Women Who Ran! Seeking Public Office Before the Nineteenth Amendment
2021-03-31 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Hats off to the trailblazing women of Grand Rapids! Decades before the Nineteenth Amendment granted American women the right to vote, many had led serious political lives and even run for office. In fact, before the certification of the federal amendment in 1920, 47 different Grand Rapids women had run 82 campaigns for public office between 1887 and 1920. In 1919 and 1920 alone, they ran for Grand Rapids City Commission, the Michigan State Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives—as well as City Comptroller and State Superintendent of Public Instruction! Celebrating Women’s History Month 2021, the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council has launched a new web page, Women Who Ran! (https://www.ggrwhc.org/women-who-ran/) Find out who ran for what when–and check out political biographies and data that can be searched alphabetically, chronologically, by political office, occupation, marital status, reform activity, and party affiliation. Ever heard of the Farmer-Labor Party? Tune in!

This free, virtual program by the GGRWHC’s Jo Ellyn Clarey is sponsored by East Grand Rapids Branch/Kent District Library. To register: https://kdl.org/livestream/?_ga=2.209872022.2023314695.1614020516-99878386.1614020516

Earth Day 2021
2021-04-22 08:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
On this 51st Earth Day we are remembering and celebrating the life and work of environmentalist Joan Luedders Wolfe who founded West Michigan Environmental Action Council in 1968 and was the first woman appointed to the Natural Resources Commission in 1973. Her work with WMEAC still impacts conservation efforts in Michigan today. Legislature such as the 1972 Inland Lakes and Streams Act, which continues to protect Michigan’s inland waterways from development and contamination and was made possible through the hard work of WMEAC under Wolfe’s leadership. Wolfe passed away on January 23, 2021, but leaves behind a legacy of trailblazing environmentalism. Learn more about her life and work in this recent WMEAC article.

GGRWHC Virtual Annual Meeting
2021-05-10 17:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Join us on Zoom for our Virtual Annual Meeting on May 10th from 5:30pm – 6:00pm for organizational news and planning.
Dial-in number: 1(312)626-6799
Meeting ID: 99376667258
Renew or become a member now and participate in the election of this year’s board nominees!

Tracing the Steps of Lottie Wilson Jackson
2021-05-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Lottie Wilson Jackson (1854-1914) was a well-known artist, activist, and self-made African American woman who defied difficult odds during the Progressive Era. Along with her eye-opening portraits of famous Black Americans, this talented artist became one of America’s prominent Black suffragists. During the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) convention in 1899 at St. Cecilia Music Society in Grand Rapids, the delegate Jackson challenged NAWSA to condemn the treatment of Black women in the South. Her resolution was addressed and tabled by Susan B. Anthony herself. Join us to learn more about Lottie’s journey.

Sophia Ward Brewer has worked in libraries for over thirty years and is currently a librarian at Grand Rapids Community College. She also serves as an elected director of the Grand Rapids Public Library board and as recent co-president of the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council. Sophia loves to research and is a regular historical columnist in the Grand Rapids Times and Women’s Lifestyle Magazine.

Ebony Road Players Presents: Loving Day 2021
2021-06-11 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual – Additional Details Forthcoming
Save the dates! Ebony Road Players Presents: Loving Day 2021:
June 11th.
Every year Ebony Road Players has brought together all racial and cultural facets of the community in celebration of Loving Day, commemorating the 1967 US Supreme Court decision that struck down the criminality of interracial marriage.
This year they’ve lined up a weekend of virtual and in person experiences, so check out the link for more details!
‘The Loving Story’ Documentary and Talkback’ / June 11 / 6-8 PM
This 2011 HBO documentary follows Richard and Mildred Loving as they are innocently thrust to the forefront of the civil rights movement. Their actions would make way for marriage equality in 1967 and beyond. Please join us for a virtual and in person viewing and an interactive talkback after the film.

Hollyhock Lane Parade
2021-07-03 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
For the 87th time since 1934, the Hollyhock Lane neighborhood parade in July will march once again at 8:30 am on July 3rd! Mark your calendars for this fun event. Meet us at the corner of Calvin and Alexander at 8am & join the fun with bands, bicyclists, candy, and placards! To quote a past participant: this event is “oddly exhilarating”!

The School Bell Series: WWI at Home and Overseas
2021-08-12 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 1881 New Groningen Schoolhouse, 10537 Paw Paw Dr, Zeeland, MI, 49464, United States
In 1917 American women were granted a federal mandate by the Council of National Defense when the wartime government established the CND’s Woman’s Committee, and 17,000 local committees sprang up immediately. Join Katelyn Bosch VerMerris (former GGRWHC board member and secretary, now director of the Zeeland Historical Society) for the next installation of the School Bell Series, this Thursday, August 12 at 10:00am at the 1881 New Groningen Schoolhouse in Zeeland for her presentation, “WWI at Home and Overseas.” Learn about the work of local women of Zeeland in creating a stronger home defense through their pioneering wartime efforts that included guaranteeing healthy food sources, raising healthy children, ensuring the health of women in the industrial workforce, and contributions ranging far beyond specific war needs and their traditional gender roles.

