Women's Way Ribbon Cutting: Molly Ortiz Blakely
2021-09-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Sanchez Bistro Alley, 38 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join the Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, the City of Grand Rapids, Lions & Rabbits and numerous community partners in a celebration of the Women’s Way Murals. Every Wednesday in September we will be holding a ribbon cutting to feature each completed Women’s Way Mural in downtown Grand Rapids. Along with the ribbon cutting these events will also include local artist performances, a video on the background of the women of the murals, and time to mingle with food and drinks!
On Wednesday, September 15th from 7pm to 8pm we will be celebrating the Molly Ortiz Blakely mural located in the alley next to Sanchez Bistro.
Maurilia Ortiz Blakely (1928 – 2015)
Maurilia Ortiz Blakely was a role model, a champion for minority women’s rights, an activist for the poor and an advocate for higher education.
Orphaned at an early age, her maternal aunt raised her to have great respect for their Mexican heritage and to help the less fortunate. A divorced working mother of five, Blakely was a force in her community and helped organize Grand Rapids’ first Mexican Festival in 1970.
After graduating from college with a degree in Social Work at age 51, she assisted Latinx students, women, migrants, the homeless, and the unemployed and helped to establish the Hispanic Institute. Among her many honors was a Grand Rapids Lifetime Achievement Award.
“This portrait of Maurilia “Molly” Ortiz Blakely intends to depict her strength as a woman, her humility and the pride she had for her culture, family and community. I was inspired by her ability to command respect while encouraging love as well as her perseverance to help others reach for the stars.” Statement by Artist Arturo Romero.
The Women’s Way Initiative aspires to elevate the historical narratives of exceptional local leaders while adding new energy and creative interest to often-overlooked public places. The initiative also boldly endeavors to acknowledge the complicated history of women in alleyways and help claim positive ownership of these spaces. Organized by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, the City of Grand Rapids, Lions & Rabbits and numerous community partners.

Women's Way Ribbon Cutting: Ethel B. Coe
2021-09-22 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | 20 Monroe Live Alley, 11 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join the Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, the City of Grand Rapids, Lions & Rabbits and numerous community partners in a celebration of the Women’s Way Murals. Every Wednesday in September we will be holding a ribbon cutting to feature each completed Women’s Way Mural in downtown Grand Rapids. Along with the ribbon cutting these events will also include local artist performances, a video on the background of the women of the murals, and time to mingle with food and drinks!
On Wednesday, September 22nd from 7pm to 8pm we will be celebrating the Ethel B. Coe in the 20 Monroe Live alley.

Ethel B. Coe (1899-1988)
Ethel B. Coe was born in Virginia in 1899 – 30 years after the Civil War – and moved to Grand Rapids at age eight. Coe won a civil rights case while attending South High School after she was refused service at a local ice cream parlor. Throughout her life, Coe was active in the NAACP, Urban League, Family Life Council and many other clubs. At the age of 68, Coe traveled the U.S. and abroad as a volunteer teaching English to Latino and Vietnamese children. She was also a singer and actress who performed for more than 40 years in venues like Civic Theatre and St. Cecilia Music Society.
“This portrait, titled ‘The Amazing Coe,’ represents the balance of society and creativity. As a sign of hope for all creators, the portrait serves as a beacon in the present and future times. This comic book technique shows Coe as the hero she is, and the descriptive words provide action, fitting her activist lifestyle.” – Statement by Artist Esan Sommersell.
The Women’s Way Initiative aspires to elevate the historical narratives of exceptional local leaders while adding new energy and creative interest to often-overlooked public places. The initiative also boldly endeavors to acknowledge the complicated history of women in alleyways and help claim positive ownership of these spaces. Organized by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, the City of Grand Rapids, Lions & Rabbits and numerous community partners.

32nd Annual ATHENA Awards Celebration
2021-09-29 15:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | JW Marriott Grand Rapids: International Ballroom
Join the Grand Rapids Women’s Hisotry Council and the Grand Rapids Chamber in celebrating all of the 2021 ATHENA Award Finalists including GGRWHC’s own Jo Ellyn Clarey who will be the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient!

