On The Banks of The Rapids: The Story of Irish Immigrants in West Michigan from 1835 to 1870

Presentation Type

Oral and/or Visual Presentation

Presenter Major(s)

History

Mentor Information

Kathleen Underwood

Department

Women and Gender Studies

Location

Kirkhof Center 2215

Start Date

10-4-2013 12:00 AM

End Date

10-4-2013 12:00 AM

Keywords

Historical Perspectives

Abstract

My project is a social history of Irish immigration to Grand Rapids with specific focus on their impact to infrastructure, political contributions and the rise of the furniture industry. Baxter recorded the arrival of the first Irish Immigrants in 1835. By the 1870 US Census, they comprised 11% of the area's population. This project draws on census records, parish documents, furniture company records, public records, and early historical accounts. The Irish who came to Grand Rapids were a mixture of educated and affluent individuals as well as unskilled workers willing to tackle any job. They also worked tirelessly on community building, infrastructure and contributed to the local furniture industry which secured Grand Rapids' economic future in the 19th century. The importance of this study is two-fold: it enriches the history of West Michigan by providing an analysis of Irish immigration to the area, and it increases our understanding of what historian's call the lumber frontier.

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Apr 10th, 12:00 AM Apr 10th, 12:00 AM

On The Banks of The Rapids: The Story of Irish Immigrants in West Michigan from 1835 to 1870

Kirkhof Center 2215

My project is a social history of Irish immigration to Grand Rapids with specific focus on their impact to infrastructure, political contributions and the rise of the furniture industry. Baxter recorded the arrival of the first Irish Immigrants in 1835. By the 1870 US Census, they comprised 11% of the area's population. This project draws on census records, parish documents, furniture company records, public records, and early historical accounts. The Irish who came to Grand Rapids were a mixture of educated and affluent individuals as well as unskilled workers willing to tackle any job. They also worked tirelessly on community building, infrastructure and contributed to the local furniture industry which secured Grand Rapids' economic future in the 19th century. The importance of this study is two-fold: it enriches the history of West Michigan by providing an analysis of Irish immigration to the area, and it increases our understanding of what historian's call the lumber frontier.