Sponsored by Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Contact: Gilbert R. Davis, 616-452-9324
 
Monday, March 15
The WGVU Morning Show with Shelley Irwin: The Week in Women's History
Focus on the Ford Series with blues historian Kim D. Rush. Host Shelley Irwin and guests from the GGRWHC will survey the week's programming, with emphasis on Thursday evening at the Ford Museum. See calendar under March 18th.
10:30 am, WGVU 88.5 FM
Sponsored by WGVU & Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council
Contact: Shelley Irwin, 616-304-3565
 
Monday, March 15
Grand Rapids on the Road to Women's Suffrage
In honor of the 90th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment in 2010, an airing of the 75-minute 1999 re-enactment of the national suffrage convention held in Grand Rapids (with Susan B. Anthony) at St. Cecilia Music Society in 1899.
6:00 pm, GRTV/Cable Channel 25; repeated on March 28.
Sponsored by Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council & GRTV
Contact: Kellie Ashcroft, 616-459-4788, ext 105
 
Monday, March 15
The Resilient Tradition of Grand Rapids Women in Elective Politics
A 45-minute program by Jo Ellyn Clarey on the long and fascinating history of Grand Rapids women running for public office. Originally presented for the Progressive Women's Alliance in March 2005.
7:15 pm, GRTV/Cable Channel 25; repeated on March 27.
Sponsored by Progressive Women's Alliance & GRTV
Contact: Kellie Ashcroft, 616-459-4788, ext 105
or Melissa Anderson, 616-498-8829
 
Tuesday, March 16
Sisters, Schoolgirls and Sleuths: The Secrets of Girl Detectives
Grand Valley State University librarian Patricia Bravender will discuss Golden Age girls mystery series, published from the 1930s through the 1960s, and will bring books from her extensive collection of Nancy Drew, Dana Girls, Judy Bolton and Trixie Belden novels.
7:00 pm, Grand Rapids Public Library, Vander Veen Center, 4th floor, 111 Library St NE
Sponsored by Grand Rapids Public Library
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Kristen Corrado, 616-988-5402 x5438
 
Wednesday, March 17
Glance at the Past: A Historical Moment from the Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Dolores Smith Hruby, Composer of Choral Music: Filling the Gap Post-Vatican II
8:30 am and 5:30 pm, WYCE  88.1 FM
Using http://www.archive.org/index.php, type glance at the past in the search box; or using http://www.grcmc.org/radio/, scroll down checking for Glance at the Past by Wednesday dates.
Sponsored by Community Media Center, Grand Rapids Historical Commission & Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council
Contact: Matt Jarrells, 616-459-4788 x112
 
Wednesday, March 17
Huntington Pillar Awards Luncheon
Honoring West Michigan employers who empower women in the workplace.
11:45 am - 1:30 pm, Amway Hotel, Ambassador Ballroom, 227 Pearl Street NW
Sponsored by Women's Resource Center
Cost: $50
Contact: Lydia Michael, 616-458-5443
 
Wednesday, March 17
A Tribute to Margaret Sanger & Forum on Women's Reproductive Health Care
Panelists will address the legal, political, policy, and on-the-street aspects of reproductive health issues for women in the context of the current health care debate--however it is being defined in March.
Panelists: Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan, Sarah Scranton, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (23rd District), Gayla Jewell, Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center
5:00 pm-social time/wine ticket bar; 5:30 pm-program; Women's City Club, Lower level auditorium, 254 E Fulton
Sponsored by Progressive Women's Alliance
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Melissa Anderson, 616-498-8829
 
Thursday, March 18
Anna Karen Van Deventer: "A Dash of Taste"
Van Deventer will share experiences about everyday life as she "whips" up goodies at a WCC luncheon/program. She loves history, is a purveyor of fine antiques, and restores century-old homes.
10:30 am, Women's City Club, 254 E Fulton
Sponsored by Women's City Club
Cost: $17, prepay by March 15.
Contact: Carol Dodge, 616- 459-3321
 
Thursday, March 18
Thursdays at the Ford: A Series on Women's History
Giving Up the Blues for Gospel: The Story of Women Blues Singers in Grand Rapids
Hard to find in Grand Rapids, our women blues singers have nevertheless made a colorful group. Uncover the blues scene here when Kim Rush uses the experience of Sippie Wallace to set the context for 1950s and 1960s area women who also tended to move away from singing the "devil's music" (at the Horseshoe Bar on Grandville SW) toward singing gospel at church. Rush has uncovered and documented the stories of Eddie Ingram, Mona Sallie, Roberta Bradley, and a few surprising others through filmed oral histories. Taking a period look at a Grand Rapids blues scene thriving in the African American community, Rush will give us a front seat for pictures, documents, testimonials--and of course some blues! Several performers plan to attend.
7:00 pm, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl NW
Sponsored by Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids Historical Society, & Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Diana Barrett, 616-443-7503
 
Friday, March 19
When Did 'Feminism' Become the New F-Word?
Tracing the changing fortunes of the word 'feminism': its early days in the nineteenth century, its heyday in the 1970s, and perceptions of it in the twenty-first century.
Speaker: Rosemary Erickson Johnsen of Governors State University
7:30 pm, Women's City Club, Lower level auditorium, 254 E Fulton
Sponsored by American Association of University Women
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Mary Jane Keeler, 616-453-2240
 
Saturday, March 20
The Rocking Chair Experience III: Sojourner Truth's Legacy
Meet descendants of Sojourner Truth as they share her life story and the impact her life still has on us today. (Artifacts displayed.)
12:30 pm, The Social Exchange Room, 1956 Eastern
Sponsored by National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Club, Inc.
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Maggie Hankins, 616-243-2963

Contact: Kyle Irwin,