volume 2 - kalamazoo valley museum

Museographyis a publication of the

Kalamazoo Valley Museum andKalamazoo Valley Community College

Editor: Karen VisserWriter: Tom Thinnes

Contributors: Tom Dietz

Steve DohertyValerie Eisenberg

Elspeth InglisPaula MetznerPatrick NorrisJean Stevens

Design: Elizabeth KingPhotography: David Kamm

KALAMAZOO VALLEY MUSEUMCOMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

James MelvinDerl OberlinCarol BakerLaura EilerTom FrickeAl Heilman

Jaye JohnsonPatrick Norris, Director

Kalamazoo Valley Musuem

KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITYCOLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mary T. Gustas, ChairmanA. Christian Schauer, Vice Chairman

Anna Whitten, SecretaryT. Kenneth Young, TreasurerJames W. DeHaven, Trustee

Robert Kent, TrusteeJeffrey E. Patton, Trustee

Marilyn J. Schlack, PresidentKalamazoo Valley Community College

Museography is published three times a year:

Fall, Winter, and Spring.Questions about Kalamazoo ValleyMuseum programs described in this publication may be directed to theKalamazoo Valley Museum offices.

Phone: 269.373.7990 or 800.772.3370Website: www.kalamazoomuseum.org

Comments or questions about this publication may be directed to the

KVCC Office of College Relations at 269.488.4278.

KALAMAZOO VALLEY MUSEUM230 N. ROSE STREETPO BOX 4070KALAMAZOO, MI 49003-4070

ContentsVolume 2 • Issue 1 • • • Fall 2002

Move it, design it, build it: The World We Create. . . . . . 3So you want to be an illustrator? David Small profile . . 5

Elijah McCoy: the real McCoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

A Soup’er legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

History in the making: The Kalamazoo Dutch . . . . . . . 10

Showing the human face of science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Homer Stryker and his revolutionary bed . . . . . . . . . . 15

Julia Carson: ‘Model Patient’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Simple problems, profound consequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Activity page: Make a windmill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Collection: What are we looking for?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

What is it?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Community Adviser profile: Tom Fricke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

You can make a difference at the KVM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Volunteer profile: Ben Whitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

KVM programs & announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Football season to come early in 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Hidden treasure: the Shafter cabin . . . . . . . . . 20

Calendar of events, happenings . . . . . . 21

ON THE COVER: Artwork by David Small illustrates some of Benjamin Franklin’s inventions inthe newly published book So You Want to Be an Inventor? See more of Small’swork beginning on page 6 of this issue. And look for the * symbolthroughout this magazine—you can see featured artifacts on display inthe special Museography case located next to the reception desk on themain level of the KVM or in other exhibits throughout the museum.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museumis OPEN DAILY (except Easter, Thanksgiving,

Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day) with FREE GENERAL ADMISSION.

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.Wednesday from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M.

Sundays & Holidays from 1 to 5 P.M.

www.kalamazoomuseum.org

2 Museography

Two medical doctors with aknack for engineering have,

in retrospect, become two of themost consequential figures inKalamazoo history. The unintendedresults of their separate efforts to easehuman sufferings have had lastingeffects on our community and our times.

Drs. William E. Upjohn and Homer H.Stryker grew up within 50 miles ofeach other and one generation apart.

Born witha love fortinkering,they devel-oped and

patentedtwo simplemachines:one to rollpills andanother to turnpatients. These twoinventions, simple in con-cept, were profound in their long-termeffects. Each became the base uponwhich two major manufacturing com-panies rose and prospered. In the end,everyone now living in Kalamazoo is

the beneficiary of the unin-tended consequences of thesesimple inventions.

