Archival Collections

In addition to the hundreds of thousands of artifacts and specimens listed in the Collections Catalog, the Grand Rapids Public Museum also maintains several hundred processed archival collections.  These discrete collections are organized by subject, and contain paper records, publications, photographs, art work, letters, diaries, etc.  Because these collections can each contain thousands of documents, there is no way to list everything online.  However, if you would like to do your own research in our archives, please contact the Collections Curator to set up an appointment.

 # Collection Name Subjects Acc. Number
---Grand Rapids Public Museum Institutional Archivesmuseum historyn/a
 001 The Rudell Drug Store Collection pharmacy 1986.100
 002 The DeVaux Automobile Collection automobile 1986.98
 003 The Palm Furniture Store Collection furniture 1986.117
 004 The A. J. Bill Johnson Collection York musical instruments 1986.89
 005 The Youngman Family Collection funeral parlor 1986.23
 006 The Roger B. Chaffee Collection astronaut 1987.5
 007 The Girl Scouts Collection girl scouting 1987.13
 008 The Mays of Michigan Collection clothing store 1987.30, 1988.12
 009 The Voigt Milling Company Collection flour mill 1987.43
 010 The Halley's Comet Collection time capsule, astronomy 1987.31
 011 Michigan Bell Telephone Collection highway photographs 1987.50
 012 James Bayne Company Collection furniture, glass plate negatives 1987.19
 013 Leonard Refrigerator Company Collection refrigerator 1987.54
 014 Voigt Family Collection Voigt family 1987.114
 015 Voigt, Herpolsheimer and Company Collection department store 1987.95
 016 Valley City Milling Company Collection flour mill 1987.44
 017 Seymour F. Beiboer Collection Grand Rapids urban renewal slides 1987.92
 018 Century/Murray Furniture Company Collection furniture 1982.159
 019 Frank L. Furbish Collection cabinetry 1988.22
 020 Paalman Furniture Company Collection furniture 1986.8
 021 Brothers Forslund/G.R. Custom Shop Collection furniture, upholstery 1986.8
 022 Blueprints (Phoenix-Stow Davis) Collection furniture factory 1988.44
 023 Stow and Davis Furniture Company Collection furniture 1988.23
 024 Grand Rapids Wood Finishing Collection furniture finishes 1988.10.5
 025 Furniture Record Artwork furniture magazine artwork 1989.1.20
 026 Austin Automobile Company Collection automobiles, Austin family 1989.12
 027 John B. Schoolland Collection local images, glass plate negatives 1988.29
 028 Sanitarium Equipment Company Collection health 1987.107
 029 PMGR Product Literature Collection trade catalogs various
 030 Furniture Industry Collection furniture industry various
 031 Camera Shop Collection GR photography studio, including microfilmed negs 178045
 032 Soap Box Derby Collection Soap Box Derby 1989.51, 1989.32
 033 Avery-Kelley Photographs Collection Avery home photographs 1989.57
 034 VOIDED    
 035 Forslund Factory Machinery Collection furniture factory documentation 1987.113.51
 036 Civil War Collection compilation of Civil War material various
 037 VOIDED    
 038 VOIDED    
 039 Johnson Furniture Company / Stinson Bomber Collection furniture, World War II, Stinson bomb 1997.61.1, 1990.15.32
 040 William F. Adams Collection logging photographs 1990.43
 041 Rix Robinson Collection Robinson family photographs 1990.42
 042 Bissell Incorporated Collection carpet sweepers, advertising 1991.4.2, 1993.89, 1994.85
 043 PMGR Glass Plate Negative Collection glass plate negatives  
 044 Metcalf and Jonkhoff Funeral Service Collection funeral parlor 1991.40.1
 045 West Michigan Native American Collection compilation of various tribes various
 046 Grand Rapids Homecoming Collection local history 1991.35
 047 William A. Berkey Furniture Company Collection furniture 125998, 125999, 126000
 048 Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, and Muskegon Railway Company Collection streetcar photographs 1991.55.1
 049 Hompe-Stuart Papers Collection family correspondence, photos 1991.20.1
 050 Ormand J. Lefever-Haworth Corporation Collection furniture 1992.2.2, 1992.83.1
 051 Tony Borris Collection radio celebrity 1992.70.1
 052 Grand Ledge Chair Company Collection furniture 1992.67
 053 Dyer-Ives Foundation Papers Collection local philanthropy 1992.65
