Hey Foodies! Step back into Michigan’s past … Enjoy the nostalgia of old kitchen utensils worn thin through decades of use … Learn the secrets of measuring ingredients by the egg shell, hickory nut, pinch and dash. Priscilla and Larry Massie, a husband and wife team of historians from the [...]
GRPL Volunteer Carl Bajema Awarded State Distinguished Volunteer Service Award from the Historical Society of Michigan.
For more than two decades Carl Bajema has spent hours in the local history department of the Grand Rapids Public Library reading microfilm of old newspapers. Bajema, a retired biology professor from Grand Valley State University, developed a penchant for [...]
If you were unable to attend Barbara Siepker’s program last May on the Historic Cottages of Glen Lake, you now have a chance to watch her program online. It does take a while to load, so be patient.
Historic Cottages of Glen Lake from Grand Rapids Public Library on Vimeo.
Footnote, an outstanding subscription database available only at the Grand Rapids Main Library, is aimed at creating and sustaining an online community of users, researchers that discover genealogical records, interact with one another, and share information on common ancestors.
Now totaling more than 53 million images, much of Footnote’s content is culled from the collections of [...]
I’ve been meaning to do a blog on this for some time, because i was startled to see a peculiar piece of artwork outside the library here:
and another little guy (on a lamp post) here:
As it turns out, Grand Rapids is now part of a growing trend of
guerrilla knitting. I wondered if there was more [...]
Ever wonder who built that house in Heritage Hill? Who lived there, when it was built, what significance the building might have?
The image below is what is called the Heritage Hill Inventory, which can be found in the Local History department. Conducted during the early to mid 1970’s this inventory lists all of the residential [...]
Had a patron coming in looking for information on a Bishop Rancans who resided here in Grand Rapids. This patron remembers their family had a picture of Bishop Rancans on their mantle while growing up and was trying to figure out why he was so important?
According to the book Where the Star Came to Rest [...]
Acoording to a 1911 article, within the Grand Rapids Press, the Grand Rapids Public Library was a recipient of the very first map of Grand Rapids.
The map was drawn by the surveyor Lucius Lyon in 1831. Lucius would soon become one of the leading citizens of the fledgling village. He would one day become [...]
Then why not come up to Local History and check out our real estate cards!
These cards were created by local realtors from the 1950’s-1990’s each time a piece of property was put up for sale in the city. These cards go into detail on the price, description, amenities, age, etc. on each property that was [...]
Need volunteer hours for school? Want a free t-shirt? Come volunteer at the library this summer! The Grand Rapids Public Libraries are launching a volunteen program and would like YOU to be a part of it. Pick up an application at your favorite Grand Rapids Public Library branch and turn it back in to the [...]
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone (616) 988 5400
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