In 1885, Upjohn was issuedU.S. Patent 312,041 for the“process of making pills” through amachine that built a pill layer by layeras powdered medicine was spun in apan, moistened, and rolled around acore. Upjohn’s “friable” pills becamethe mainstay of a new business, TheUpjohn Pill and Granule Companybegan the following year. The UpjohnCompany set out to do what physicianshad heretofore done for themselves:compound bulk ingredients into dose

amounts for patients. Upjohn’s pill-rolling machines grossed

$50,000 in 1886. From thatseed grew an internation-al pharmaceutical cor-poration whose salesexceeded $2 billion 100years later.

In the November1939 issue of the

Journal of the AmericanMedical Association, a

young orthopedic surgeon atthe University of Michigan

Hospital published an article on adevice that could turn a patient headover heels. The young doctor wasHomer Stryker and the device wascalled the turning frame, a simpleinvention that eased pain for burn vic-

tims and other patients whowere required to stay immobile

in order toheal. (Readmore of hisstory begin-ing on page15 of thisissue.) HisS t r y k e rBed* provedso popular among doctors and theirpatients that soon the OrthopedicFrame Company of Kalamazoo wasturning them out by the dozens. Theturning frame was the first in a seriesof mechanical innovations that Dr.Stryker converted into standard med-ical technology. Before his 65th birth-day, Homer Stryker held a dozenpatents on devices that eased the laborof physicians and the pain of patients.The Orthopedic Frame Company grew inthe next 50 years into the StrykerCorporation, another internationalcompany based in Kalamazoo.

W.E. Upjohn and Homer Strykershow the power that individuals, withthe determination to pursue theirideas, can have on history. Their “we-can-do-it” inventiveness created not

Dr. Willian E. Upjohn (left) and Dr. Homer Stryker(right) with their revolutionary inventions.

continued on page 24

FROM THE DIRECTOR

History By the OunceSimple Problems andProfound Consequences

Rome might not have beenbuilt in a day, but folks canfabricate all sorts of neat

stuff in a short period of time at“The World We Create.”

That’s the latest touring exhibition booked for theKalamazoo Valley Museum from Sept. 28 through Jan. 5that allows people of all ages to explore the application oftechnology, the sciences and engineering in the worlds of

manufacturingand construction.

Created for theLouisville ScienceCenter by theexhibit-designfirm whose cred-its include theU.S. HolocaustMemorial Museumin Washington,D.C., “The WorldWe Create” features10 interactive,hands-on stationswhere K–12 stu-dents and adultscan experiencehow human inge-nuity can solve

problems, invent “things,” and advance technology.They can apply their thinking caps and manual dexter-

ity in the “Construction Zone,” “Transit Hub,” and “TechWorks” sections.

Operating a mechanicalcrane teaches teamworkand the precision requiredfor constructing safe andstrong buildings that reachfor the sky.

Visitors can then testthe quality of theirdesigned structure againstthe power of a simulatedearthquake. Another sta-tion poses the challenge of building a dome structure, abridge and an archway without them toppling.

The innards of machines that move mountains and peo-ple from place to place give up their secrets via a series ofinterlocking gears that can be engineered according totheir ratio, size and placement to both generate powerand to make tasks easier.

“There is also a teamwork element in the ‘Transit Hub’section,” said Jean Stevens, the museum’s curator of

continued next page…

Move it, computeMove it, computeit, play it, designit, play it, designit, and build it—it, and build it—there’there’s no limits no limitto what you canto what you can

do at…do at…

Apply your thinking capsand dexterity to explore

the application oftechnology, the sciencesand engineering in the

worlds of manufacturingand construction.

Building It Up shows that constructing a building is a challenging team effort.

www.kalamazoomuseum.org 3

design. “A group must work together to take a ball on the quickestroute through a tilt-top maze of a town.”

What better place than the nation’s No. 1automaking state to learn about the mechanics ofmotion and the effects that the friction of the aircan have on the efficiency of a speeding car. “The

World We Create” features a wind tunnel thatdemonstrates the aerodynamic properties ofdifferent vehicle shapes and how streamlin-ing cuts down on drag.

