2987.
“WWI, Women, and the Rise of Grand Rapids Farmers Markets”
Thursday, March 8, 7:00PM
“WWI, Women, and the Rise of Grand Rapids Farmers Markets”
by Jayson Otto, Michigan State University
7:00pm, Thursday, March 8th, 2012
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Free & Open to the Public
Based on his thesis on civic agriculture and the institution of farmers' markets in Grand Rapids prior to 1920, Jayson Otto will tell the story of politicized urban women on city committees who organized the fight for fresh foods in the city.
Part I of the Women's History Month Events sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council.
“Women of the Ridge: Handling the Business and Politics of West Michigan Agriculture”
Thursday, March 22, 7:00PM
by Cindy Laug, Grand Valley State University
7:00pm, Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Free & Open to the Public
From the Peach Ridge Fruit Growers Association, formed in 1928, to Women for the Survival of Agriculture in Michigan, organized in 1972, West Michigan women have overseen the business of marketing fruit and picketing price-gougers. Meet some of the players after Cindy Laug’s fascinating presentation!
Part II of the Women's History Month Events sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council.
Discovering Merze Tate: How to Uncover the Hidden Treasures of Your Archives and Bring them to Life
Thursday, March 22, 4PM
Ms. Bernard-Hollins will talk about her search for information on African American graduates of WMU and how she discovered Merze Tate, a 1927 graduate of WMU and donor to the University. Her original sources research include archives in public and university libraries, private collections, media outlets and oral histories.
Humanities Center, Western Michigan University
More Information (PDF) Women's History Month Finale!
Thursday, March 29, 5:00PM
A book launch with authors Jaye Beeler & Dianne Carroll Burdick
Tasting and Touring Michigan's Homegrown Food: A Culinary Road Trip
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
5:00: Hors d'oeuvres & wine ticket bar ($5/glass); 5:30 pm: program
Women's City Club, Lower level auditorium, 254 Fulton Street
Free & Open to the Public
Writer Jaye Beeler and photographer Dianne Carroll Burdick will bring us into the present when we celebrate their new book! Traveling 2000 miles over the course of a year, they met dozens of enterprising women farmers and producers whose stories continue to squash myths that only men are farmers!
Part III of the Women's History Month Events sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council.
“Digging into the Civil War at the Public Museum,”
Thursday, April 12, 7PM
“Digging into the Civil War at the Public Museum,” a visit co-sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Civil War Roundtable
Location: Grand Rapids Public Museum
A Grand Rapids Historical Society program. Click here for more information.
