LEGACY Lookout-Week 4

143 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Phone: 616-234-3603

www.ggrwhc.org

March 21, 2010

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Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council

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Jennifer Marbury Bryant

Gayle Davis

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LEGACY Lookout - Week 4

LEGACY 2010 Celebrates Women's History Month in Grand Rapids

Greetings!

Legacy 2010 salutes women at work and play in Grand Rapids for only ten more days!

This means, don't wait to reserve your spot for the Legacy 2010 Finale next Wednesday at the Women's City Club. WGVU's Shelley Irwin will host Climbing the Hill: 150 Years of Women Physicians in Grand Rapids, a program illustrating the rich history of local women physicians, then and now, by Marsha D. Rappley, MD, Dean of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and Jo Ellyn Clarey, Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council. Enjoy free hors d'oeuvres and wine ticket bar ($5/glass) beginning at 5 pm. Reserve at KSIrwin73@aol.com or 616-454-2425, for a final tip of the hat to historical and contemporary women in Grand Rapids!

But, first, join us for the final of our Thursdays at the Ford Series, on Thursday, March 25, when Diana Barrett discusses the twists and turns in the life of a notorious "courtesan." At 30 years old, Georgie Young retired in 1889 and published A Magdalen's Life to fund a home rescuing "fallen women." Beginning with business success in her field, this Grand Rapids woman metamorphosed into property owner, philanthropist, author, and actress. Hear about Georgie's very industrious journey through early Grand Rapids at 7 pm this Thursday.

But, first, treat a child in your life to Get a Clue with Nancy Drew at the Grand Rapids Public Library on Thursday afternoon. Also, listen to the podcast about Mabel Balyeat, founder of the Kent District Library during the Depression, and check out the virtual histories of two intriguing ethnic women connected to Grand Rapids: Thelma Estelle Garnet and Etta Smith Wilson .

On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings learn about women's history a little farther afield. Cornell University professor Margaret Washington visits the Grand Rapids Public Library on Wednesday, and draws from her recent book to talk about Sojourner Truth in Michigan. On Tuesday, the Lowell Area Historical Museum sponsors a one-woman show introducing you to a nineteenth-century abolitionist and a female soldier in the Civil War. Earlier in the day the GVSU Women's Center salutes the American women's tea party tradition that led to self-education and social reform. While Georgie Young probably wouldn't have been invited, you certainly are! See the calendar below for complete details.

Although this week ends the Thursdays at the Ford Series, there are still activities scheduled for the following week before we wrap up the 2010 celebration of Women's History! Be sure to make your reservations for the Finale on the 31st and for the Women's City Club program on Grand Rapids women's baseball on the 30th. The latter requires pre-payment and a reservation this week for the dinner: dodger@voyager.net or 616-459-3321.

We're looking forward to seeing you at the LEGACY programs this week!

Best Regards,

LEGACY 2010 Steering Committee Members

Falinda Geerling, Chairperson

JoEllyn Clarey, Program Chairperson

Jennifer Marbury Bryant

Kyle Irwin

Marjo Jordan, administrative assistant

Mary Jane Keeler

Helen Kinsworthy

Jennifer Morrison

Maureen Fitzgerald Penn, Communications Chairperson

Pamela Vanden Berg

Jolan Webster

LEGACY -- Week 4 Calendar of Events

View the full calendar for events all month long!

Monday, March 22
The WGVU Morning Show with Shelley Irwin: The Week in Women's History
Focus on the Ford Series with GRHC's Diana Barrett & GGRWHC's Mary Seeger
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 25th.
10:30 am, WGVU 88.5 FM
Sponsored by WGVU & Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council
Contact: Shelley Irwin, irwinsh@gvsu.edu, 616-304-3565

Tuesday, March 23
Continuing a Legacy: GVSU Women's Center Tea Party
The centuries-old tradition of tea parties was used as a venue for women to share discussions of literature, politics and reform.
3:00-4:30 pm, GVSU Grand River Room/Kirkhof Center, 1201 KC, Allendale
Sponsored by Grand Valley State University Women's Center
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Jo Ann Wassenaar, womenctr@gvsu.edu, wassenaj@gvsu.edu, 616-331-2748