In bringing homethe message that everyperson can be a cre-ative problem-solver,“Tech Works” invites you to use computer software to design “the bike ofyour dreams.” Once that personal prototype has been finalized, properties

of this “bicycle built for you” can be evaluated in terms ofcost, durability and strength. In other words,will that elephant fly?

The exhibit “Just in Time” allowsvisitors to experience a manufactur-ing simulation in which all the ele-ments of planning, coordination andtiming come into play to produce a lineof trucks. “Test Your Ideas” does just that, puttingconcepts through a variety of challenges offered by

motorized parts and power stations to determine whether they work or failas currently constituted.

“The World We Create,” which was partially funded by a National ScienceFoundation grant, is credited with showing studentsof all grade levels how classroom theory has practi-cal applications in manu-facturing. They canconnect the scientificprinciples that might berather dormant in school towhat is being achieved inthe working world.

“This exhibit,” Stevens said, “shows that if children are given theopportunity to be their natural, inquisitive, curious, and creative selves,

then science doesn’t come across as boring and drab. It becomes something they want to domore of because it’s fun, engaging and accessible.

“Many of us usually have to visualize how something works,” she said, “but that’s notrequired with ‘The World We Create.’ The principles and applications can be immediately seen,felt and understood. And so is the value of teamwork.”

Finished in 1997, “The World We Create” is in the middle of a three-year national tour.“It caters to curiosity and creativity,” Stevens said. “Science and applied technology come

out of the textbook and off of the blueprint. They become relevant and fun to learn.”

4 Museography

This sequence shows that coop-

eration is the key in Building

Bridges… and that what goes

up must come down!

At Engineer-It Tabletops, apply the principles of physics tocreate structures.

Find the fastest route through amaze of city streets in GettingFrom Here to There.


The nation’s presidents and the world’s inven-tors hail from all walks of life and origins.

While they don’t share leadership skills, athletic prowess oreven genius, what they do share is creativity and a tenden-cy to be “dreamers.”

It’s part of the track record for illustrator/writer DavidSmall, whose award-winning creations include So You WantTo Be President?

The publication of his latest work—So You Want To Be AnInventor?—comes at a serendipitous time for theKalamazoo Valley Museum as it opens “The World WeCreate” exhibition on Sept. 28. As part of that attraction,the 27 illustrations that he did to accompany author JudithSt. George’s historical, humorous and sometime irreverentanecdotes about inventors and their inventions will beframed and on display.

Small and his wife, writer Sarah Stewart, with whom hehas collaborated on several books, live in a historic riversidehouse built in Mendon in 1833.

They will be in the spotlight for a public program at themuseum on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. While Smalland Stewart meet readers and sign books, the museum staffwill bring to life his illustrations and her writings in a seriesof hands-on arts-and-crafts activities.

So You Want To Be An Inventor is Small’s 31st book. Thefirst So You… book earned him and writer St. George theAmerican Library Association’s prestigious Caldecott Medal,which in their field is akin to an actor winning an Oscar, or

a journalist a Pulitzer.A book about inventors and their inven-tions was St. George’s idea and he credits

her for the lion’s share of the research.“In general,” Small said, “I’m a poorlyeducated person who learns a lot bydoing these kinds of books. I hardlyknew anything about inventors.”

His “poor” education includes adegree in English and fine arts atWayne State University in his homecity of Detroit and a master’s in the

latter discipline at Yale, yet he admitsto being a borderline academic who

struggled in many of his classes. An affin-ity for things artistic got him by.

S p o r t sweren’t hisgig in school.Neither were leadershiproles, extra-curricular activities, nor cars. As a “weird kid,”he survived, thanks to the arts—both drawing and music—that nourished his creativity.

“That’s what I learned doing the book about inventors,”said the former professor of art at Kalamazoo College.“Across the board, they shared creativity. Many of them weredreamers. Alexander Graham Bell conceived what becamethe telephone in a dream. When I speak to children in class-rooms, and I do a lot of that, I tell them it’s OK to be cre-ative, to be a dreamer.”

