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This Week and Women's History |
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Soon we will send reports and pictures on recent events. For now, let's focus on the remainder of this week. Visit our website (www.ggrwhc.org) or scroll down for information about Abigail Adams and women's underwear on stage--and tomorrow evening get the "women's angle" on Jewish history in Grand Rapids. Get out your umbrellas and attend at Temple Emanuel!
A new exhibit and part of tomorrow's program, "Grand Rapids History: The Jewish Connection," will focus on early Jewish women who were among the "social entrepreneurs" in Grand Rapids bringing the "same drive and strategic intent" as their male counterparts to community building.
You'll be hearing more from us about what we can learn about local history from Claire Gaudiani's new book, Daughters of the Declaration: How Women Social Entrepreneurs Built the American Dream:
http://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/publicaffairsbooks-cgi-bin/display?book=9781610390316&view=excerpt
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 "Grand Rapids History:
The Jewish Connection"
Rabbi Michael Schadick, Temple Emanuel
Peg Finkelstein and Barbara Robinson, The Peg and Mort
Finkelstein Archives
7PM, Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Temple Emanuel will open its doors for a program that could be titled the "long" Jewish connection in Grand Rapids. Documents housed at Temple Emanuel indicate that Grand Rapids' first permanent Jewish settler arrived in 1852. Nearly 160 years later, Julius Houseman is part of our city's rich history. A city alderman, our first Jewish mayor and, in 1883, our representative to the 48th Congress of the United States, Houseman was also among the founders of Temple Emanuel in 1857, the fifth oldest Reform congregation in the nation.
Referring to materials from the Peg and Mort Finkelstein Archive, Rabbi Michael Schadick will provide an overview of West Michigan Jewish history and illustrate how waves of immigrants from different parts of Europe at different times explain the differences among Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative Judaism today. After he untangles the histories of local Jewish institutions (Ahavas Achim and Beth Israel merged to form Ahavas Israel), archivist Barbara Robinson will recount how archival materials also tell the evolving story of women congregants: how they moved beyond auxiliary roles, became dues-paying members in their own right, and contributed to the general welfare of the surrounding community. From front to back, the halls of Temple Emanuel exhibit artifacts and a progression of exhibits created by Peg Finkelstein who, with her husband Mort, endowed the Temple Emanuel archive. She and Robinson have begun training others in the preservation of historical materials, and Finkelstein will discuss the system they have developed to house the Temple Emanuel treasure trove.
Congregants can be justifiably proud to have created an archival model showing how community institutions can gather and protect the materials of their heritage. Before the program on Thursday, November 10th, roam the exhibit halls and visit the Archive itself. Afterward, enjoy conversation and a reception hosted by the Archive. (www.grhistory.org)
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Opening Friday;
John and Abigail Adams LIVE in Grand Rapids
My Dearest Friend
at Dog Story Theater
"My Dearest Friend", a new play by Mary G. Kron, depicts an early American relationship that can serve as a prism through which to understand more fully the history of our country's beginnings--and how women were players. Abigail Adams was a strong woman with strong views on equal rights for women and slavery. Short, fat, loud, and tactless, John Adams was an underdog who accomplished great things and had a vision of what America could be. Husband-and-wife team Gary Mitchell and Mary Beth Quillian bring them alive in this two-character play; Abigail, with a war at her doorstep, and John, in Philadelphia stubbornly trying to get Congress to agree to declare independence.
John and Abigail Adams open Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. $15 for adults and $8 for students and seniors: http://www.dogstorytheater.com/2011/09/24/my-dearest-friend-nov-11-13/ |
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
Saturday, Novermber 12th, Women's City Club
Kendall College professor Suzanne Eberle will present the fascinating history of women's underpinnings at a brunch and fashion show at the Women's City Club (254 East Fulton St). Throughout history underwear has literally shaped women's bodies, changing the silhouette of fashion and at the same time reflecting and creating attitudes about women and their social, political, and cultural roles. The cost of the 11:30am event is $20, including tax and gratuity. Reserve TODAY! at womenscityclub@iserv.net or call 616-459-3321. (www.womenscityclubgr.org)
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Saturday, January 21st, for a whole day of local history at the Grand Rapids Public Library!
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Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 pm at the Vanderveen Center for the Book at the Grand Rapids Public Library. If you have suggestions for programs, oral histories or other items, please email us at info@ggrwhc.org or plan to attend a meeting. |
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| Not a current member of GGRWHC? Membership is easy and helps offset the expenses associated with research and programming presented each year. Your membership helps to set the record straight on the women who've made history here in our community. |
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And, continues to help women make history, every day! |
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