Volume 40, number 5
February 2019
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society Inside this issue: Cover Story: February program Letter from our President page 2 Meet the Trustees page 4 Black Family History Series page 5 Taste of Soul Sunday page 5 Happening in History page 6
Riot, Race and Reconciliation
PRESENTED BY: George Bayard Thursday, February 14, 2019, 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Public Library
In the summer of 1967 Detroit Michigan exploded with riots and rebellion after police raided a “blind pig” after hours party. 43 people died, and property damage soared into the millions over a month-long campaign. A day later Grand Rapids experienced the same trauma, though nobody was killed, and the uprising lasted only 3 days, scars and bitterness still exist. The Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives set out to document the event and collect firsthand accounts of the causes and results of this action by it’s citizens. We found similarities in the causes that parallel most of the riots from 1967 around the country as well as some unique occurrences from Grand Rapids.
Photo Sleuth page 7
Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society
Next program: After the February program, the Grand Rapids Historical Society’s next program will be on March 14, 2019, at the Grand Rapids Public Library. Rev. Robert J. Miller will be speaking about: Faith of the Fathers—The Courage, Humor and Dedication of Catholic Civil War Chaplains. Grand River Times
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dear GRHS Members,
I first met George Bayard when we were both on a committee at the Grand Rapids Public Museum when the planning process was in full swing for the Newcomers: People of This Place exhibit. When the time came to populate our themed Culture Kits for weekend Discovery Carts I headed to the store that George owned on Wealthy Street. He had in stock a number of musical instruments from different The Grand River Times is the countries in Africa. I chose to purchase a talking drum, a tick tack drum newsletter of the Grand Rapids from Kenya, and a Kora which is a stringed instrument. While at the store, Historical Society, published six times annually. Established in 1894, which was a framing shop, an art gallery, a book store and more, I learned the Grand Rapids Historical Society about local artists such as Herschell Turner as George showed me around. is dedicated to exploring the history Over the years George brought his Underground Railroad Show to of West Michigan; to discover its the Public Museum for the Ethnic Heritage Festival which I coordinated for romance and tragedy, its heroes and scoundrels, its leaders and its years. Most recently George has been keeping busy with GRAAMA, the ordinary citizens. The Society collects and preserves our heritage, Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives. It is located in the heart of downtown at 87 Monroe Center. Art Prize 10 awarded the museum passing it on to new generations through books, lectures, and the Outstanding Venue award. This space is a small representation of what education projects. this museum can and will be. This is a temporary home. George and his board have great plans for the future. Executive Committee: George is a soft spoken person who gets big things accomplished. Gina Bivins, president Come to the program on February 14 and hear what George has to say Matthew Daley, vice-president about Race, Riot and Reconciliation. I certainly remember the tense time in 1967 when there were riots in John Gelderloos, treasurer the city of Detroit and when then moved across the state and the nation. We Nan Schichtel, secretary will all come to this presentation with a different perspective depending on where we lived, where we went to school, where we worked, what we did Board members: socially, etc. I look forward to hearing a different perspective. Alan Bennett Charles Bocskey Thomas Dilley Matthew Ellis Chris Kaupa Gordon Olson, emeritus Wilhelm Seeger, emeritus Jeff Sytsma Julie Tabberer Jim Winslow Kurt Yost Jessica Riley, editor Grand Rapids Historical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Website: www.grhistory.org Grand River Times
About the Grand Rapids Historical Society. The Grand Rapids Historical Society sponsors eight programs each year, beginning in September and running through May, including lectures, audio/video presentations, demonstrations, collections, or special tours. Membership. Membership is open to all interested persons with annual dues of $30 per family, $20 for seniors and students, or $400 for a lifetime membership. The membership year runs from May to the following May. Members of the Grand Rapids Historical Society receive eight newsletters each year and a subscription to our annual magazine, Grand River Valley History. Members also receive a 20% discount on books published by the society as well as books published by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission. Change of Address. If you will be permanently or temporarily moving to a new address, please notify GRHS before your change occurs. Let us know your new address and the date you plan to leave and plan to return. Email to grhs.local@gmail.com, or mail to Grand Rapids Historical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 2
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The overriding source of information was collected from the City commissioned document “Anatomy of a Riot”. To our surprise, not one person from the inner-city was interviewed for it’s creation. The people involved in the uprising were omitted from the conclusions compiled by the city researchers. As in many cases, the African American community’s opinions remained excluded. GRAAMA dug into the community to unearth valuable commentary about the events of July 23, 1967. We gave voice to those overlooked in the “official” document. Our film Riot, Race and Reconciliation, serves as a background for this talk but dive a little deeper into some of the reasons why the uprising occurred, the racial climate at the time and the aftermath of 3 days of destruction in the South east section of the city. George Bayard, Executive Director of GRAAMA, will guide you through the film and add commentary to the images. Some artifacts will be available to drive home the mood of the city and country in 1967. Your questions will be answered and