The Small-St. George team also shares the story of ElijahMcCoy, the son of runaway slaves, who was educated as amaster mechanic and engineer in Scotland. He devised alubricator that became so popular it coined the term “thereal McCoy.” (Read more of McCoy’s story on page 6.)

Don’t refer to Small’s creations as “children’s books.”“I do picture books that are for everybody,” he said.

“What I do has a broad appeal for adults, parents and chil-dren because they are good stories and the drawings aresimple, straightforward, yet highly detailed.”

David Small likes to enlighten as he entertains.

So you want to be an illustrator?David Small said “Yes!”

6 Museography

Did you ever wonder where the expression “Thereal McCoy” originated? Elijah McCoy was an early

African-American inventor who became known for the excel-lence of his designs. People didn’t want imitations of his prod-ucts. They knew McCoy was dedicated to quality, and theywanted to be sure they got “the real McCoy.”

Elijah McCoy was born in Canada to parents who had escapedfrom slavery in Kentucky. Education was a high priority in theMcCoy family. Very early, Elijah showed strong mechanical skills.He enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back togetheragain. When he was only 16, Elijah traveled to Scotland to studyengineering. By the time McCoy finished his degree, theAmerican slaves had been freed. McCoy was able to return toAmerica.

Although McCoy was fully credentialed as an engineer andmaster mechanic, jobs were difficult to find. Many peoplethought of blacks as uneducated or even still considered themslaves. Elijah finally found work as a fireman/oilman for theMichigan Central Railroad. McCoy discovered that the process ofoiling the train was dangerous and inefficient. He worked fortwo years to design a cup that would automatically drip oilwherever it was needed. In 1872, heapplied for a patent on the product.While many engineers were skeptical,railroad engineers realized how goodthe product was. Soon, people wereasking for “the real McCoy” by name.

Elijah McCoy was dedicated to hisfamily, to young people, the railroadsand inventing. McCoy left a legacy ofmore that 50 patented inventions.Many of his inventions still are used intransportation and construction.

When you visit THE WORLD WECREATE, you’ll find “the real McCoy” inthe INVENTOR’S GARAGE. Follow hisstory, and don’t forget to play at theForce Physics Box. Then, move to theTRANSIT HUB, and try your hand atthe Wind Tunnel. In the CONSTRUC-TION SITE, read the stories of some oftoday’s engineers.Illustration of Elijah McCoy by David Smallfrom the book So You Want to Be anInventor? Article and activity courtesy of theLouisville Science Center.

Materials:Large square of constructions paperToilet paper or paper towel tubePaper clipsHole punchScissors

1.2.

3.4.

5.6.

7.8.Fold your paper square

diagonally. Open and fold again across the other diagonal. It might help to draw a dotted line along each fold.

Cut along each fold, stopping about two centimeters from the center.

Punch a hole in the center and a hole in the left corner of each section.

Slide the straw through the hole in the center. Fold each hole-punched corner toward the center, and slide the hole over the end of the straw.

Punch a hole through the top of the paper towel tube. Slide the straw through this hole. The straw should spin freely.

Using tape, attach the bottom of the paper towel tube to a Styrofoam® tray.

Blow on the windmill, and see if you can lift the paper clip. Add more paper clips, and see how many you can lift.

Tape the string to the empty end of the straw. Attach paper clips to the bottom of the string.

Directions:

Plastic strawStringTapeRulerStyrofoam® tray

Would you like to engineer a machine like McCoy? Here’s how you can make a windmill!


Long beforeMcDonald’s

brought its 10-cent hamburgersto Kalamazoo, there was the Soup’er Burger.

And, instead of a clown named Ronald promoting theeatery, proprietor Bud Flynn sponsored city-league basket-ball and fast-pitch softball teams that brought state cham-pionships back to Kalamazoo.

