The Historical Society of Greater Lansing is excited to announce that we are now accepting donations to our permanent collections that will exhibited to the public in our future museum! If you have an object from Lansing’s history that you’d like to donate to our collections, please contact us by e-mailing info@lansinghistory.org.
The Lansing Historical Museum that the society envisions will celebrate the everyday lives of everyday people. Here is a list of some of the things we would like to collect.
Collecting Lansing in the 20th Century: Ordinary Objects from Ordinary People
Lansing Learns – Items from Lansing schools (both public and private), including both public and private – yearbooks, band uniforms, sports uniforms, varsity jackets, spirit items, varsity letters, medals, trophies, text books, report cards.
Lansing Shops – Items from Lansing businesses, with a focus on downtown (including Old Town) Boxes, shopping bags, memorabilia, hangers, advertisements, vintage clothing with labels purchased at these stores.
Lansing Meets – Items from Lansing fraternal organizations, clubs, and civic groups – Pins, Programs from events, awards, uniforms, badges.
Lansing Worships – Items from Lansing places of worship – Sacred building furnishings (pews, carpet pieces, pulpits, stained glass windows, interesting lights), liturgical robes/vestments, sacred writings/books/hymnals.
Lansing Governs – Items from the different levels of government seated in Lansing, including local and state - artifacts from two Lansing capitols, city government, mayor’s belongings, artifacts from city hall buildings, Lansing police uniforms, Police car pieces, fire department uniforms, fire department equipment, fire & police fraternal organizations.
Lansing Eats – Items related to eating and dining in Lansing – restaurant signs, menus, plate, glassware, silverware, advertising, cookbooks, local cooking show memorabilia, iconic table and chairs/booth from area restaurant.
Lansing Plays – Items from Lansing’s many entertainment venues – Lake Lansing ride items, movie theatres, arcades, games, local sports teams, local music scene, the zoo, bowling alleys, vaudeville theatres, acting companies, community choirs, dance troupes, community bands, city parks.
Lansing Heals – Items related to medicine in Lansing – hospital items, doctor’s diplomas, hospital beds, hospital equipment, doctor’s office furnishings, doctor’s coats, nurse uniforms, nurse training school items.
Lansing Celebrates – Items from special Lansing celebrations, including holidays and anniversaries - Holiday displays, items from special anniversaries and commemorations such as city centennial, sesquicentennial of state, annual celebrations like Silver Bells.
Lansing Fights – Items from Lansing soldiers who served in the armed services – military uniforms, draft cards, weapons, war memorabilia, letters to/from soldiers.
Lansing Lost – Items from Lansing buildings now gone – the City Club, houses torn down for 496, old schools/places of worship/businesses, old factories, old hotels, old fire/police, old bridges, old City Hall, old Lansing post office, old capitol building.
Lansing Unites – Items from Lansing’s unions – union badges, union newspapers, union picket signs, union apparel.
Lansing Made – Items made in Lansing, or invented by people from Lansing – Hurley Smith’s pocket protectors, Hugh Lyons’ hat conformator, etc.
Lansing Works – Items from local businesses such as, but not limited to – Lansing Home Dairy, Silver Lead Paint Company, Lansing Board of Water and Light, Quality Dairy, Lansing Ice and Fuel, Knapp’s, Kewpie’s, Arbaugh’s.
