Local History Roundtable
Welcome to West Michigan's
Local History Roundtable Website
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CLICK HERE to view photos from the Roundtable
Several library and museum professionals and the director of the Kutsche Office of Local History have discussed the prospect of creating a common digital repository of images of significant, rare and unique resources from libraries, archives, small museums and other historical organizations in our area. Such a project can only move forward with your input and your organization's or institution's participation in designing the repository, sharing images of items from your collection and ultimately encouraging use of the repository.
Did you miss it? The first local history radio program, “It Happened Right Here in…” aired September 12 on WGVU radio with talk show host, Shelley Irwin, and Jenison Historical Association’s Ken Williams. You can listen to the entire September radio program and subsequent programs right here on this website.
LISTEN TO MAY 2012 PODCAST ON HISTORY REMEMBERED
LISTEN TO APRIL 2012 PODCAST ON THE HISTORY OF BYRON CENTER AND GAINES TOWNSHIPS
LISTEN TO MARCH 2012 PODCAST ON THE HOLLAND CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ART & HISTORY
LISTEN TO FEBRUARY 2012 PODCAST ON THE HISTORICAL COLLECTION AT THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY
LISTEN TO JANUARY 2012 PODCAST ON THE INTERSECTION
LISTEN TO DECEMBER 2011 PODCAST ON THETRI-CITIES HISTORICAL MUSEUM
LISTEN TO NOVEMBER 2011 PODCAST ON THE GRAND VALLEY AMERICAN INDIAN LODGE
LISTEN TO OCTOBER 2011 PODCAST ON THE OLD KENT COUNTY AIRPORT
LISTEN TO SEPTEMBER 2011 PODCAST ON THE JENISON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
If your organization would like to be a guest on the radio program and share something historically unique about your city or organization, please email us.
The local history radio program, “It Happened Right Here in … (your city or organization)” is scheduled for the second Monday of each month. You don’t have to go to the studio to be a guest. The entire interview can be conducted via telephone and taped in advance.
Who’s got next?
For the Love of a Culture
In 2010, the Kutsche Office partnered with the Grand Valley American Indian Lodge to commemorate their 50th anniversary by publishing a history of the Lodge. The commemorative book, For the Love of a Culture, is now available. It features beautiful photographs, the complete story of the founding of the Lodge and its contributions to the people of West Michigan. The book inspires understanding, respect and appreciation for Native American people and their culture. Copies of the book can be obtained by contacting Lori Shustha at wabushna@yahoo.com.
Michigan Archival Association Workshop:
Disaster Planning and Response for Archives and Library Collections: Organizing Your Toolkit
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Slaves Soldiers Citizens
"This is the story of the many African Americans who settled in Northwest Ottawa County, some as early as 1845. Many of them established homes and worked in the Tri-Cities of Grand Haven, Ferrysburg, and Spring Lake, as well as the surrounding townships from the early years of settlement to recent times. A few passed through quickly, but still left their mark, while others came and departed leaving little more than a trace."
Available at local bookstores |
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Kutsche office awards grant The Kutsche Office of Local History has awarded a mini-grant to a community and faculty research team whose project focuses on Merze Tate, an area African American woman who served in the U.S. State Department. MORE |
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A New Home in Michigan:
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This book presents the story of the Mexican and Mexican-American people in the Muskegon area from the early twentieth-century to the present.
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Summers
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Summers in the Haven, a 130-page history (plus foreword and table of contents) that combines Steelcase Furniture’s David Hunting’s narrative, pictures of the time and place, and research on the events of which he speaks. In three interviews, Hunting told stories about his summers along the lakeshore in and near Grand Haven before the turn of the 20th Century. He provided a young person’s history of the community. In the rear of the book is a CD of the complete mp3 files from the three Hunting interviews. The book was produced by Ver Duins Inc. of Grand Haven under the direction of Mike Ver Duin.
Ron Kuiper, Grand Haven-area fourth grade teacher started the interviews in 1973 with Grand Valley State University professor, William Oldenburg. Most photos in the book come from Kuiper’s collection gathered over 50 years, but there are others from the Tri Cities Historical Museum, the Loutit District Library Local History Collection, The Grand Rapids Public Library Archives, and other individuals. Much of the research that supports Hunting’s stories comes from Loutit District Library and Grand Rapids Library.
In three interviews, Hunting told stories about his summers along the lakeshore in and near Grand Haven before the turn of the 20th Century. He provided a young person’s history of the community.
When Oldenburg died prematurely, the work slowed until Kuiper found David Schock, professor of writing and film production at Hope College. Together Kuiper and Schock transcribed the original taped interviews and brought the book to print and to life. “There have been so many people who have helped us in creating this little book,” said Schock. “We hope they and others enjoy reading it as much as we’ve enjoyed compiling it.”
The book went on sale Dec. 3 at The Bookman, 715 Washington, St., Grand Haven. Copies will also be sold at the Loutit District Library and the Tri Cities Historical Museum. The price is $23.95 for the book and the mp3 files.
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