To show his appreciation for his players’ athletic prowesson the court, Flynn bought them varsity jackets embla-zoned with the Soup’er Burger name. The one worn by Swift

Noble, former basketball coach andathletic director at

Vicksburg HighSchool, is on

display at theKalamazooV a l l e yMuseum.*

According toCharlie Stanski,

who played guardfor the Soup’er Burgers,

the nucleus of the title team camefrom the squad that had been sponsored for years by the

Shepherd Fuel Co. of Kalamazoo. When Shepherd decided todrop his support in 1955, coach Al Broschay convincedFlynn to pick up the sponsorship, paying team fees, pro-viding uniforms and equipment, and footing the bill forpost-game meals.

That inaugural season, the Soup’er Burgers reached thestate semifinals. In 1956, the quintet, who had won threestraight Kalamazoo Amateur Basketball Federation crowns,became the first team from Kalamazoo to win the MichiganRecreation Association state title.

“The Soup’er Burger was one of the first hamburger jointsin town,” said Stanski, who came to this area in 1946 fromFort Wayne to play basketball at Kalamazoo College for fourseasons. “It also served soups, which is where the namecame from. Pretty tasty stuff, too.

“Bud would take us there after our games for food,” saidStanski, who worked 25 years for the St. Regis and AlliedPaper companies in personnel following his 1950 gradua-tion from “K” where he majored in political science andeconomics. “But to celebrate the state championship, Budserved us steaks there that night at a banquet.”

The Soup’er Burger was located on Portage Street justnorth of where Lovers Lane forks off. It closed shortly afterFlynn died and today is the home of a Chinese restaurant.

Stanski, who also logged a decade with First of AmericaBank before his retirement in 1990, played city-league basketball for 15 years. Noble, who todaywould be classified as a power forward for his

continued on page 24

Above, clockwise from left: Swift Noble’s Soup’er Burger varsity jacket; the Soup’erBurger team that became the first team from Kalamazoo to win the MichiganRecreation Association state title; Soup’er Burger as it appeared in Kalamazoo’sMilwood neighborhood in 1952 (photo courtesy of the Kalamazoo Public Library).

The path to building a better communitycollection takes…

• planning,• careful consideration, and• your help.

Do you have anything that belongs in amuseum? It doesn’t have to be a Picassoor a piece of Wedgwood. It could besomething as ordinary as your old cheer-leading outfit or the “GI Joe” you playedwith as a kid. Perhaps it’s a box of oldValentines or the Shakespeare golf clubssitting in your basement. We are lookingfor both rare and everyday objects thatillustrate home, work, social and politicallife in Southwest Michigan, especiallyfrom the 1930s through the 1960s—butwe accept donations from all time peri-ods. We consider items from as small as a political button to as large as a windmill. If you think you’vegot something that belongs in the community’s collection, please contact Tom Dietz, curator ofresearch, at 269/373-7984 or [email protected].

What are we looking for?

Our thanks to the KVM Collection Donors for 2001!

8 Museography

Sally Appleyard Kalamazoo Lassies Baseball Cardsand Programs

Gale Arent Flowerfest PhotographMillie Bowers Bowers Cigarette Lighters Bronson Hospital Bronson Hospital Historical

PhotographsSarah H. Clee Delano-Howard Family CollectionIone Condit Women’s HatsMrs. Alfred B. Connable Smoking AccessoriesH. Robert Corstange Coin BankDavid Crawford Photographs of the J.R. Jones FireDana Corporation NASCAR Shirt and Die-Cast TruckPaul DeBoer Cool Farm Dairy Milk Bottles

with CarrierScott Eberstein Home Movie ScreenLance Ferraro Collection of Local PhotographsGeorgia-Pacific Corporation Botsford Paper Company Keystone