 054 Jason "Catman" Goachee Collection circus/county fair entertainer 1992.71.1
 055 PMGR Lantern Slides Collection lantern slides 1991.1.8
 056 Ormsbee Printing Collection chronology of printing 125910
 057 Grand Rapids Furniture Exposition Association Collection furniture industry, marketing 1992.1.4
 058 George L. Young Collection Bishop furniture 1992.110
 059 John and Pete Oele Collection immigrant family 1992.112
 060 Roger Allen and Associates Collection museum architect 1992.128
 061 VOIDED    
 062 VOIDED    
 063 Grand Rapids Furniture Museum Collection furniture museum 1995.1.7
 064 Garrit Verburg Collection photographs, business cards 1990.67
 065 Julius Sommer Collection photographs, family papers 1992.78
 066 All-American Girls Baseball League Collection league organization, ephemera various
 067 Owen-Ames-Kimball Furniture Capitol Building Collection architectural drawings 1993.65
 068 Hollis M. Baker, Baker Furniture Company Collection furniture company 1993.81.1
 069 Lewis Johnson Collection african-american 1993.60, 1994.9, 1994.11
 070 Colonial Manufacturing Company Collection clock company, furniture 1993.79
 071 VOIDED    
 072 Good Furniture Magazine Photographs Collection photographs, furniture and interiors 1994.46.3
 073 Giacomo "Jack" Buzzitta Collection furniture design 1994.46.4
 074 VOIDED    
 075 Reynold Weidenaar Collection print maker tools and ephemera 1994.73, 1993.48
 076 John J. Gryga Furniture Design Collection furniture design 1994.84.1, 2002.82.1
 077 Ed Wong-Ligda/Furniture City Mural Collection drawings, photographs 1995.10.2
 078 Wallace F. Sherwood, Grand Rapids Panel Company Collection furniture wood graining 1995.31
 079 Driggs Skylark Bi-Plane Collection airplane company 1995.47.3
 080 David W. Kendall Design Drawings Collection furniture design 1995.44
 081 Reynold Weidenaar Personal Collection material relating to primary school days 1995.50
 082 Ralph Hauenstein, World War II Collection photographs, personal papers 1995.54.1
 083 George H. Newell, Michigan Hunters Photos Collection photographs, hunting, fishing 133585
 084 Harrington Native American Photograph Collection photographs 1994.19.1
 085 Tanglefoot Company Collection photographs, flypaper company 158086 - 158089
 086 Matheson Motor Car Company Ltd. Collection automobile company 1995.68
 087 Anti Fluoridation Collection national study teeth fluoridation 1995.71
 088 Public Museum of Grand Rapids Oral History Collection oral history, grand rapids residents various
 089 John Widdicomb Company and John G. Hanink Collection furniture company 1996.34.1
 090 Charles Verrell and Grand Rapids Blow Pipe and Dust Arrester Company Collection factory ventilation company 1996.48.1
 091 Max Krause and Berkey and Gay Furniture Design Company Collection furniture design 1996.50.1
 092 F. W. Mohneke, Spanish-American War Collection war experience, correspondence, (see also #112) 1996.66.1
 093 Grand Rapids Area Furniture Makers Association Collection furniture industry 1996.73.28, 1999.35.1
 094 Mary Otto DeGuvara Anishinabe Artist Collection beadwork tapestry 1997.23.7
 095 Austin Lamberts Coral Collecting Collection marine biologist, reef coral biology 1997.38.11
 096 Public Museum Lantern Slides Collection lantern slides, Public Museum views 1997.1.210
 097 Steele Taylor Pewter Collection pewter 1997.54.356
 098 Warren J. Bow and Viva Flaherty Collection personal papers, photographs, 1911 furniture strike 1998.51.1
 099 Aviation History of Kent County Michigan Collection photographs, airplane models 1998.22.11
 100 Charles E. Cole Survey Collection personal, business diaries 1998.63.1
 101 VOIDED    
 102 VOIDED    
 103 George M. Chapman, World War I Collection photographs, paper documents 1998.35.8
 104 Appelt-Kerr Putz Collection Christmas putz, village 1998.52.12
 105 Laura May Ripley Lighting Documentation Collection lighting device documentation 1992.40.222
 106 West Michigan Furniture Company Collection furniture, company 1999.13.1
 107 Carl Forslund Inc. Collection furniture retail business 1999.36.5, 2001.80.1, 2002.76.1
 108 George W. and Ethel Galbreath Bowen Military Veteran Collection Spanish-American War, miscellaneous 1999.34.1
