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 Things of History: Artifacts and Their Stories
December 14, 2008
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.
Charlie Hays: Home Builder
January 11, 2009
One of the most important developers of commercial, industrial, and residential properties in Kalamazoo was Charles B. Hays. This program will explore the story of this fascinating, but little-known, man that chose to be identified on his tombstone simply as “Home Builder.”
Where the Streets Got Their Names
January 25, 2009
A walk along the streets of Kalamazoo can reveal much about the early history of the city. Street names are often derived from the people who lived or owned property near them; businesses or institutions that were located along them; or even the original city boundaries. This program looks at the origin of a number of Kalamazoo street names.
Murder Most Foul: Notorious Murders in Kalamazoo
February 8, 2009
From lovers’ quarrels, flying bandits, and suspected witches, Kalamazoo has seen murders that could be lifted from the front pages of today’s tabloids. Curator Tom Dietz takes a look at murders in Kalamazoo that made national headlines.
Poetry Artifactory V
February 22, 2009
Join with the Friends for Poetry for a mix of poems and history. Local poets will read poems about local places, events, people, or objects. Curator of Research Tom Dietz will then give brief insights into the history those poems reveal.
Meet the Velvelettes
March 8, 2009
The original members of the Velvelettes talk about their experiences and career in this panel discussion. Audience participation is encouraged.
The Sins of Kalamazoo …Were Scarlet and Crimson
March 22, 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.
Red Terror in Kalamazoo: The 1948 Shakespeare Strike
April 26, 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.
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