Holiday Season in Michigan

This month Michigan Memories is celebrating the holidays and festivals that close out the year. Please see our Facebook page for updates.

Captain Harry W. Wilson training helpers at the Santa Claus training school

Year: 1938

Source: The Detroit News Photograph Collection, The Virtual Motor City Collection at the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University: https://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:vmc31188

Observing Hanukkah

Year: 1981

Christmas Eve with the family of John Harvey Kellogg

Year: 1906

Source: Bentley Image Bank, John Harvey Kellogg Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-bl000158/bl000158

Millard Pitts, champion of the Higgins Lake Trout and Ice Festival

Year: Unknown

Source: Jack Van Coevering Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-hs18769/hs18769

Clement C. Moore's "The Night Before Christmas"

Note: This book is in the public domain.

Year: 1906

Source: Eloise Ramsey Collection of Literature for Young People, Wayne State University Digital Collections, Wayne State University Libraries: https://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:nightbef1906b21421109

Eloise Ramsey collection

Source: Wayne State University Digital Collections, Wayne State University Libraries: https://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:collectionRamsey

Light display on the side of the J. L. Hudson's store on Woodward Avenue in Detroit

Year: 1961

Holiday shoppers in downtown Detroit

Possible research questions:

How does this amusement park compare to a modern-day amusement park?
What building materials were commonly used to construct the rides?

Year: 1936

Danish Christmas party in Detroit

Year: 1938

Students in snow sculpture competition at the Winter Carnival

Possible research questions:

How does this amusement park compare to a modern-day amusement park?
What building materials were commonly used to construct the rides?

Year: c. 1966

Source: News and Information Services, University Photographs, Grand Valley State University Libraries: https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/document/40393

Optimist Winter Festival in Rochester Hills

Description: People standing together on a frozen lake for a fire department ice rescue demonstration during the Optimist Winter Festival at Thelma Spencer Park in Rochester Hills. Spencer Park Development Slide Collection, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, Rochester Hills, MI

Year: Unknown

Source: Oakland County Historical Resources and Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm

The Detroit Free Press Christmas March

Description: Sheet music for "The Detroit Free Press Christmas March", by Wm. C. G. Wright, published by the Detroit Free Press. Dedicated to the readers of The Detroit Free Press.

Year: 1893

Source: Detroit Historical Society: http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/B71723CF-38C3-4AAF-AAA9-870293661777

Christmas Chimes

Description: One sheet music booklet entitled "Christmas Chimes" which includes "Words and Music by Eva Best, Written for the Detroit Free Press." The cover page is printed in black ink on slightly yellowed paper. The two interior pages and the back page show the printed music as well as the words for the title song. Printed text at the bottom of the cover page shows that the music was a "Supplement to the Detroit Free Press."

Year: 1892

Source: Detroit Historical Society: http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/2E325894-FA5F-40D2-A80F-623044380430

Leaf from "A Book of Services for Christmas, Holy Week"

Description: From a "Book of Services for Christmas, Holy Week”, with musical accompaniment, published at Salamanca in 1570 by Matthias Gastius.

Year: 1570

Source: Pages from the Past collection, Western Michigan University Special Collections, Western Michigan University: https://luna.library.wmich.edu/luna/servlet/detail/wmich~4~4~85~159887

Buildings lit for Christmas in downtown Detroit

Year: 1954

Christmas tree in downtown Detroit

Year: Unknown

New Year's menu from the Hotel Wolverine

Year: 1924

Source: Detroit Historical Society: http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/ED727885-8E94-468A-8910-927489553818

Munsey Ward at Christmas during World War I

Year: 1915

Source: Bentley Image Bank, Frederick A. Coller Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-hs8086/hs8086

New Year's Eve

Year: 1936

Ten Red Cross Christmas seals

Description: Sheet of ten Red Cross Christmas Seals with a half-folded explanatory sheet. The stamps are printed with an image of Liberty holding a torch and shield, below a pattern of mistletoe and the Red Cross symbol. The sheet explains the stamps are a reward for involvement in the organization's Christmas Roll Call, and contains information on tuberculosis, some geared toward dealing with infected soldiers.

Year: 1918

Source: Medical/Dental/Pharmaceutical Collection, Detroit Historical Society: http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/955C7BE2-EFF5-4271-B3B9-192103952474