More Women's History in March

March 17, 2018 I www.ggrwhc.org I 616-574-7307

Events in the Rest of March

Where have all the Flowers Gone?

Rediscovering Emma Cole's 19th Century Grand Rapids Flora

Monday, March 19, 6:30 - 8:30

Bunker Interpretive Center (map) at Calvin College

History and science met when Julie Stivers, who has been researching the work and life of botanist Emma Cole for years, teamed up with Calvin College Professors Crow and Warner and Calvin students.

In 1901 Emma J. Cole had published Grand Rapids Flora, a catalogue of plants growing without cultivation in Kent County. Julie will tell of this remarkable high school teacher, world traveler, and Kent Scientific Institute botanist. The college students working on this project visited all of Cole’s sites and 116 years later will compare their findings with Cole’s descriptions.

The World Through the Lens of Merze Tate

Thursday, March 22, 7:00 pm

Grand Rapids Public Library, Ryerson Auditorium

An African American girl born in 1905 in rural Michigan, Merze Tate earned a doctorate from Oxford University in the 1920s and became a trailblazer as a political writer and historian as well as through her work in the U.S. State Department. Then why did J. Edgar Hoover urge his agents to dig into the lives of Tate and those closest to her? Using

never-before published F.B.I. documents, author Sonya Bernard Hollins will explain. Her photo-biography, told through Tate’s own camera lens, will bring to life the story of this inventor, world traveler, and expert in disarmament. Despite her amazing accomplishments, Tate's life was also filled with heartbreaking setbacks because of racism and sexism. Through it all, she fought opposition with education. A book signing will follow the presentation.

GGRWHC goes to Detroit Conference

Friday & Saturday, March 23rd & 24th

Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference

Wyndham Garden in Sterling Heights, Michigan

GGRWHC's Ruth Stevens and Jo Ellyn Clarey will present "Untangling Legalities and Legends in Michigan Women's Suffrage History" at the conference on Friday, and the GGRWHC will showing off the work and successes of the Council over the last 30 years to state's largest local history conference with 600-700 registrants. See the full conference offerings. Our program will lay out the history of legislative initiatives and court decisions and reveal the crucial role played by nineteenth-century school board elections. These elections were a testing ground for women's suffrage, illustrating the importance of full and accurate research about local women throughout the nation.

Conference registration required.

Are you on our snail mail list?

Let us know if you want our

hard copy newsletter in the mail!

If you have not yet renewed your support of GGRWHC for 2018 or joined as a brand-new supporter, click below!

Visit our site

Support Us

GGRWHC | www.ggrwhc.org | 616-574-7307

Hats off to the historical women who've shaped West Michigan!

Please take a moment to forward this message to others you know who may be interested in women's history. If you've received this message as a forward, consider joining our mailing list in order to receive future updates about programming.

Thank you for your interest in preserving and celebrating the history of the many phenomenal women who've helped to shape West Michigan! If you aren't already a member of the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council, consider showing your support through annual membership. Visit our website for more information and the ability to donate using PayPal online!