Departments partner with Holland to collect oral histories

Staff members from Grand Valley will work with Holland organizations to collect and share the stories of Hispanic Americans who live in that lakeshore community.

“Nuestra Comunidad Hispana” is a collaborative effort by the Kutsche Office of Local History, Meijer Campus in Holland, City of Holland, Herrick District Library, Latin Americans United for Progress, and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church.

Stories and portraits of Holland area Hispanic Americans will be collected at the Herrick District Library, 300 S. River St., during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs September 15-October 15. Completed portraits and stories will be displayed at Holland City Hall and Herrick District Library in October.

Dates and times for story collections at the library are September 10 and September 26, from 10 a.m.-noon; September 12, from 2-4 p.m.; September 21, from 3-5 p.m. Translators will be available for participants. 

Melanie Shell-Weiss, director of the Kutsche Office of Local History, said she is grateful to work with the City of Holland and community leaders on this project.

"Holland has such a rich Hispanic tradition, we want to learn and preserve the stories of the people who help build this city and sustain it," Shell-Weiss said.

The Kutsche Office of Local History has completed similar oral history projects with Native Americans and Hispanic Americans who live in Grand Rapids. Read more about that story here.