Kalamazoo Paper CompanyPhotographs

Tour BookletsAlice Gernant Harry Gernant CollectionJohn Hubbard SuitcaseDavid Jickling Gazette Trolley Day RibbonNeil Juhl “Flipside” Records Store SignKalamazoo Christian High School Voting MachineMargaret Kellman Earl Family CollectionReginald Kissinger Polygraph Unit (Lie Detector)Sandra Kissinger Vacuum CleanerCynthia Kole National City Golf Visor

and PaperweightHelen Labs McCall’s Pattern BookPaula G. Lee Dress Patterns

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Magas State Rexall Neon SignRobert McDougal Boy Scout Uniforms and AccessoriesMary Mero Native American Elm-Bark BasketPaula L. Metzner Rexall Drug Prescription Box

and Tablet Kalamazoo Stove Company Lapel PinsBustle, Hoop Skirt and Camera

National City Bank First National Bank Coin Banks,Ledgers, et al.

Henry Niewoonder First Aid Kit (Parchment FireDepartment)

Susan Noble Soup’er Burger Team JacketAdrian Noordhoek Doll with CradlePhyllis Norman Boy’s SuitPatrick Norris Upjohn Coffee Mug

Loy Norrix Phonograph AlbumsAnn Orr Movie Camera and AccessoriesJeffrey Poliak Gibson Guitar and AmplifierJames Porter Hershfield’s Advertising PostcardRichard B. Sanford Eddie’s Coffee Shop Mug

(Columbia Hotel)Jack Short 1848 US PennyJacqueline Simon Columbia Hotel BrochureBetty Snedden Christmas Lights and DollWilliam Strong Tertius Strong Pioneer CollectionPhilip S. Thoms Photographs, Local Products

and Tools Delbert Watson Franklin HeaterTed Wilson-Amos 1934 Kalamazoo Election BallotMr. and Mrs. Louis O. Zande Flour Sifter/Mixer from

Battle Creek Sanitorium


#2 This* was used by a doctor during the Civil War.

#3 This cigarette lighter* had a special func-tion for soldiers and sailors during World War II.

Make some guesses about these objects from the KVM collection. How old do you think they are?

What were they used for? (Answers at the bottom of the page.)

1. Mousetrap. It caught the mouse alive—a method much preferred by the lady of the house. It was manufactured by the Animal TrapCompany of Abingdon, Illinois, ca. 1900. 2. Tooth extractor. It was used by a former Kalamazoo doctor, Harris B. Osborne, while he servedas an assistant surgeon in the 113th Illinois Volunteer Infantry from 1862–1865. 3. It had no fluid or flame. This was important so sol-diers in the field would not alert potential enemies. It was made by the Bowers Lighter Company of Kalamazoo. 4. Pickles. The bottle waspopular from the 1840s to the 1880s. It is called a cathedral pickle bottle because of the Gothic arch design.

#4What vegetable

was stored in this

wide-mouthedbottle?* (Hint:

You probably havesome today, in a

jar in your refrigerator.)

#1 It’s called a “Catemalive.”*

10 Museography

The Kalamazoo DutchHISTORY IN THE MAKING: FOURTH IN A SERIES

The story of Dutch settlement in SouthwestMichigan is closely associated with the immi-

grants led here in 1850 by Paulus den Bleyker.Born in The Netherlands in 1804, he had amassed by 1849a small fortune of $100,000 as a landowner and supervisorof a firm that drained and reclaimed coastal lowlands.

In that year, den Bleyker received letters from the Rev.Albertus C. Van Raalte, the pastor of a Dutch settlement inMichigan, who described promising opportunities inAmerica. Encouraged by his close friend Jan Hoek, denBleyker organized a party of 27 who sailed from Rotterdamto New York in the summer of 1850. Eighteen members ofden Bleyker’s party set out for Michigan, arriving inKalamazoo on Oct. 1, 1850.

Unfortunately for den Bleyker’s party, someone in thegroup had contracted cholera, a deadly contagious diseasethat was common on the mid-19th century Michigan frontier.When the illness began to spread, local residents forced denBleyker and his party into quarantine in a hastily built shackoutside the town. Nine members of the party died, includingone of den Bleyker’s children and his friend, Jan Hoek.