Katelyn Bosch VerMerris received an M.A. from West Virginia University in 2018 emphasizing public history, after her B.A. from Calvin College. She has researched many local topics including the Grand Rapids unit of the Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense in WWI and the cultural integration of Catholic, Hispanic migrant workers into Protestant, Dutch Holland, Michigan. Katelyn has worked with local cultural institutions including the Lowell Area Historical Museum, Fallasburg Historical Society, and the Saugatuck-Douglas History Museum. Currently, she is the development manager at a non-profit in Holland. She also continues work as a freelance researcher and writer and is recording secretary for the board of the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council.

Women's Equality Day with GGRWHC
2021-08-26
Celebrate Women’s Equality Day with GGRWHC! August 26, 2021
Help us to honor and continue the legacy of local women who progressed suffrage efforts and equal rights activism in our community by visiting the grave(s) of four women we are featuring for 2021.

This year, we will mark four gravesites with purple balloons to help you locate the four women we are featuring – see the suggested steps below to make the most of your visits!

Visit our website page, “Here Lies a Suffragist,” for a full description of the event here: https://www.ggrwhc.org/here-lies-a-suffragist/
Please visit our new page this year for Garfield Park Cemetery to locate the gravesites of two more African American activists. Lillian Gill worked after the successful suffrage movement, but would have supported it. And the club life and public activism of Ethel Beverly Burgess suggests that she was a supporter. Meet them on the page here: https://www.ggrwhc.org/garfield-park-cemetery/
For more information on the Comstock sisters and how to find their gravesites please visit the Fulton Street Cemetery page here: https://www.ggrwhc.org/fulton-street-cemetery/
On August 26th, find the grave of one or more of our four featured suffragists and activists.
Honor the individual’s grave with flowers, even a single stem, and record your visit by taking a photo of yourself and/or the decorated gravesite.
Post your photo in the comments section of our Facebook post honoring the day. https://www.facebook.com/GGRWHC (If you do not use Facebook, please send it to our email address– info@ggrwhc.org)
DON’T MISS THIS!

WZZM’s 13 ON YOUR SIDE will run a short feature on the Comstock Sisters at 11:00 pm Wednesday, August 25th and throughout the day on the 26th. Look for the link of this feature on our Instagram and Facebook pages!
Note: Note: If you choose to leave any flowers, we will see that the graves are cleaned up later.
Thank you for participating!
2021 Womens Equality Day Poster

Women's Way Ribbon Cutting: Harriet Woods Hill Mural
2021-09-01 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | GRPD Alley, 1 Monroe Center 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 1st from 7pm to 8pm we will be celebrating the Harriet Woods Hill mural located in the alley of the Grand Rapids Police Department:
Harriet Woods Hill
1922-2006
Harriet Woods Hill in 1955 became the first African American female officer in the Grand Rapids Police Department. Her career began in the Juvenile Division, and she later trained new recruits about the challenges faced by children. Hill, in 1977, was named the first female detective in the department’s 106-year history. “I came there to do a job, and I wasn’t going to allow [anyone] to force me to quit working because [of their] prejudices,” she said. “Once the door was opened, I never allowed it to become closed.”
“Harriet Woods-Hill was resilient and humble. Symbolism flows through this piece as waves pay ode to Harriet’s hometown leading to the old-time Grand Rapids cityscape. Lotus flowers symbolize her growth out of muddy waters, all the while soaring above.” – Statement by Mural Artist Jasmine Bruce.
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: Angeline Kelsey "Naw Kay o say" Yob
2021-09-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Apartment Lounge Alley, 33 Sheldon Ave NE, 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 8th from 7pm to 8pm we will be celebrating the Angeline Kelsey “Naw Kay o say” Yob mural located in the alley off Sheldon Blvd NE between the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and The Apartment Lounge.
Angeline Kelsey “Naw Kay o say” Yob (1924-2002)
The descendant and ancestor of Chiefs, Angeline Kelsey “Naw Kay o say” Yob was an educator, community activist and citizen of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. She was the great, great-granddaughter of Chief Maish Ke Aw She, one of the signatories of the Treaty of 1855, which provided the terms for the removal of the Ottawa from the Grand River Valley.
Yob, at the age of five, experienced her own forced move to a Native American Boarding School. Still, she retained her native language and would go on to help lead the Native American Education Program at Grand Rapids Public Schools. For three decades, she used stories as teaching instruments to help students of Native American descent learn and grow in their traditions.
“Angeline Kelsey Yob helped establish many of the first groups for the Grand Rapidian Native Americans. The turtle shows all the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. The kids dancing represent the culture, and the knowledge that Angeline brought children. I placed her portrait within the medicine wheel because of the constant lessons within.” Statement by Artist Alan Compo.
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: 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=akFxSXRPVXdoNUpLQWplNjN6Q2Jidz09

"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.
