Finding aid for the Father Dennis Morrow history of Grand Rapids collection Collection 273 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on November 12, 2018. Describing Archives: A Content Standard Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department 111 Library Street NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 [email protected] URL: http://www.grpl.org Finding aid for the Father Dennis Morrow history of Grand Rapids collection Collection 273 Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical / Historical ................................................................................................................................ 3 Scope and Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 4 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 5 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Series I. Biographical .................................................................................................................................. 5 Subseries A. General ................................................................................................................................ 5 Subseries B. Vocation as Priest ............................................................................................................... 6 Subseries C. Community Activities ......................................................................................................... 6 Series II. Personal Research ........................................................................................................................ 7 Subseries A. Gathered At The River Project ........................................................................................... 7 Subseries B. West Side Research ............................................................................................................. 7 Subseries C. Other History Research ....................................................................................................... 8 Subseries D. Railroad and Transportation ............................................................................................... 8 Series III. Information on Grand Rapids & Kent County Buildings .......................................................... 8 Subseries A. Building Survey .................................................................................................................. 8 Subseries B. City Information .................................................................................................................. 8 Subseries C. Building By Neighborhood ............................................................................................... 10 Series IV. Images. ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Subseries A. Photographs. Fire Related, including fire engines, engine houses or stations .................. 13 Subseries B. Photographs. Grand Rapids Buildings .............................................................................. 14 Subseries C. Negatives ......................................................................................................................... 218 Series V. Slide Presentations .................................................................................................................. 219 Carousel #1 List of Slides .................................................................................................................... 219 Carousel #2. List of Slides ................................................................................................................... 224 Carousel #3 List of Slides .................................................................................................................... 228 Carousel #4 List of Slides .................................................................................................................... 230 - Page 2 - Finding aid for the Father Dennis Morrow history of Grand Rapids collection Collection 273 Summary Information Repository: Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department Title: Father Dennis Morrow history of Grand Rapids collection ID: Collection 273 Date [inclusive]: 1830s-2000s Date [bulk]: 1970-2003 Physical Description: 8.4 Linear Feet Language of the English Material: Abstract: Father Dennis W. Morrow is the pastor of St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, archivist for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids and chaplain for the Grand Rapids Fire and Police Departments. Father Morrow grew up on the West Side of Grand Rapids, Michigan and has a deep knowledge of the history of the area. This collection contains mostly photographs that Father Morrow took or collected. The photographs document the 1950s US-131 freeway construction project, houses and buildings throughout Grand Rapids and images related to the fire department. The collection is particularly strong in capturing images of buildings after fires and/or before demolition. Also included is biographical information, research documents and ephemera. ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical / Historical Father Morrow is pastor of St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, on the West Side of Grand Rapids, west of the Grand River. Father Morrow grew up on the West Side, and has a deep knowledge of the history of this area in particular, as reflected in his slide presentation included in this collection, which documents the areas lost to that community, through the 1950's 131 Freeway Construction Project. Additionally, Father Morrow has an extensive interest in the buildings of Grand Rapids, and has included in this collection numerous images of structures gathered through his research, and also through his activities as Chaplain for the Police and Fire Departments. As Archivist for the Diocese Archives since 1976, he has continued to build the historical files of that Archives related to the area Catholic Churches, but has also acted as a volunteer at the Grand Rapids - Page 3- Finding aid for the Father Dennis Morrow history of Grand Rapids collection Collection 273 Public Library Archives. He routinely serves as agent to bring new items to the GRPL collections in general. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Contents The largest percentage of data in Father Morrow's Collection are the many photographs of buildings which he has collected. These have been acquired from a variety of sources, including images which are in other GRPL archival collections. This duplication within collections may come from the Morrow image originating in a GRPL collection, or from Father Morrow's work to acquire images from new lenders, which were added to the GRPL archival collections as well as his own, both before or since he has given this collection to the Library. ^ Return to Table of Contents Administrative Information Publication Statement Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department 111 Library Street NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 [email protected] URL: http://www.grpl.org Immediate Source of Acquisition Father Dennis Morrow, accession numbers 1999.046, 2001.082b in part and others. ^ Return to Table of Contents - Page 4- Finding aid for the Father Dennis Morrow history of Grand Rapids collection Collection 273 Related Materials Related Materials Father Morrow has gathered items for addition to many collections and served as an agent to bring other donors and their materials to the GRPL Archival Collections. He has done archival processing on some collections, such as the Robert Veit Fire Department Photographs. His own historical work is represented in several collections, but most notably: Coll. 270, Gathered At The River Collection. Father Morrow was one of the participants/authors of this project to gather church related history, under the Grand Rapids Humanities Council sponsorship. Coll. 175 GRPL Moving Images Collection. Father Morrow's historical presentations have been captured on a couple of moving images which are included in this collection. ^ Return to Table of Contents Controlled Access Headings • photographs • Buildings -- Michigan -- Grand Rapids -- Photographs • Grand Rapids (Mich.) -- History • Express highways -- Michigan -- History -- 20th century Collection Inventory Series I. Biographical Subseries A. General Title/Description Instances Morrow Biographical Box 1 Morrow Family photos Box 1 1936 Auto Shop class photo, South High School, Clarence W. Box 1 (Bud) Morrow (where?) 2000.062 Aquinas College Affiliated Adjunct Faculty Box 1 - Page 5- Finding aid for the Father Dennis Morrow history of Grand Rapids collection Collection 273 Grand Rapids Historical Society, Baxter Awards Box 1 Grand Rapids Public Library