Sunday History Series

Tom Dietz, Kalamazoo Valley Museum Curator of Research, offers insights into local history from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater.
All programs are free

Advance tickets for all events can be obtained in person at the Museum or by phone. Call 269/373-7990 or 800/772-3370.
Free tickets are limited to 4 per household or group.
Seats that are not occupied fifteen (15) minutes before show time will be released to other guests.

Sunday Series 2008-09

Edward Israel, Kalamazoo’s Arctic Pioneer  
September 21, 2008                       
A Michigan Historic Site marker in Mountain Home Cemetery identifies the grave of Edward Israel, a native of Kalamazoo, who died on an ill-fated Arctic voyage in the 1880s. Learn more about this young man, his family, his life, and his times in this program that marks the International Polar Year.

Kalamazoo College: 175 Years of Academic Excellence
October 5, 2008
Marlene Francis, a former member of the Board of Trustees of Kalamazoo College, has recently written a new book on the College’s history as it marks its 175th anniversary. She will speak on the ongoing relationship between the College and the community.

Toys and Games from Kalamazoo
October 19, 2008
From Flinch and Duplicate Whist to croquet and sleds, Kalamazoo has been home to many toy, game, and recreational equipment manufacturers. Tom Dietz explores the people and companies that made “kid stuff” here in Kalamazoo.
 
Murder Most Foul: Notorious Murders in Kalamazoo
November 2, 2008
From victims of lovers’ quarrels to suspected witches, Kalamazoo has seen murders that could be lifted from the front pages of today’s tabloids. Mark the Halloween weekend with a look at the shadier side of Kalamazoo history.

The Four Corners of Kalamazoo County
November 16, 2008
From Saturday night dances at McKain’s Corners to the blacksmith at Carpenter’s Corners (at the intersection of Westnedge and Milham), Kalamazoo County had numerous four-corner settlements that were the focus of township life in the 19th century. This program explores these and other small settlements that have mostly been forgotten or eclipsed today.

The Things of History: Artifacts and Their Stories
January 11, 2009
Curator Tom Dietz explores yet more artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection. Learn how objects reveal the life and times of those who made or owned them.

The Sins of Kalamazoo …Were Scarlet and Crimson
January 25, 2009
From red-light districts to Prohibition Era speakeasies, Kalamazoo’s sins were not the drab, dishwater gray that Carl Sandburg wrote about in his poem, The Sins of Kalamazoo. Curator Tom Dietz explores the lesser known side of Kalamazoo’s history in this intriguing program.

Friends of Poetry: Poetry Artifactory V
February 1, 2009
The fifth annual presentation of poetry and local history features new work by local poets. The poems address an issue, topic, or artifact related to local history and Curator of Research Tom Dietz provides the background historical information.

Famous Visitors to Kalamazoo
February 22, 2009
Kalamazoo may have started as a small outpost on the Michigan frontier in 1829 but it attracted many prominent visitors. Learn more about the authors, musicians, lecturers, and other celebrities who made their way through Kalamazoo in the 19th century.

Girl Groups
March 15, 2009

Red Terror in Kalamazoo: The 1948 Shakespeare Strike
April 19, 2009
A strike by the United Steelworkers against the Shakespeare Company in 1948 turned violent when a “flying squadron” of union sympathizers from Detroit came to show their support from the strike. In the Cold War atmosphere, some perceived the disturbance as evidence of communist terrorism. This program focuses on a facet of Kalamazoo’s labor history that attracted national attention.

TBD 
May 3, 2009