Local History Collection
The History Room maintains an extensive
collection of materials about all aspects of the history of Kalamazoo
County, including businesses, institutions, buildings, and biographical and genealogical information about county residents. To a
lesser extent, we also collect information about Michigan, and the areas from
which Kalamazoo drew its original settlers. In addition, KPL's award-winning Local Information
Database combines indexing of local newspapers, magazines
and historical materials. A separate database, KPL's Local Organizations Directory, provides
information about human service agencies and non-profit organizations.
No
library card is necessary
to use our services. No History Room materials can be checked out, but photocopy
machines are available. The staff will answer brief mail and telephone
inquiries. We do charge for copying and postage. For questions requiring
additional research, we will provide a list of persons who will do research for
a fee.
The Local History Fund
The Clarence L. Miller Family Local
History Fund was established in memory of Clarence L. Miller, his wife Frances
Anna Miller, and their daughters Mary Frances and Katheryn, for the purpose of
enhancing interest in historical documents of the county and in aiding in their
preservation. Mr. Miller, the second city manager of Kalamazoo, devoted the
major portion of his life to service in city and county government. He was a
descendant of the Reverend Leonard Slater, pioneer missionary to the Ottawa Indians in this
area. Mrs. Miller was a church leader and businesswoman, Mary Frances a
university professor, and Katheryn an artist and teacher.
The fund was
dedicated in 1987, during the sesquicentennial celebration of Michigan's
statehood, by Mary Frances Miller Patton and her husband, Major General John S.
Patton.