Oral Histories

Development of the Ladd building enterprise. HUD Woman of the Year Award 1994.

Life in Grand Rapids, Heritage Hill area. Transcript

Voigt House Museum, Oval office in Gerald R. Ford Museum, Transcript summary.

Founder of GR Arts Council and Festival, first director of the Women’s Resource Center. Speechwriter of “white papers” for the European Commission while living in The Netherlands. Transcript summary

Youth in Grand Rapids during the 1930s, treasurer and office manager of Blandford Appraisal Co., volunteerism.

Early life in Grand Rapids, World War II years, GR Symphony years, Blodgett Hospital. Transcript summary

Growing up in Grand Rapids, teacher and principal in GRPS, development of Circle Theater. Transcript summary.

First anesthesiologist at Butterworth Hospital, Transcript summary

Reporter, columnist for GR Herald, served in Army during WW II, developed World Affairs Council. Transcript summary.

Social work, Child Guidance Clinic. Transcript summary

YWCA, African-Americans. Transcript summary.

Conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony. Transcript.

EmilyClaggettDemingsynopsiButterworth Hospital Housekeeping pioneer. Transcript summary

Mary EdmondssynopsiGRPS teacher & administrator, director of multicultural education, first black music teacher and asst. principal in GRPS

Local entrepreneur. Transcript summary.

Mary Jane Dockeray synopsDevelopment of Blandford Nature Center, Transcript summary.

Career with Kent County Library System. Transcrip summary

Suzanne Geha MerpisynopsiCareer as a TV newswoman and anchor for WOOD TV. Transcript summary

Activities, locally and nationally, with NAACP, active in Civil Rights Movement, Transcript summary.

Inventor and marketer of facial sauna. Transcript summary

Career in Christian education as an editor, as well as teacher, development of Pine Rest, Wedgewood Acres, Transcript.

Calvin College, January Series. Transcript summary

Career in Grand Rapids Police Department. Transcript summary

Born in 1913, family came to Grand Rapids in 1916, majored in Mathematics at the University of Michigan, became a teacher at Grand Rapids Junior College. Her father was a magician and Mrs. Horowitz started in magic when she was nine years old, personal recollections. Transcript summary

Early selttlers in 1840s and their role in settling present day Wyoming. Teacher at South HS and GRJC. Transcript summary

In 1950s helped with immigrants from Latvian displaced persons into Grand Rapids area. Transcript summary

Michigan Constitutional Convention. Transcript summary

Nursing school committee at Blodgett Hospital, one of founding members of Planned Parenthood. Transcript summary

Prominent in the field of medical social work, active community volunteer, WCC. Transcript summary

EvangelineMauritssynopsiMusician, Dutch heritage, father, Ruben Maurits, early GR doctor. Transcript summary

Family heritage in GR, city planning, establishment of Our Hope, substance abuse treatment for women. Transcript summary.

Establishment of Alexander Calder stabile with grant from National Endowment of the Arts. Transcript summary.

Active in labor unions, Democratic Party. Transcript summary.

Shirley Perkins synopsis(1Youth, education, career in teaching, the Grand Rapids Study Club. Transcript summary

Director of local theatre productions, acting experience, growth of Actors’ Theatre, theater in Grand Rapids. Transcript summary

Played for All American Girls’ Professional Baseball League, Grand Rapids Chicks, Transcript summary

Development of Heritage Hill. Transcript summary

Early life in Detroit, Jewish family, involvement in the arts, Spectrum, Transcript summary

Early member of Office of Economic Opportunity and Kent County Community Action Program, Transcript summary

Years working for betterment of children’s lives through DSS, volunteer activities at First Community Church, better community relations. Transcript.

YWCA, volunteerism, life during the Great Depression.Transcript summary

Marywood Academy, White House Conference. Transcript summary

2012 Grand Rapids Public School board member, women’s rights advocate. Transcript summary

Virgilia R Wade synopsiChild care and development advocate. Transcript summary

Aquinas College, Director of Eastown Project, Greater GR Housing Authority, St. John’s Home, Aquinas College OLLI. Transcript summary

Formed West Michigan Environmental Action Council. Environmental Protection Act in 1970s. Appointed to State DNR by Governor Milliken. Transcript summary.

Social worker, working with families, description of life as a black in white communities. Transcript summary