Second-Chance for Local Dutch
Women's History
If you missed Janet Sjaarda Sheeres' fascinating program on single women immigrants last year, catch it tomorrow! Then scroll down here to be reminded about more upcoming programs!
Dutch Immigrant Women and Their Work in
Grand Rapids, 1880-1900
Thursday, February 16, 1:30-2:30PM
Among the many nationalities that settled in Grand Rapids, the Dutch were well represented. Underrepresented is the history of the Dutch women. Many immigrant women are subordinated in the records as wives and daughters; but in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, among the 10,640 immigrants from the province of G
roningen alone were 791 single women, unmarried or widowed. Who were these women and what work did they engage in? Born in the Netherlands herself, Janet Sheeres has been able to search Dutch sources about the plight of women and their occupations in the Netherlands and to follow them to Grand Rapids. What were conditions like for them in their new homeland? Finally, Sheeres will reflect on how first-generation immigrant Dutch women contributed to their new community as well as what hindered them from engaging fully in the American culture.
Janet Sjaarda Sheeres has been president of the Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies, chair of the Christian Reformed Church Historical Committee, and is the associate editor of Origins, the historical magazine of Calvin College's Heritage Hall Archives. Besides publishing dozens of articles, Sheeres has presented talks dozens more times on Dutch historical and genealogical topics. Her book Son of Secession: Douwe J. Vander Werp rescues a founding father of the Michigan Dutch community from obscurity. Sheeres' presentation will do the same for thousands of ordinary Dutch women.
Location: Calvin College Chapel Choir Room
Free and open to the public. Please call 616/526-8777 or call@calvin.edu if you plan to attend.
Upcoming Events!
Check our website for information on African American History Month ("Journeys to Freedom" and "Up from the Bottoms") as well as on three events on March 3rd (Mary Jane Dockeray's birthday party, Ladyfest Grand Rapids, and the West Michigan Genealogical Society): http://www.ggrwhc.org/upcomingevents.php
We hope you have already marked your calendars for GGRWHC's focus on West Michigan women and agriculture during Women's History Month. Stay tuned for more -and always be checking the website!
Three Thursdays in March: Women's History Month, 2012
WEST MICHIGAN WOMEN & THE POLITICS OF AGRICULTURE
"WWI, Women, and the Rise of Grand Rapids Farmers Markets"
by Jayson Otto, Michigan State University
7:00pm, Thursday, March 8th, 2012
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Free & Open to the Public
"Women of the Ridge: Handling the Business and Politics of West Michigan Agriculture"
by Cindy Laug, Grand Valley State University
7:00pm, Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Free & Open to the Public
Women's History Month Finale!
A book launch with authors Jaye Beeler & Dianne Carroll Burdick
Tasting and Touring Michigan's Homegrown Food: A Culinary Road Trip
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
5:00 pm Hors d'oeuvres & wine ticket bar ($5/glass); 5:30 pm: program
Women's City Club, Lower level auditorium, 254 Fulton Street
Free & Open to the Public
