African Americans in Early Grand Rapids

From 1850 to 1920 African Americans in Grand Rapids were a steady one percent of the city’s rapidly growing population. Ruth Van Stee will present on the vibrant community’s broader population before providing snapshots of business, cultural, and political leaders. She will also discuss how she explored some of her examples: a wealthy business man; a women’s club leader active in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union movement; and a citizen serving with the YMCA overseas during WWI, and others.

Presenter: Ruth Van Stee
Sponsor: Grand Rapids Historical Society & Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University