The celebration event will take place on Wednesday, September 29th from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm. To learn more and register for this event follow this link: https://www.grandrapids.org/event/athena-awards/…

The GGRWHC has benefited and thrived through Jo Ellyn’s work and guidance and we would like to share what the Grand Rapids Chamber had to say about her legacy in leadership:

“Jo Ellyn served the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council for nearly 30 years where she researched and credited early area women as community builders. She is a literary scholar by profession and has done extensive research tracking down local roots of early women professionals, leaders of the Michigan suffrage movement, cultural historian Constance Rourke, and 1890s African American women’s clubs.

Besides serving on the boards of the Grand Rapids Historical Society and Commission, her service extends to the Progressive Women’s Alliance, Torch Club, and local theaters. In 1999, she was awarded the Baxter Award in Local History by the Grand Rapids Historical Society. In 2018 she received the Gordon Olson Award in local history presented by GVSU’s Kutsche Office of Local History for ‘using history to give voice to diverse communities.'”

More about the ATHENA Leadership Award: ATHENA Grand Rapids, a program of the Grand Rapids Chamber, supports, develops, and inspires women leaders as well as honors the men and women who empower women in leadership. The program offers the ATHENA Award and ATHENA Young Professional Award, annual scholarships to women over 30, and bi-monthly leadership forums.

Women's Way Ribbon Cutting: Grand Rapids Chicks
2021-09-29 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Auto Fixit/Garage Bar alley, 805 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join the Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, the City of Grand Rapids, Lions & Rabbits and numerous community partners in a celebration of the Women’s Way Murals. Every Wednesday in September we will be holding a ribbon cutting to feature each completed Women’s Way Mural in downtown Grand Rapids. Along with the ribbon cutting these events will also include local artist performances, a video on the background of the women of the murals, and time to mingle with food and drinks!

On Wednesday, September 29th from 7pm to 8pm we will be celebrating the Grand Rapids Chicks mural located in the alley off Newberry St. NW behind Auto Fixit Body Shop.
Grand Rapids Chicks (1945 – 1954)
The All American Girls Professional Baseball League organized during World War II and fielded ten popular teams in the Midwest. The 600 women players suffered the rigors of the road as well as charm school, played in lipstick and slid into base in short skirts. The Grand Rapids Chicks played from 1945 to 1954, consistently appeared in the playoffs and won two championships. Their trading cards circulate again today because players, ignored by baseball history, took matters into their own hands and formed an association in the 1980s. Their efforts inspired the 1992 film A League of Their Own.
“This team is a local example of women’s perseverance through the hardships of World War II. Their story is about pushing through societal expectations towards the women who pioneered all-female teams in sports. Young women and men need to see female athletes from the past as they were — pioneers in the realm of professional athleticism that pushed through the obstacles they faced.” Statement by Artist Michi Farias.
The Women’s Way Initiative aspires to elevate the historical narratives of exceptional local leaders while adding new energy and creative interest to often-overlooked public places. The initiative also boldly endeavors to acknowledge the complicated history of women in alleyways and help claim positive ownership of these spaces. Organized by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, the City of Grand Rapids, Lions & Rabbits and numerous community partners.

Grand Rapids Time Traveler Series: The Restoration Boom - Preservation & Change in 1980s Grand Rapids
2021-10-29 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
GRAND RAPIDS TIME TRAVELER SERIES
The Restoration Boom: Preservation & Change in 1980s Grand Rapids
Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 10:30 – 11:30 am EDT
Register to receive login details
Join GVSU’s Kutsche Office of Local History to learn about the Restoration Boom in Grand Rapids and the preservation and change that came out of the 1980’s. The 1980s kicked off a transformation and revitalization of downtown Grand Rapids, motivating historic building restoration and inspiring new construction. A combination of urban reinvestment and a growing interest in historic restoration changed the city’s landscape and helped restore many older buildings to their historic state. Pamela VanderPloeg, architectural historian, educator, and administrator of ArchitectureGrandRapids.org, will share buildings’ stories from this era. This will include many photographs and primary research materials to help illustrate the changes the 1980s brought to Grand Rapids.