 109 F. N. Johnson Marquetry Drawings Collection design drawings, furniture 1999.46.1
 110 Vogue Pattern Magazines Collection sewing and fashion 1999.50.1
 111 Kenneth Veneklasen World War II Collection military service 1999.31.8
 112 Poetry and Prose by Bertha White Collection poetry 1999.84.1
 113 Negro Baseball Leagues Collection league organization, ephemera various
 114 George Mitchell, USS Houston Collection World War II 1991.59, 2000.29.1
 115 Grand Rapids City Hall Collection 1888 cornerstone various
 116 The Ralph Demmon Archival Collection Furniture Designs, Architectural Plans, Jewelry Designs #2000.42..1; #2001.81:
 117 Water Fluoridation and Dental Health Collection water fluoridation, teeth 2000.45.1
 118 Arthur J. Steeby, World War II Collection World War II 2000.71.3
 119 Grand Rapids Plaster Company Collection gypsum mining 2000.85.1
 120 Collectors' Club of Grand Rapids Collection club organization documents 2001.8.1
 121 Katrina Kindel, Kindel Furniture Company Collection Kindel family, furniture company 2001.65.1
 122 Kent County Civil Defense and Emergency Management Collection nuclear war, natural disasters 2001.65.1
 123 Kent E. Fisher Collection Coast Guard 2002.47.4
 124 Guido Asessandrini Furniture Design Collection designer, furniture company 2002.92.1, 2003.39.1
 125 West Michigan Whitecaps Collection baseball various
 126 Painter Gilbert White Collection artist 2002.84.1
 127 Grand Rapids Polish American Collection ethnicity, immigration various
 128 Dr. Dwight Schroeder Leelanau Indian Collection Native Americans 2003.22.1
 129 VOIDED    
 130 Karene's Custom Bridal Veils Collection seamstress, bridal fashion 2003.45.1
 131 Widdicomb Furniture Company Collection furniture company 2003.48.1
 132 Frisian Information Bureau Collection ethnicity, immigration 2003.59.1
 133 The Lomonoco, Vitale, and Parseca Families Collection ethnicity, immigration 2003.64.1
 134 Grand Rapids Tackers Basketball Collection basketball 2004.14
 135 John Arsulowicz Jr. Collection ethnicity, immigration, business, Catholic Church 2004.15
 136 Alex Grinberg's Latvian Language Publications Collection ethnicity, immigration 2004.22.1
 137 Sudanese Immigration Collection ethnicity, immigration various
 138 James Seino, 1914-1932 Collection ethnicity, immigration, furniture decorator 2004.33.1
 139 First of America Classic Collection
 golf tournament, Jaycees
 2009.26.1
 140 Auburn Hills Neighborhood Collection ethnicity, African-America 2005.4, 2005.6
 141 Remes Family Collection ethnicity, Jewish 2004.53
 142 Behrendt Family Collection ethnicity, immigration, Korean-American 2004.57
 143 Yi Family Collection ethnicity, immigration, Korean-American 2004.61, 2004.62, 2004.63
 144 Steele A. Taylor Travel Slide Collection world travel, destinations E1999.82
 145 Reverend Lyman S. Parks Collection African American, politics 2005.75
 146 Maskevics Family Collection ethnicity, immigration, Latvian 2003.15, 2004.41, 2005.15
 147 Kuldip S. Bagga India Link Magazine Collection local ethnic magazine 2004.58 and 2007.51
 148 Su Duc Le Collection ethnicity, immigration, Vietnamese 2005.20
 149 Ohanesian Family Collection ethnicity, immigration, Armenian 2005.21
 150 Thelma Butler Collection furniture designer 2005.55
 151 Sanela Sprecic Collection ethnicity, immigration, Bosnian 2005.44
 152 PMGR Digital Image Collection ethnicity, Newcomers Exhbit 2005.43
 153 Gaye Sisters Collection Native American, Country Western Singers, entertainment 1993.47
 154 Ball Family Collection early Grand Rapids family various
 155 Lucius Lyon Family Collection early Grand Rapids family various
 156 Calkins Family Collection early Grand Rapids family various
 157 Dr. William H. DeCamp Collection personal papers 135633 - 135666
 158 Campau Family Collection early Grand Rapids family various
 159 Coffinberry Family Collection personal correspondence various
 160 Gunn Family Collection furniture manufacturer various
 161 Dr. Ezra Holmes Collection early Grand Rapids Dentist various
 162 Gerrit H. DeGraaf Collection business records various
 163 Rix Robinson Collection early Grand Rapids settler, family various
 164 John S. Shaw Collection patent papers 191919 - 191923
 165 Joseph J. Senkus Collection personnel records 1989.48
