Baxter Award

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="052085a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Papyrus" ><B>Grand Rapids Historical Society</B><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Papyrus" ><B>   </B><B> </B></FONT><B>|   </B><A HREF="http://www.grhistory.org/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grhistory.org/index.htm"><U><B>  </B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.grhistory.org/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grhistory.org/index.htm"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm"><U>Back to the </U></A><A HREF="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm"><U><B>Features</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm"><U> </U></A><A HREF="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grhistory.org/id27.htm"><U>page</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="053d2e83.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.grhistory.org/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grhistory.org/index.htm"><U><IMG SRC="05ab5b40.png" border=0 width="181" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Collecting and preserving an accurate record of our past, and teaching our diverse local history to future generations.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Papyrus" > </FONT></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="05507073.jpg"> <div> <B>Baxter Award</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="703" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BELOW" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 432 WIDTH="346"><bR> <bR> <div> In May each year, the Albert E. Baxter Award is presented at the annual banquet and meeting of the Grand Rapids Historical Society.  The award was created by the Society in 1980 to honor persons who have made significant contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Grand River Valley history.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Baxter Award is named after Albert Baxter author of the History of the City of Grand Rapids published in November, 1890.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> This was not the first history of Grand Rapids published, but this 840-page book set the standard for every Grand Rapids historian that followed, especially in the author's painstaking attention to correct details. </div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0adb5bc0.jpg" border=0 width="181" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="333" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 201 WIDTH="327"><div>  </div> <div> Baxter wrote this about his </div> <div> personal history in the book:</div> <bR> <div> " Waymarks along the path of his experience are sketched by himself to make sure of their correctness." And in the preface: "It has cost three years of labor and waiting: in part pleasurable and in part vexatious and tantalizing."</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="4" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="502" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="ABOVE" RULES="ROWS" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 63 WIDTH="496"><bR> <div> <B>2010 Baxter Award</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="4" CELLSPACING="2" WIDTH="726" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 837 WIDTH="378"><div> Every year the Albert Baxter Award is presented at the Annual Meeting and Banquet in May to someone who has contributed to the preservation and interpretation of the history of the Grand River Valley.   This year the Board of Trustees will honor <B>Michael Johnston</B>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Mr. Johnston</B>, a popular history teacher at <A HREF="http://www.khps.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.khps.org/"><U>Kenowa Hills Public Schools</U></A> and well-known local labor historian, supporter and writer, has been awarded the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Tahoma" ><B>Albert E. Baxter Award</B></FONT> for 2010 from the <B>Grand Rapids Historical Society</B>. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Johnston</B>, the Executive Director and Co-founder of the <B>Labor Heritage Society of West Michigan</B>, has long held a deep social conscience As an activist, researcher, radio host, and writer, he is a frequent guest speaker and workshop leader on labor, radical, and social history of Grand Rapids. Among his presentations were those for the <A HREF="http://www.uaw.org/node/2097" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.uaw.org/node/2097"><U><B>UAW Local Union Press Association</B></U></A>, <A HREF="http://www.miaflcio.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.miaflcio.org/"><U><B>Michigan State AFL-CIO</B></U></A>, <A HREF="http://www.hsmichigan.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hsmichigan.org/"><U><B>Michigan Historical Society</B></U></A>, and the </div> <div> <B>Grand Rapids Historical Society</B>. </div> <bR> <div> During his twenties, <B>Johnston</B> dropped out of <A HREF="http://www.gvsu.edu/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gvsu.edu/"><U><B>Grand Valley State University</B></U></A> to become a campaign boycott worker for legendary labor leader <A HREF="http://www.ufw.org/_page.php?inc=history/07.html&menu=research" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ufw.org/_page.php?inc=history"><U><B>Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union</B></U></A><B> </B>in Grand Rapids and later in California.</div> <bR> <div> He also has been involved in the <B>Grand Valley Labor News</B>, the official periodical of the <B>Kent/Ionia AFL-CIO</B> where he was named its assistant editor in 1978 and promoted to editor in 1981 and later to senior editor, a position he still retains. </div> <bR> <div> In recent years, he played a leadership role in establishing the <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spirit of Solidarity"><U><B>Spirit of Solidarity National Labor Monument</B></U></A> in front of the <A HREF="http://www.ford.utexas.edu/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ford.utexas.edu/"><U><B>Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum</B></U></A> in Grand Rapids. Dedicated in 2007, this nine-foot-tall monument of three bronze figures commemorates Grand Rapids’ historic 1911 furniture strike that dramatically changed Grand Rapids' economic and political structures for decades.  </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="326"><bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2600b600.gif" border=0 width="267" height="352" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The monument represents a fitting culmination of Johnston's earlier efforts from 1989 to 1994 when he was a research consultant for the <A HREF="http://www.grmuseum.org/exhibits/furniture_city" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grmuseum.org/exhibits/furnitu"><U><B>Furniture City Exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum</B></U></A>.  His research and collection of artifacts documented this brutal strike that brought much of the city to a standstill throughout the summer of 1911 and affected more than 5,000 workers and 60 factories. During his research, he discovered two priceless hand-painted silk trade union banners used during the strike that became the centerpiece of the comprehensive <A HREF="http://www.grmuseum.org/exhibits/furniture_city" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.grmuseum.org/exhibits/furnitu"><U><B>Furniture City Exhibit</B></U></A> in downtown Grand Rapids.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Baxter Award</B> is presented at the annual banquet meeting of the <B>Grand Rapids Historical Society</B> each May.  <B>Baxter</B>'s 840-page book is not the first historical account of Grand Rapids, but his dedication to accuracy and rich detail set the standard for every city historian that followed in his footsteps.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="4" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="617" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="ABOVE" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2218 WIDTH="611"><bR> <bR> <div> <B>Past  Baxter  Award  Recipients</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2009     Milton Ehlert</B></div> <div> His quiet research and writing led to his recruitment by Z. Z. Lydens in the 1960s to the team that worked on the last major broad-based history of this city, The Story of Grand Rapids.   