History Detectives Virtual Program Launch
2022-01-22 | Virtual Event
History Detectives 2022 will be launching their new Youtube Channel on January 22, 2022!
Eight pre-recorded programs ranging from the shores of lake Michigan through Grand Rapids to the statewide library in Lansing! You will be able to view these programs starting January 22, 2022 at whatever time is convenient to you!
To learn more about this new virtual programing visit the History Detective webpage here: https://historydetectivesgr.org/
Until then, here are the program descriptions that you can look forward to on January 22nd!

1. House History 101: Learning how to research the background of your home
Heather Edwards
Sponsor: Grand Rapids Public Library
Many people want to know more about the place they invest their time and energy, the place they relax and feel safe — their home. It can be difficult to find out brick-and-mortar details, especially if your home was not designed by a well-known builder or architect. But there is so much more to learn about the history of your home beyond the era in which it was built, and the Grand Rapids Public Library has a wealth of resources that help you do just that. In this presentation, you’ll learn about the resources available to you as you begin your own house research.
Key Resources: Grand Rapids Public Library: Betty Gibout Real Estate Listing Slip, Plat Maps, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
2. A Record of Crime: Exploring the Data and Stories behind the Mugshots
Matthew Ellis
Sponsor: Grand Rapids City Archives and Research Center
From violating prohibition to bombing a theater, the crimes within the Grand Rapids City Archives and Records Center’s collection of mugshots and police records preserve the stories of those not often told. This program will explore the materials that make up the collection, provide an overview of the insightful data available, and give examples of the research made possible by these sources. The materials range from the late 1800s to the late 1930s, encompassing court records, turnkey logs, newspaper clippings, fingerprint cards, and the often-haunting photographs of the individuals arrested. While acknowledging the often-tragic stories of the offenders, and their victims, these sources provide an often-overlooked lens into the record of crime in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Key Resources: City Archives: Mugshot Book, volume 4, Fingerprint Card Collection, Turnkey Log, Police Court Proceedings; Grand Rapids Public Museum: Mugshot Book, volume 1, Police Records; Grand Rapids Public Library: Newspapers; Other: State of Michigan, NARA, Newspaper/GeneologyBank
3. Becoming a Home for All: LGBTQ Tourism in West Michigan
G. Angel, PhD Student in Indiana University Bloomington’s Gender Studies Department
Sponsor: Kutsche Office of Local History
In 1962, The Blue Tempo bar opened in the West Michigan beach town of Saugatuck. It was one of the first gay bars in the region, at a time when state liquor laws prohibited serving gay customers. The Blue Tempo’s opening helped solidify this part of West Michigan as a “home for all,” notably the LGBTQ community. G. Angel, will discuss the flourishing of the local LGBTQ community during the 1960-70s. This presentation draws on research collected for the “Stories of Summer” project by the Kutsche Office in partnership with the Saugatuck Douglas History Center.
Key Resources: Digitized interviews, images, documents are available through the “Stories of Summer” archive found here: https://www.gvsu.edu/kutsche/stories-of-summer-32.htm
4. Team Photo at the Grand Rapids Public Museum Sampler
Gina Bivins for Team Photo
Sponsor: Grand Rapids Historical Society and Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum has thousands of photographs in their archives. Team Photo volunteers work on cataloging them, by scanning, identifying the “who, what, where, and when,” adding a geolocation if known, and uploading the images for viewing online by the general public. Each Team Photo member selected images that “spoke to,” delighted, or perhaps, frustrated them. Join us to learn about GRPM’s collections, enjoy the images of our town, and maybe even help us tell “the rest of the story.” These sampler images are from the full Nov. 2021 program which is available on the Historical Society’s YouTube channel.
