Local History

Biographies

Hodgman, Francis

History reminds us that it isn’t always the big and medium size cities that produce transformative individuals. Francis Hodgman was born and lived in the small village of Climax for most of his life, but left an indelible legacy.

Alexander, Dr. C. Allen

“An extraordinary personality, who is a physician, surgeon, community leader, oral historian, sportsman, raconteur, and author.”

Austin, Benjamin Miller

In the early 1830’s Kalamazoo was a developing village, then known as Bronson. In those early days the village changed from what had recently been wilderness to an expanding community with a courthouse, a jail, and churches. The community would...

Austin, Marilyn "Mamie"

There are many times when people never get a chance to see the impact of their work. Kalamazoo photographer Mamie Austin is one of those individuals. Her images taken for the Kalamazoo Public Library’s Art Department in the late 1930s and early...

Balch, Nathaniel A.

Before a street was named in his honor many years later for his many professional and civic contributions to Kalamazoo...

Balch, Nelda K.

Kalamazoo is known world-wide for many things, with a focus often upon industry ... but it should be just as imperative to draw light upon those educational institutions that have also widened Kalamazoo’s reputation beyond our borders.

Baldwin, Schuyler C.

The photographic images captured by Schuyler C. Baldwin between 1851 and 1900 survive to this day as important artifacts, indeed some of our finest examples of how life looked in nineteenth century Kalamazoo.

Batts, Henry Lewis, Jr. (Dr.)

“He introduced the word ‘ecology’ and its principles to this community.” Few have left a more indelible legacy on local conservation efforts....

Baumann, Nicholas

Nicholas Baumann was a 19th century brewer, capitalist, and developer, who built more than a dozen stores in Kalamazoo, served several terms as a city official, and was an active member of Kalamazoo’s vibrant German community.

Bennett, Chauncey Z.

Today, the United Kennel Club, the second oldest and largest register of pure bred dogs, operates out of its 100 East Kilgore Road building, but its humble Kalamazoo origins took root in 1898 with its founder, Chauncey Z. Bennett...

Bos, Arend and Sons

When Arend Bos retired in 1928 after 45 years in the trade, he was said to be Kalamazoo’s longest serving blacksmith. Unbowed by the changing times, two of Arend’s four sons followed in their father’s footsteps and carried on the family business.

Bradley, Gilbert H., Jr.

“Gil has something unique to offer our community. During his ten years as a resident of Kalamazoo, he has been a student, factory worker, union member, teacher, social worker, and…

Bragg, Leonard Gilmore

After the Michigan Asylum for the Insane (Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital) opened in 1859, the old “road to Genesee Prairie” south of Kalamazoo became known as Asylum Road and remained as…

Bronson, Chester Z.

From an early age, Chester Z. Bronson was at the forefront of American popular entertainment during its most formative years. Though he called Kalamazoo home for much of his adult life, Bronson’s tireless professional career took him on the road...

Bronson, Titus

Like many pioneers of southern Michigan, Titus Bronson was a New Englander. Born in Middlebury, Connecticut, in November 1788, Bronson moved west in 1821 to Tallmadge, Ohio, where he learned to grow seed potatoes and earned his nickname...

Bronson, William S.

William S. Bronson was an extremely active, highly regarded Kalamazoo musician who was involved with several early musical organizations throughout West Michigan during the decades around the turn of the twentieth century...

Brooks, Ellis L.

Ellis L. Brooks (1848-1920) was a trombonist, composer and popular bandleader with strong ties to West Michigan. Brooks directed famous bands in New York and Chicago during the late nineteenth century, and was ranked among contemporaries...

Brown, Darwin E. and Opal

Kalamazoo Gazette file photograph, c.1965 When Darwin E. Brown passed away in February of 1978 at the age of 79, the end of an era had ocurred. Like many notable…

Brown, Olympia

In 1999, the pioneering life of Olympia Brown, a native of Prairie Ronde Township, was added to the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, making her only the fifth woman from…

Browne, Samuel Alexander

After spending more than two decades in the lucrative lumber trade, Samuel A. Browne found his way to Kalamazoo, where he soon became one of the nation’s leading horse breeders of his time, particularly for harness racers.

Burrell Brothers

Warren Burrell and his sons were among Kalamazoo’s earliest manufacturers. Their shops at the corner of Main and Park streets turned out hand-crafted buggies and wagons for nearly 60 years,; their award-winning work received areawide recognition.