The slide recognition method of training top-side battle-station personnel on board ship and all aircraft personnel was developed during World War II. Collection consists of 493 35mm black and white slides of World War II battleships, submarines,...
John Bennitt was a physician from Centreville, Michigan. He joined the 19th Michigan Infantry Regiment as an assistant surgeon, and remained in military service until the end of the war. The collection consists of over 200 letters from John Bennitt...
The GVSU Veterans History Project was established in 2006 to serve as a partner with the Library of Congress in its national effort to collect and preserve the stories of American veterans and other participants in, or witnesses to, the American...
Documents and correspondence related to the American Civil War and to the institution of slavery from 1804. A selection of documents from 10 states related to the ownership of slaves and abolition, 1805-1864; and correspondence and documents of the...
F. W. (Francis "Frank" Wallace) Beasecker was born in 1917 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He joined the Army in August 1942 and was assigned to Company A, 411th Engineer Base Shop Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Engineer Amphibious Command. He served in...
The Morton Company was organized by Matthew Morton around 1870. The company built steam engines and later produced valves for saw mills and water work plants, horse power devices, and agricultural machinery. During World War II, the Morton Company...
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865; Grant, U. S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885; Sherman, William Tecumseh, 1820-1891; United States--Politics and government--19th century; Republican National Convention; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Reminsciences about Abraham Lincoln written by a man who grew up on a farm near the Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. In his letter to Mr. Lucas, he recounts his boyhood impressions of Lincoln, of his attendance at the 1860 Republican National...
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865; Inauguration Day; United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Letter describing Abraham Lincoln's second Inaugural Address, the celebrations, and his impressions of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburgh. The letter is accompanied by an envelope addressed to Mr. Claude Hamilton from the...
Bennitt, John, 1830-1892; United States. Army. Michigan Infantry Regiment, 19th (1862-1865)--Surgeons; Surgeons—Michigan--Diaries; United States—History--Civil War, 1861-1865—Medical care; United States--Army--Corps, 20th—Medical care;...
This diary is the second of three kept by physician John Bennitt of Centreville, Michigan describing his experience as a Civil War surgeon for the 19th Michigan Infantry Regiment. The second volume (Feb. 9, 1864-Jan. 13, 1865) continues the account...
This is an interview conducted to evaluate the successes, failures, and impact of the civil rights movement at home and abroad; as well as the prospect of how one man wishes to make an impact while serving his community as a future law enforcement...
Christian Vannier discusses the civil rights differences between western and eastern Michigan. In particular, he draws on his experiences at Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University.
Steeve Buckridge was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He became a professor at Grand Valley State University several years ago. He is an Associate Professor of African and Caribbean History and Associate Faculty in African and African American Studies....
Joseph Cospito likes working on his house, playing with his children, being a stay at home dad, and listening to books on audio tape. He is a retired science professor who is married to an episcopal priest. He discusses growing up in the fifties in...
Civil rights--Michigan--History; Discrimination; Religious discrimination
Judith Claytor was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in sociology/social work. She discusses the racial and religious differences between living in Grand Rapids and Washington D.C. and...
Robert Robson is a military veteran who was born and raised in Grand Rapids. He signed a contract with the navy in 1962 and spent 4 years in active duty and 2 years in the inactive reserves. He has a lot of memories from his time in the navy and...
Helen Grahius was born and raised in Haren, Groningen, Netherlands. Later in life, she moved to West Michigan to be with her siblings. She discusses her life in the Netherlands and in the United States.
Michigan--History; Local histories; Memoirs; Oral histories (document genre); Grand Rapids (Mich.); Personal narratives; Heritage Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.); Grand Valley State University
Chester Idema was born on 18 August 1886 in Grand Rapids. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1909. He worked at the Elliot Machine Co. in Pennsylvania. In 1913, he married Marion Mead. During WWI, Mr. Idema enlisted in the military. ...