Tuesday, March 23
Women Who Changed America
This one-woman show brings to life women who changed America. Marie Papciak introduces you to a woman Civil War soldier and an abolitionist.
7:00 pm, Lowell Township Hall, 2910 Alden Nash Avenue SE, Lowell
Sponsored by Lowell Area Historical Museum
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Pat Allchin, pallchin@lowellmuseum.org, 616-897-7688

Photo Essays of the Week: Virtual History from the Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Ethnicity and Women at Work: Thelma Estelle Garnet and Etta Smith Wilson
View Anytime! http://www.historygrandrapids.org/
Sponsored by Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Contact: Jennifer Morrison, jen@mi-stories.com, 616-248-2706

Wednesday, March 24
Sojourner Truth in Michigan
Visiting from Cornell University, Professor Margaret Washington will discuss her new book, Sojourner Truth's America, an in-depth account of an amazing activist.
7:00 pm, Grand Rapids Public Library Auditorium, 111 Library St NE
Sponsored by Grand Rapids Public Library
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Kristen Corrado, kcorrado@grpl.org, 616-988-5402 x5438

Wednesday, March 24
Glance at the Past: A Historical Moment from the Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Mabel Balyeat, A New Deal for Books: Starting the Kent District Library during the Great Depression
8:30 am and 5:30 pm, WYCE 88.1 FM
Or listen anytime: click on http://www.historygrandrapids.org/podcasts/podcast.php
Sponsored by Community Media Center, Grand Rapids Historical Commission & Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council
Contact: Matt Jarrells, matt@wyce.org, 616-459-4788 x112

Thursday, March 25
Get a Clue with Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew has been solving cases since the 1930s. How has she changed through the years? Games, activities and crafts for ages 8 and up.
5:30 pm, Grand Rapids Public Library Auditorium, 111 Library St NE
Sponsored by Grand Rapids Public Library
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Kristen Corrado, kcorrado@grpl.org, 616-988-5402 x5438

Thursday, March 25
Thursdays at the Ford: A Series on Women's History
Grand Rapids' Most Famous Courtesan: Georgie Young
Beginning with business success in the "oldest profession," a young nineteenth-century Grand Rapids woman metamorphosed into property owner, philanthropist, author, and actress.
Speaker: Diana E. Barrett, Grand Rapids Historical Commission
7:00 pm, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl NW
Sponsored by Grand Rapids Historical Commission, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids Historical Society, & Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council
Free and open to the public.
Contact: Jo Ellyn Clarey, joellynclarey@yahoo.com, 616-443-4946

Saturday, March 27
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.
8:00 pm, GRTV/Cable Channel 25
Sponsored by Progressive Women's Alliance & GRTV
Contact: Kellie Ashcroft, kellie@grcmc.org, 616-459-4788, ext 105
Melissa Anderson, mjapwa@gmail.com, 616-498-8829

Sunday, March 28
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.
4:00 pm, GRTV/Cable Channel 25
Sponsored by Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council & GRTV
Contact: Kellie Ashcroft, kellie@grcmc.org, 616-459-4788, ext 105

Looking further out . . . Our Finale Event!

RSVP now.

Wednesday, March 31
Legacy 2010 Finale
Climbing the Hill: 150 Years of Women Physicians in Grand Rapids
WGVU's Shelley Irwin will host a reception welcoming Marsha D. Rappley, MD, to the Grand Rapids community. The dean of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine will join Jo Ellyn Clarey, Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council, in a short program illustrating the rich history of local women physicians, then and now.
5 - 7 pm Hors d'oeuvres & wine ticket bar ($5/glass); 5:30 pm - program begins.
Women's City Club, Lower level auditorium, 254 E Fulton
Sponsored by Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council
Free and open to the public, but reservations requested.

Contact: Kyle Irwin,

616-454-2425

Please take a moment to forward this message to others you know who may be interested in our LEGACY 2010 events or Women's History in general. If you've received this message as a forward, please consider joining our mailing list (click on the button in the left column above!) in order to receive future updates about programming.

Thank you for your interest in preserving and celebrating the history of the many phenomonal 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 register using Pay Pal online!

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