Key Resources: Grand Rapids Public Museum Digital Collections Search: https://grpmcollections.org/Search/advanced/objects; Grand Rapids Historical Society website: http://www.grhistory.org/; Grand Rapids Historical Society Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandRapidsHistoricalSociety/; Grand Rapids Historical Society YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOJCAI-JlwYEia3f5yIE86w
5. Researching the Other Side of the Story Using Historical Black Newspapers
Christine Byron and George Bayard
Sponsors: Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives and Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Interested in digging for information on national, state, and local African American topics, people, places, or organizations? Much information is hidden, under-reported or distorted in the usual research sources. Using the Historical Black Newspapers database at the Grand Rapids Public Library, George Bayard (Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives) and Christine Byron (Grand Rapids Historical Commission) will give examples of some of the treasures they have unearthed. Topics will include Negro League Baseball, the Keith Theatre incident in Grand Rapids, and Michigan places in the Green Book.
Key Resource: Proquest Historical Newspapers: Black Newspaper Collection at the Grand Rapids Public Library
6. Unearthing an Army of Women: Diversity in Our WWI Women’s Registration Cards
Ruth Stevens, Sophia Brewer, Andrea Riley Mukavetz, and Sue Thoms
Sponsor: Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council
Our cadre of researchers will dig historical nuggets out of an astonishing new resource. Collected in 1918, Kent County’s 23,000 WWI women’s registration cards are available on a searchable database, ready to reveal the diversity of women volunteers who crossed class, religious, racial, and ethnic boundaries to create, inadvertently, a mine of treasures not limited to Grand Rapids. Sociological, historical, and geographic veins remain largely unexplored. We will highlight individuals and clusters of African American, Native American, and working women to illustrate what the cards can provide state- and nation-wide researchers; as well as fascinating tips on searching: “journalist” was not used, but “Indian” was. Tune in to explore the skills, held or desired, of a forgotten front line.
Key Resource: Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense, Grand Rapids, Michigan Unit Records, the card database itself: https://digital.grpl.org/Browse/Objects/facet/collection_facet/id/171/view/images; the direct link to advanced searching: https://digital.grpl.org/Search/advanced/regcard; and Grand Rapids Public Library Collection 174, the broader collection: https://www.grpl.org/uploads/grhsc/174.pdf
7. The Legacy of Lamberton Lake
Don Bryant
Sponsor: Western Michigan Genealogical Society
Lamberton Lake, the creek, and springs all comprise a unique ecosystem in north Grand Rapids. Be acquainted with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan and its most urban nature preserve. Get to know the families that developed the land from the 1860s thru to the mid 20th century in that northernmost area of Grand Rapids Township. Learn the secrets found in old newspaper articles; personal interviews will focus on tragic as well as inspirational events. Participants will learn of the early natural resources, farms, business enterprises, recreational opportunities, and even women’s history connected to Lamberton Lake that were important to Grand Rapids’ development as a great place to live.
Key resources:
Grand Rapids Press (www.michigan.gov/familyhistory)
Lamberton Lake Area Association (private files covering three decades) Atlas / Maps – especially from 1863, 1873, 1894, & 1907
Land Conservancy of West Michigan
Local Census and family records from Ancestry.com Familysearch.org
8. Discovering our State with the Resources of the Library of Michigan
Tim Gleisner
Sponsor: Library of Michigan
Discover the history of Grand Rapids and Michigan with the wealth of resources at the Library of Michigan. In this program learn all of the online research tools that are available to any resident of Michigan. In this program learn not only what is on offer at the State Library, but also how to access these tools from your own home.
Key Resources: Databases and online resources available at the Library of Michigan

Book Discussion: Elly Peterson: "Mother" of the Moderates
2022-03-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Detroit) | Virtual Event
In collaboration with the History Detectives GR Reading Series, join us via Zoom for a book discussion celebrating Women’s History Month and the 50th anniversary of the nationwide ERA campaign!

