Sunday History Series

Films

Music at the Museum

Fretboard Festival

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.

The Making of the Paper City
Sunday, October 24, 2010
1:30 & 3:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo’s paper industry began with the establishment of the Kalamazoo Paper Company in 1867 and grew to dominate the city’s manufacturing economy by the early 20th century. In the decades before World War II, Kalamazoo proudly called itself the “Paper City.” This program explores the rise of the paper mills and their supporting industries.

The Sins of Kalamazoo: More Murders Most Foul
Sunday, October 31, 2010
1:30 p.m.
The American poet, Carl Sandburg, described Kalamazoo sinners as drab and gray in his poem, The Sins of Kalamazoo. In this program, a sequel, we explore additional murders and attempted murders that challenge Sandburg’s claim. These crimes suggest that some of Kalamazoo’s sins are scarlet and red.

Pioneer Settlers of Kalamazoo County
Sunday, November 14, 2010
1:30 p.m.
While names like Titus Bronson, Justus Burdick, and Bazel Harrison are familiar enough to those with even a modest knowledge of Kalamazoo County, there were other men and women whose names are less familiar but who were among the first families to put down roots in the region’s settlement. This program looks at some of the less familiar but nevertheless important people who were part of the story.

The Smelting Pot: Kalamazoo’s Early Metalworking Industry     
Sunday, December 12, 2010
1:30 p.m.
Blessed with rich deposits of bog iron in the banks of the Kalamazoo River, iron foundries and metalworking shops developed to provide both farmers and city dwellers with a variety of metal goods. Before Kalamazoo was the paper city, agricultural implements, carriages, wagons, windmills, and stoves were flowing from its factories.   

Kalamazoo: Michigan’s 19th Century Carriage City?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
1:30 p.m.
Several Michigan cities vied for the title of “Carriage City” in the 19th century, including Kalamazoo. In a day when horse-drawn vehicles were essential for transportation and travel, Kalamazoo was home to numerous wagon, buggy, carriage, and sleigh manufacturers. This program explores some of the more prominent.

Celery Bitters and Sarsaparilla Bark: Nineteenth Remedies for Everything that Ails You
Sunday, January 23, 2011
1:30 p.m.
Before the Pure Food and Drug Act, before doctors understood the role of germs in illness, intrepid entrepreneurs and drug store proprietors mixed and sold their own concoctions, all with a guarantee of a complete cure of one or all of your health problems. Learn more about Kalamazoo’s contributions to these homegrown remedies.