 166 Henry J. Northrup Family Collection personal papers, business papers various
 167 Captain John McCrath Collection personal papers, business papers 1983.71
 168 R. B. Stillwill Family Collection early Grand Rapids family, blacksmith 1984.73
 169 Richmond Family Collection early Grand Rapids family  
 170 Roberts Family Collection business records  
 171 Billius Stocking Family Collection early Grand Rapids Family various
 172 Joseph S. Tindall Collection patent papers 125075
 173 Turner - Richards Family Collection early Grand Rapids family  
 174 Senator William Alden Smith Collection personal papers 180451, various
 175 J. C. Drew Collection business records  
 176 George Thayer Collection business records  
 177 Dr. Oscar Baert Collection    
 178 Francis J. O'Connor Collection personal papers  
 179 Taylor Family Collection personal papers  
 180 Melvin E. Trotter Family Collection scrapbooks 190575, 191081
 181 Rueben Wheeler Family Collection early Grand Rapids family  
 182 VanBuren Family Collection business papers  
 183 Gilbert White Collection artist 2002.84.1
 184 Tony Bielskas Collection    
 185 Pvt. Richard Mazeriew Collection    
 186 Grand Rapids Brewing Company Cornerstone Collection cornerstone  
 187 Grand Rapids Bicentennial Committee Collection Bicentennial  
 188 Gaines Township Collection government records 129187, 190023, 190088
 189 Grand Rapids Fire Department Collection business records 197513, 203265, 1983.99.3
 190 Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Collection timetables 136963, 158671, 191964
 191 Grand Rapids Police Department Collection business records 168397, 178881, 178882
 192 Wells Family Collection personal papers, publications 189345-189370
 193 White Printing Company Collection business records 129327-129329
 194 James R. Hooper Collection business records, photographs no acc. #
 195 Clayton Cafeteria John R. Thompson Company Collection business records 1985.63
 196 Washington Dry Cleaners and Tailoring Shop Collection business records various
 197 Grand Rapids Air Defense Filter Center Collection civil defense, cold war 2005.71
 198 Bishop Furniture Company Collection furniture company 2005.74
 199 Grand River Ice Jam 2005 Collection river, environment 2005.65
 200 Woodrow VanHouten Personal Computer Collection technology 2005.83.1
 201 Lynn Riptoe Family Collection African American, ethnicity 2005.69.1-11
 202 Salling-Hanson Lumber Company lumbering 2006.3.1
 203 Daisy Travis Grand Rapids Airplane Company Collection personal photographs, airplane factory 2006.17.1
 204 Colorama Photography Studio   2006.28.1
 205 West Michigan Medical History Collection local history, medical history, medical journals and magazines 2006.45.1, 2008.20.4
 206 Gerrit Wasdyke Collection blacksmithing, horseshoeing 2006.32.1
 207 May Godfrey Egyptian Tour Archival Collection   2007.1.66
 208 Ardath Allen Collection personal photographs, papers not yet assigned
 209 Grand Rapids Textile and Machinery Company Collection textile manufacturing 2007.23.1
 210 Foremost Insurance Co./Kilmer Centennial Farm Archaeology   various
 211 Wilma Janczynska Bushewicz Illustrations Collection fashion, department store, merchandising 2007.2.1
 212 Spirit of Solidarity Memorabilia Archival Collection   2008.20.1
 213 Arthur W. Conrad Furniture Design Collection furniture 2007.41.1
 214 Nellie Clement Mead Collection family, personal 2007.39.1
 215 Naylor and Brown Families Collection family photographs 2008.42.1
 216 Knudsen Collection Grand Rapids Couple Gear Company, Holson Motor Patents Co., The K.K. Motor Wheel Co., The American Electric Vehicle Co. 2008.5.1
 217 Alvena Franzen, Army Nurse   2008.27.1
 218 Emma J. Cole Collection women's history, local history, botany 2008.43.1
 219 Visual Education Department Collection materials from School Loan Collection, c. 1940s - 1990s  
 220 Henry J. Tazelaar American Seating Company Church Division Archival Collection furniture design, church furniture 2008.35.1
 221 The Blossom Family Archival Collection Native Americans, Pow Wows, American Indian Movement 2008.29.1
222 Gerald and Eleanor Bax Paperweight Collector's Reference Materials  paperweights, collecting
  2008.37.1
 224 Mrs. J. E. Livingston Collection local business, woman-owned business 2008.44.1