His section of the book was the histories of the parks and cemeteries in Grand Rapids.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2008     Diana Barrett</B></div> <div> Working with the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council, serving on the Grand Rapids Historical Commission, the main force behind the creation and maintenance of their website (historygrandrapids.org), and for her historical research on the Women's Committee of the Council National Defense cards, collected during World War I and now stored in the archives of the Grand Rapids Public Library.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2007      John Logie</B></div> <div> Three term mayor and strong voice for historic preservation as a tool for economic revitalization for Grand Rapids.  His policies established several historic districts as well as intimate involvement in the creation of the Heritage Hill Association and the Local Historic District Act.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2006     Dr. Carl Bajema</B></div> <div>      GVSU Professor, collector, historian and Grand Rapids Historical Commission member.  Dr. Bajema's major contribution is the Bajema Newspaper Collection in the Grand Rapids Public Library archives.  The collection contains early newspaper articles on subjects from African Americans to Police and Fire, Baseball, Bicycles, and from Women to the Labor Movement.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2005      Bill Cunningham</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>25 years of dedicated work in the creation and development of the Grand Rapids Community Archives and Records Center.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2004      Bruce and Marcia Butgereit</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Conceivers of the restoration of the Kent County Civil War Monument and dedicated local historians.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2003      Charles Bocskey</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Longtime president of Grand Rapids Historical Society responsible for energizing annual lecture series, expanding membership and increasing financial support.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2002      Gordon Olson</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Grand Rapids City Historian for 23 years and author of numerous books on city history.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2001      Edward V. Gillis</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Author of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#993333" FACE="Tahoma" >Growing Up In Old LithuanianTown</FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2000      Rev. Dennis Morrow</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Expert on historic houses of Grand Rapids, created  historic houses of Grand Rapids archives at Grand Rapids Public Library.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1999      Jo Ellyn Clarey</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Women's history activist who organized 100th year celebration of Women's Suffrage Convention in Grand Rapids.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1998      Richard Harms, Ph. D</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Archivist at Grand Rapids Public Library and Calvin College, author of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#993333" FACE="Tahoma" >Grand Rapids Goes To War: The Home Front In World War II</FONT>, and numerous articles on local history.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1997      Jane H. Idema</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Founder of Aquinas College Emeritus College, and  Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1996      Eduard A. Skendzel, Ph. D</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Author of numerous books on Polish in Michigan and creator of Skendzel Collection of Michigan Polish history material at Grand Rapids Public Library.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1995      Herbert Brinks, Ph. D</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Calvin College professor, head of Heritage Collection, and author of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#993333" FACE="Tahoma" >Write Back Soon, Letters from Dutch immigrants in America</FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1994      Melvin C. Goolsby</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Local African American historian and genealogist.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1993      Evelyn M. Sawyer</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Genealogist and volunteer at Grand Rapids Public Library, responsible for numerous local genealogical indexes and publications.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1992      J. Wagner Wheeler</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Director of Grand Rapids Inter-Tribal Council and founder of Michigan Indian Press.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1991      William Bennett</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Author of a history of East Grand Rapids.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1990      Mary Jane Dockeray, Ph. D</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Developed Blandford Nature Center, including the historic structures and planned historic activities.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1989      W.D.  Frankforter</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>As Public Museum director he was responsible for numerous exhibits featuring local ethnic groups. </div> <bR> <div> <B>1988      Mary Ann Edmond</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Grand Rapids Public School teacher who researched and wrote about local African American Community and Underground Railroad in Michigan.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1987      Richard Flanders</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>An archaeologist at Grand Valley State University who studied Norton Indian Mounds.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1986      Barbara Roelofs</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Historic preservation activist who was one of founders of Heritage Hill Historic District</div> <bR> <div> <B>1985      Frank Dumond</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Longtime director of Public Museum of Grand Rapids, and while director he developed turnoff the century Gaslight Village</div> <bR> <div> <B>1984      Rev. John Whalen McGee</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Author of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#993333" FACE="Tahoma" >Bend In The River</FONT>, a history of Granville, and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#993333" FACE="Tahoma" >History of Catholic Church In Grand River Valley</FONT><I>, </I>as well as a history of Irish in West Michigan.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1983      Gerald Elliot</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Grand Rapids Press writer who authored <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#993333" FACE="Tahoma" >Grand Rapids: Renaissance On The Grand.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1982      William A. Johnson</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Former Grand Rapids Police Chief and City Commissioner. A Lifelong student of history who helped establish City Historian position.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1981      Sr. Marie Heyda</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>For her career in teaching  history at Aquinas College, and for service on Grand Rapids Historical Society Board of Trustees and for publication of several articles on Grand Rapids history.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1980      Homer Burch</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>For his Lifelong study of the Grand River, created Grand River archives that is now housed at the Rockford Public Library.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 3 WIDTH="611"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="3" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="611" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Features"><U><B>RETURN TO FEATURES PAGE</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Rapids Historical Society"><U><B>RETURN TO HOME PAGE</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>