if you were present during the uprising, we would like to add your comments to our “Grandma’s Voices” oral history project. As GRAAMA is an Archives, devoted to collecting artifacts and interviews related to local history, we welcome any opportunity to talk with people who have lived that history. This project, Riot, Race and Reconciliation, exemplifies why our Museum exists when the official city document doesn’t value the opinion of any African American involved in the uprising and omits them from that document. Instead they relied of police records, arrest and social service accounts to foster a slanted view of what really happened that summer. We welcome you to attend this talk and gain a wider understanding of the events of July 23-25, 1967. George Bayard is an expert and has furnished appraisals of African artifacts, African American art, 19th ,20th and 21st century American art as well as rare books, Black memorabilia, Caribbean art, and folk art for 15 years. Appraisal customers include: Howard University, Michigan State, Grand Valley State, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Kalamazoo Institute of Art. He also has a long list of private clients and collectors who have had work appraised. George’s appraisals have never been challenged by the courts or the I.R.S. Records are maintained for five or more years and can be accessed when needed George is currently the Executive Director of the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (GRAAMA). He is spearheading a group to create the largest museum in West Michigan devoted to African American history, culture, learning and family. Opening the Museum Store in 2016, at 87 Monroe center, his group hopes to build a new facility centering on local, African American history and culture in the near future. www.graama.org Grand River Times
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Meet the Trustees Every month we will spotlight a different member of our Board of Trustees for our members to get to know. February’s Trustee is Jeffrey Sytsma who has served on the board since 2011. I was born at a young age upon the hill at Butterworth Hospital, the oldest of three boys. I grew up in Grandville and all my extended family settled between Grand Rapids and Hudsonville, thus my roots are well established in West Michigan. As a boy and young adult, I loved reading about Robin Hood or King Arthur and that started my interest in Medieval History – something I still enjoy today. By college, my interest in history had really taken off and I pursued a B.A. in History from Western Michigan University. Although I wanted to pursue Public History, I ended up doing the Education route, knowing that jobs were more attainable in-state. So, I found myself teaching American History and Government in the Forest Hills Public School District for over a decade. During that time, I also earned my Master’s in Education with an emphasis on History from Grand Valley State University. While I was teaching, I discovered my love for Local History. I became a member of the GRHS at that time and realized I was able to get my “history fix” through studying and researching the history around me. At this time, I also left the field of teaching and entered the world of Professional Landscaping. I had been using teaching as a stepping stone to eventually teach at the College level and had no real passion to teach high school permanently, especially with my love of gardening and landscaping. My areas of interest in the local history scene are grand old homes, former high-society families, the history of buildings, automobile history, and garden or landscape history. A pet project of mine has been the John Blodgett family and their Brookby estate. I have another project on the burner right now about the early automobile in West Michigan, and their dangers. When I’m not doing history, I’m either at Katerberg-Verhage Landscaping, where I work, or at home in Wyoming with my wife Becky and my step-daughter Macey, and our two cats. I’m also currently doing a “frame off” restoration on a 1949 Ford my grandfather bought in 1950. My goal is to take it down Route 66 for my 50th birthday – in 9 years. If you have any old stories of the Blodgett family, or Brookby, or currently own a 1949-51 Ford, I’d love to hear from you! NEW MEMBERS Please welcome the following new members to GRHS:
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Elaine Beyer
Nathaniel Moody
Thomas Byle
Jon O’Connor
Joseph Jones
Jim Piccard
Ruth Kelly
Kurt Reppart
Senita Lenear
Sara Vander Werff 4
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Black Family History Series Grand Rapids Public Library What parent or grandparent hasn’t had a child ask where they came from, what their job was, or how they met their spouse? While these family history questions are universal, answers can sometimes be challenging to find. This is especially true for African Americans interested in their family history. Come for a series of workshops that will help people of African American ancestry learn and document your family’s genealogical history. Hosted by local genealogist Joyce Daniels, the series will help you investigate your roots and connect with others around family history. Registration is not required, however a free lunch will be provided if you RSVP to rsvp@grpl.org. Co-sponsored by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Saturday, February 23, 2019
10:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
10:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
Vander Veen Center for the Book, Level 4 Getting started in genealogy and using the U.S. Census
Vander Veen Center for the Book, Level 4 Vital Statistics, court documents, city directories, obituaries and funeral cards, Find-a-grave, agricultural and slave schedules, genealogical databases
February 17, 2019, 1:00 p.m.—4:30 p.m. at the MAIN LIBRARY Celebrate African American history and culture at Taste of Soul Sunday. Sample African American art, music, literature, history, and food. Performances by Tom Cutts, Yolonda Lavender, Asamu Johnson and the Associate of Blues, and The Gospel Believers. Presentations by author Stephen Mack Jones, storyteller Shani Womack, the Ebony Road Players, and New Hope Baptist Church Live African American Museum. Free food samples provided by: TaDow BBQ, The Candied Yam, Irie Kitchen, and Flavorful Pound Cakes and Treats. Free and open to the public.