Den Bleyker’s original goal was to settle at Black Lake,near Holland, with the Rev. Van Raalte. The enforced quar-antine gave den Bleyker an opportunity to assessKalamazoo. He liked what he saw and decided to stay. Hebought a 330-acre farm near Schoolcraft from Hezekiah G.Wells but he wanted land closer to the city. Former MichiganGov. Epaphroditus Ransom owned a large farm that hewished to sell. Learning of this, den Bleyker decided to buy

R a n s o m ’ sproperty for$12,000.

This newfarm waslocated inwhat is nowd o w n t o w nKa l amazoo ,bounded byLovell Streeton the north,Rose Street onthe west, andPortage Creekon the eastand south. Den Bleyker divided much of the farm into 88smaller lots. By 1854, he had sold many of these lots fornearly $18,000. His success prompted other Dutch immi-grants to come to Kalamazoo.

Dutch settlers brought their culture and religion to thenew land. As early as 1850, they organized the FirstReformed Church in Kalamazoo. In 1869 the ChristianReformed Church was established. Calling themselves the“True Dutch Reformed Church,” they built a church at thecorner of John and Walnut streets. These groups have beenimportant factors in shaping the heritage of this region.

The Dutch also played a role shaping Kalamazoo’s identity.Two Dutch farmers, Cornelius De Bruin and John DeKam, eachclaim to have been the first to grow celery commerciallyaround 1866. Wherever the truth lies, Kalamazoo emerged asthe “Celery City” by the end of the 19th century.

By then, Dutch immigrants were helping Kalamazoo gainnew fame as the “Paper City.” In 1866, Jacob Hoek, son ofden Bleyker’s deceased friend, supervised the constructionof Kalamazoo’s first paper mill—the Kalamazoo PaperCompany. He served for many years as the chief mechanic.As the paper industry grew, children of Dutch immigrantsbecame the mill hands who worked in the factories well intothe 20th century.

The Dutch influence continues to remain strong inSouthwest Michigan. This heritage contributes to the richdiversity of life in our community.

—Tom Dietz, KVM curator of research

Postcard showing Dutch farmers at work in a celery field, c. 1900. Aboveright, a daguerreotype of Paulus den Bleyker, c. 1870.


There’s something new to explore startingthis fall in the “Science in Motion” gallery.

Three 12-foot-wide discovery walls provide a lively andcolorful look at the history of scientific discoveries in thefields of energy, the human body, and technology.

Each discovery wall is divided into four timelines thatrelate to the hands-on exhibits in that area of thegallery. For example, the energy-wall categories are lightand optics, mechanics, electricity and magnetism, andmatter and chemistry. As you approach the walls, youwill find eight turning boxes comprising each timeline.Just give them a turn to trace the history of discoveriesthrough graphics, photos, quotes, and even objects andcartoons. All are arranged chronologically, so that youcan see how one idea leads to another. You can also findconnections among the categories and among the threewalls—some scientists appear in more than one area.

Because the boxes will be turned by visitors, thewalls will always look a little different, serving as anattractive “mural in motion.” But they add morethan looks to the gallery.“The walls are meant to be a fun introduction tothe history of scientific investigation,” said EricSchreur, KVM planetarium coordinator and contentdeveloper for the gallery. “They provide an excellenthistorical context for the hands-on activities in thegallery, and we hope they spark your curiosity tofind out more.” You don’t need to go far to do moreresearch on topics or scientists that interest you.The “Science in Motion” computer resource stationscontain a wealth of information on subjects intro-duced in the discovery walls.

continued next page…

12 Museography

Finding out something about scientists and how they work helpsto put a human face on science subjects that some people finddaunting. Visitors will see that science is a process of questioning,investigating, observing, interpreting, and compiling information.They’ll also see that science is everywhere, and is an integral partof their daily lives. They will get a sense of how scientists reachtheir conclusions, and how a body of scientific knowledge buildsand changes over time. They’ll also learn that the available toolsand cultural perspectives of any given time and place affect ourknowledge base.