GGRWHC Annual Meeting and Program
2022-05-09 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Detroit) | Virtual Event
Following a brief annual meeting, we’ll celebrate the year’s accomplishments and look ahead to next year with a program featuring:

The Women’s Way Murals – Jo Ellyn Clarey will share the story of GGRWHC’s pivotal role in the murals of local women that now grace five alleyways downtown.
Unearthing an Army of Women: Diversity in our WWI Women’s Registration Cards – Sophia Brewer will share highlights from the GGRWHC program that brought to light women of diverse talents and backgrounds who came forward to support the WWI effort.
A sneak peek at programming for 2022-2023. Former City Commissioner and GGRWHC co-founder, Mary Alice Williams will share her path to activism and public service and help set the stage for 2022-2023 GGRWHC programming celebrating women’s efforts in support of equal rights and other social justice issues.

Join us on Zoom: https://gvsu-edu.zoom.us/j/97475565712?pwd=[REDACTED]

"An Army of Women:” A Diverse Midwest in World War I Women’s Registration Cards
2022-05-19 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Detroit) | Pew Campus, Grand Valley State University, 401 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
Part of the 2022 Midwestern History Conference, please register (free) to attend.
*Session begins at 10:20 AM
Chair: Robert Franciosi, Grand Valley State University
Panelists:

The Importance of the Midwest and a Survey of Race and Ethnicity
Jo Ellyn Clarey, Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council
A Close Look at African American Women Outside a Major Urban Center
Sophia Ward Brewer, Grand Rapids Community College
The Personal Lives of Professional Women
Ruth Van Stee, Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council

Hollyhock Lane 4th of July Parade
2022-07-04 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit) | Ottawa Hills neighborhood, Grand Rapids, MI
Annual Ottawa Hills Hollyhock Lane 4th of July Parade. You are invited to join us as we continue the tradition of marching in the Hollyhock Parade.
Meet us at the corner of Calvin and Alexander at 8 AM and join the fun with bands, bicyclists, candy, and placards. To quote a past participant: this event is “oddly exhilarating!”

Women's Equality Day
2022-08-26
Women’s Equality Day – details to follow.

50 Years Later: A Look Back at the Fight Over the ERA in Grand Rapids
2023-01-21 09:30 - 10:30 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
After the passage of the 19th Amendment, a broader Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) for women was introduced in Congress. Nora Salas and Ruth Stevens will provide a local perspective on the political tempest generated by the seemingly straightforward language of the ERA with an eye to how the debate over the ERA has relevance today.
This talk is part of History Detectives, see the full lineup of presentations here: 2023 Programs – History Detectives GR

The Second Surge: Women Running for Public Office in the 1970s
2023-03-15 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Detroit) | St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Speaker: Jo Ellyn Clarey
Suddenly in the seventies, Kent County women broke through a barrier that had limited their runs for public office mostly to local school board races. They ran for virtually every position on local, county, and state levels, as well as for U.S. Congress. Now, in 2023, celebrate women’s spectacular showings in 2022 – and those of women both before us and to come!
March 15, 2023 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
St. Cecilia Music Center
24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503
Event is free and open to the public | Wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres served
RSVP using link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/woman-who-ran-for-public-office-in-grand-rapids-tickets-502652385817

2023 GGRWHC Annual Meeting
2023-04-13 18:15 - 18:45 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Grand Rapids Public Library, VanderVeen Room
Agenda:

President’s Report – Kathleen VanderVeen
Treasurer’s Report – Julie Tabberer, Vice President and Interim Treasurer
Welcome New Board members: Michele Coffill, Andrea Riley Mukavetz and Jeanessa Smith
Renewal of board terms – none
Highlights from the past year
A sneak peek at programming for 2023-2024

The Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters: Serving People on the Margins of Society
2023-04-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Elizabeth Chamberlain, an adjunct professor of history at Aquinas College, will examine the late twentieth-century activism of the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters; the ways in which communities perceived their social justice activism; and the opposition they sometimes faced because of their activism.
Co-sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Society.
Ryerson Auditorium at the Grand Rapids Public Library
Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

Hollyhock Lane 4th of July Parade (2023)
2023-07-04 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit) | Ottawa Hills neighborhood, Grand Rapids, MI
Annual Ottawa Hills Hollyhock Lane 4th of July Parade
You are invited to join us as we continue the tradition of marching in the Hollyhock Parade.
Meet us at the corner of Calvin and Alexander at 8 AM and join the fun with bands, bicyclists, candy, and placards. To quote a past participant: this event is “oddly exhilarating!”