Save Our African American Treasures 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Level 4 | Vander Veen Center for the Book GRPL and GRAAMA (Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives) invite veterans to bring in your family photographs, letters, and journals during Taste of Soul Sunday. We will digitize your items and talk about how your family history contributes to the story of our community.
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HAPPENING IN HISTORY: FEBRUARY 2019 Western Michigan Genealogical Society Mini-Class Saturday, February 2, 2019, 12:00 p.m. Main Library-Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE
West Michigan Postcard Club Monday, February 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church 2600 7th St. NW
Topic: Black History Month
Topic: Keep on the Grass: A Brief History of Grand Rapids Parks
Presenter: Linda Guth In commemoration of Black History Month this mini-class will review and learn about little known facts about Black History. Western Michigan Genealogical Society Saturday, February 2, 2019, 1:30 p.m. Main Library—Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE Topic: Finding your Michigan Ancestor at the Library of Michigan Presenter: Tim Gleisner
The Library of Michigan has been collecting Michigan information since 1826. During that time the Library of Michigan has collected materials that cover almost any aspect of life within the state. From newspapers, books, newsletters to magazines the Library of Michigan has tried to collect it. Join Tim Gleisner, Head of Special Collections at the Library of Michigan, and discover what the Library of Michigan has to offer for anyone interested in Michigan Genealogy and History. Tim Gleisner has been the Head of the Special Collections at the Library of Michigan Since 2017. Previously he worked at the Grand Rapids Public Library for 12 years, where he was the Head of the Reference and Special Collections Departments. Before this he worked at the Herrick District Library in Holland and managed the Genealogy and Michigan Collections of that Library. In 2018 he was awarded the Filby Award from the National Genealogical Society for Outstanding Genealogical Librarianship. Grand River Times
Presenters: Christine Byron and Tom Wilson There was a time when people flocked to city parks in the summer to escape the heat beneath the shade of large trees, picnic on the lawns, watch baseball games, play tennis, swim, and socialize with their neighbors. Parks provided supervised games and activities six days a week throughout the summer for the city’s children. Dances and other activities were held in park buildings. In the winter, the parks offered skating and sledding. The City's 2010 master plan featured an ambitious approach to land use that has already produced new parks and upgrades to existing space, honoring the community's rich park history while creating a program to sustain its future. Ten years ago the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks was formed to protect city’s green space. Chris and Tom’s presentation will highlight the rich history of Grand Rapids parks. Discover where the first parks were located and how new parks were developed. Retrace your own steps in the parks that were part of your childhood.
Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. De Witt Student Center Kuyper College 3333 East Beltline NE David Broene will be speaking about The Battle of Altoona. 6
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOIN THE GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OR GIVE A MEMBERSHIP AS A GIFT The Grand Rapids Historical Society sponsors eight lectures each year. Members of the society enjoy these benefits:
The Grand River Times is the newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society. Published and mailed to members eight times a year, it includes current items of historical interest, details of upcoming lectures, historically relevant activities, and short articles.
The Grand River Valley History is the society’s annual magazine. Featured are illustrated articles by local history researchers and contributions from the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the City Archivist, the Grand Rapids Public Library, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
20% Discount on all books and other items published by the society.
Please enroll me as a member of the Grand Rapids Historical Society: ____ New ___Renewal ____Gift _____Lifetime:
$400.00 one-time fee
_____Individual/Family Membership
$30.00 per year
_____Senior Citizen or Student
$20.00 per year
Name: Address: City/State/Zip: Please make check payable to the Grand Rapids Historical Society and mail it with this form to: Grand Rapids Historical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY PHOTO SLEUTH Our February Photo Sleuth selection comes from the Robinson Studio Collection's negatives. In this undated photo, a family of four is sitting for a professional photo. If anyone in this picture looks familiar, please email the Grand Rapids Public Library's Local History department at localhis@grpl.org.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. postage PAID Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 234
Grand Rapids Historical Society, Inc. c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Riot, Race and Reconciliation PRESENTED BY:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover Story: February program Letter from our President page 2
George Bayard Thursday, February 14, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
Meet the Trustees page 4
at the Grand Rapids Public Library
Black Family History Series page 5 Taste of Soul Sunday page 5 Happening in History page 6 Photo Sleuth page 7
For more information on Historical Society programs, please visit www.grhistory.org Grand River Times
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