GR History Detectives
2024-01-20 09:30 - 16:00 (America/Detroit) | Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
The GGRWHC is a proud sponsor of this popular event. One day, six programs, one location. The 15th annual History Detectives program will highlight stories of the people who helped shape West Michigan.
Order lunch via Eventbrite.

Japanese "War Brides": Overcoming the Devastation of World War II and Exclusionary Laws to Create a Strong Community in West Michigan
2024-03-14 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Jennifer Tompkins of the Grand Rapids Asia-Pacific Foundation will share the story of the often-overlooked Japanese “War Bride” community in West Michigan, and how its members built a support network that helped the next generation of Japanese brides who arrived during the Vietnam War. Through oral histories, family photographs, and historical records, Tompkins will reveal one of West Michigan’s first Asian communities that, until now, has been hidden in plain sight. As the first Japanese brides of US servicemen arrived in West Michigan in the 1950s, they found themselves isolated in a strange land with strange customs and very little support. Tompkins extensive research reveals how the West Michigan “War Brides” overcame these obstacles to create a thriving community that persists to this day.
Co-sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Society & Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council

Annual Reception, April 16
2024-04-16 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Detroit) | L. William Seidman Center, 50 Front St. SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
Please join the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council for the annual reception:
Tuesday, April 16, 5:30-7 p.m.
L. William Seidman Center, 50 Front St. SW, Grand Rapids
GVSU Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Presentation by GGRWHC Board Member Sophia Brewer, followed by appetizers, beer/wine. Watch for details via newsletter, website, social media.

July 4, 2024 Hollyhock Lane Parade
2024-07-04 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit)
Annual Ottawa Hills Hollyhock Lane July 4th Parade
You are invited to join the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council as we continue the tradition of marching in the Hollyhock Parade, the oldest continuous parade in Michigan.
Meet us at the corner of Calvin and Alexander at 8 a.m. and join the fun with bands, bicyclists, candy and placards.

Who, What, When and Where? The Search for the Story Behind an Iconic Suffrage Poster
2024-10-05 13:30 - 14:30 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Grand Rapids Public Museum holds a precious and iconic image of the women’s suffrage movement: a poster given to newly registered female voters in Grand Rapids in 1919. The poster, decorated in patriotic colors of red, white, and blue, proclaims, “A woman here registered to vote thereby assuming the responsibility of citizenship.”
Join Ruth Stevens, GGRWHC president and retired Grand Valley professor of Legal Studies, as she delves into the backstory behind the poster. Who created and distributed the poster? Why 1919? Who wrote the note on it? Where was “Pantlind’s Garage”? Learn about the genealogical, archival, and other sleuthing tools used to solve this local mystery and the answers revealed by them.

The Negro Leagues, the Detroit Stars and Minnie Forbes
2024-10-08 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Kent District Library – Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW, Wyoming, MI, 49509, United States
From 1956 to 1958, Minnie Forbes owned the Negro League Baseball Team the Detroit Stars. Join George Bayard of the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives to learn more about the Negro Leagues and their local and national impact and enjoy his conversation with Minnie Forbes about her experiences owning the team.

Grand Rapids Champions Women's Rights: The League of Women Voters, Betty Ford, and the ERA
2024-10-17 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Dr. Liette Gidlow of Wayne State University explores the development of the League of Women Voters in Grand Rapids and First Lady Betty Ford’s historic membership during the fight for the ERA.

Save the Date: History Detectives
2025-01-18 09:30 - 16:00 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Museum

GGRWHC Annual Meeting and Reception: A Conversation with Julianne Vanden Wyngaard
2025-03-12 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Detroit) | GVSU, Seidman School of Business, Rm. 1008, 50 Front Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
A conversation with acclaimed carillonist, Jullianne Vanden Wyngaard and Local Historian, Cindy Laug.

125 Years of the YWCA: Helen Claytor, Leader and Activist
2025-03-27 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Join us as Julie Tabberer, a member of the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council and head of the Grand Rapids History Center, shares how Helen Claytor’s leadership and activism transformed the YWCA from a place where women could have lunch together without being escorted by a man to an organization committed to eliminating racism and empowering women and girls.
Michelle Rabideau, YWCA Board President will talk about the YWCA’s mission today and what they have planned for the future. Refreshments and cake will be provided.

125 años del YWCA
Jueves, 27 de marzo de 2025, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Biblioteca Principal – 111 Library St NE
Les invitamos a acompañarnos para escuchar a Julie Tabberer, miembro del Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council (Consejo de la Historia de la Mujer de Grand Rapids) y directora del Grand Rapids History Center (Centro de Historia de Grand Rapids), mientras comparte cómo el liderazgo de Helen Claytor transformó la YWCA de un sitio donde las mujeres pudieron almorzar sin el acompañamiento de un hombre a una organización dedicada a combatir el racismo y empoderar a las mujeres y las niñas.
El personal del YWCA hablará sobre su misión hoy en día y lo que tienen planificado para el futuro. Habrá pastel, comida y bebidas ligeras.

July 4, 2025 Hollyhock Lane Parade
2025-07-04 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit)
91st Annual Ottawa Hills Hollyhock Lane July 4th Parade
You are invited to join the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council as we continue the tradition of marching in the Hollyhock Parade, the oldest continuous parade in Michigan.
Meet us at the corner of Calvin and Alexander at 8 a.m. and join the fun with bands, bicyclists, candy and placards.

Tracing the Steps: African American Women During the Progressive Era in Grand Rapids
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Join Sophia Brewer, an academic librarian at Grand Rapids Community College, as she delves into her research on early African American women’s clubs and the remarkable women who led these organizations right here in Grand Rapids.
Special thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation for their support of this program.
Únase a Sophia Brewer, bibliotecaria académica en Grand Rapids Community College, mientras explora su investigación sobre los primeros clubes de mujeres afroamericanas y las extraordinarias mujeres que guiaron estas organizaciones aquí mismo en Grand Rapids.
Agradecimiento especial a la Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation por su apoyo a este programa.
Siguiendo los Pasos | Las Mujeres Afroamericanas Durante la Era Progresista en Grand Rapids
jueves, 23 de octubre de 2025, de 6:00 a 8:00 pm
Biblioteca Principal – 111 Library St NE

Tracing the Steps: African American Women During the Progressive Era in Grand Rapids
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Join Sophia Brewer, an academic librarian at Grand Rapids Community College, as she delves into her research on early African American women’s clubs and the remarkable women who led these organizations right here in Grand Rapids.
Special thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation for their support of this program.

Únase a Sophia Brewer, bibliotecaria académica en Grand Rapids Community College, mientras explora su investigación sobre los primeros clubes de mujeres afroamericanas y las extraordinarias mujeres que guiaron estas organizaciones aquí mismo en Grand Rapids.
Agradecimiento especial a la Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation por su apoyo a este programa.

Rosie the Riveter: A Symbol for All American Women
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Presented by Debbie Wake
Rosie the Riveter is the symbol for all the American women who worked in previously male-dominated jobs during World War II. From factories to farms, women stepped up and proved they could do it! Join historian Deb Wake as she explores how the Rosie name evolved, how these women were recruited, and the challenges they faced in both the workplace and society. We’ll also learned about what these amazing women accomplished and what became of these Rosies after the war ended.
Deb will share some of her personal collection of Rosie-related artifacts as well as images related to these wonderful, outstanding women.