“Our scientific understanding of the world is far from being a col-lection of facts ‘carved in stone’,” said Sherri Adams, KVCC chem-istry instructor. “It has developed over time—and this process isongoing.” Adams was a member of the team of museum and collegestaff and community volunteers who worked on the science galleryplanning. “What we think is true today was not necessarilythought to be true in the past, and may not be true in the future.Our understanding depends on new tools, new finds, and mostimportantly, new minds. One of our goals with the discovery wallswas to expose young people to the wide variety of science profes-sions, and to inspire them to think about a career in science.”

An added advantage of exploring the discoverywalls and resource stations within the “Science inMotion” gallery is that the many related hands-onexhibits allow you to become immersed in your veryown scientific investigations. You can read aboutGalileo’s experiments with moving objects and accel-eration, and turn around to try some yourself. Orread about Newton and light, and then manipulatelight beams with mirrors and prisms. “The discovery walls complement the hands-ongallery experiences,” Schreur said. “They help toshow the ongoing development and change that isthe nature of science. It’s always in motion, whichis what the gallery is all about.” —Jean Stevens, KVM curator of design


Tom Fricke—Coasters, Football, and the KVMKVM COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE

To say that museums rank No. 3 behind rollercoasters and University of Nebraska football

weekends when it comes to Tom Fricke’sleisure-time passions is not a slap in the face.After all, he and wife Carol have traveled to as far asAustralia and all over the North American continent tosample the ups and downs of the world’s greatest roller-coasters. On fall weekends, you can find them wearing thered-and-white of the Cornhuskers in a state whereNebraska football ranks right up there with church onSunday and raising good kids and good crops.

And nobody’s quite certain of that 1-2-3 order becauseon a football Saturday in Lincoln, the population of thestadium crowd rates as the second largest “community” inthe state.

As there is no such thing as a bad ride on a roller coast-er nor a bad Cornhuskers football weekend even if theyend up on the wrong end of the score, there is no suchthing as a bad visit to a museum, says the veteran mem-ber of the Kalamazoo Valley Museum Community AdvisoryCommittee.

Growing up in the Benton Harbor area, Fricke recallstrips to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicagowith his folks. “I could spend days there,” said Fricke, whospent 15 years as the executive director of the KalamazooCounty Convention and Visitors Bureau, “and I still can. Itranks right up there with the museum in Toronto.”

When in pursuit of the great roller coasters on the plan-et, Fricke often finds time to take in the local museum andthus can judge what the Kalamazoo Valley Museum has tooffer.

“This one is quite spectacular for a community of oursize,” he said. “Because it is highly interactive, it is asmuch of an attraction as it is an educational resource forthis part of Michigan.”

Fricke admits to being somewhat old-fashioned becausehis “interactivity” is inside him, from seeing the original“Star-Spangled Banner” at the Smithsonian to the localmuseum’s collection of business signs that reminded himof trips to the “big city” of Kalamazoo when he was a kid.

“At the Kalamazoo Valley Museum,” he said, “historyand science come alive because you can participate in it.In the Science Gallery, people spend their time doing

something, learning something. It’s not hit-and-miss anymore. People spend time with exhibits.

“What’s also amazing to me,” he said, “is the spectrumof topics that the Kalamazoo museum covers, from themummy to the story of the resorts in South Haven to thespace age.”

The variety of exhibits and programming has much todo with the fact that the museum’s attendance hasincreased 22 percent over the last two years.

But another factor, he believes, is the staff. “They do amarvelous job. The ‘Greeter Guides,’ for example, make peo-ple feel welcome, show them what’s available, and makevisitors want to come back because lots of things arealways going on. The staff members, all the way to thetop, are very creative and people-friendly.”

Fricke, in his mid-60s, has not lost his affinity for thewildest rides in the world. There are always dynamic newcoasters coming on the scene.

“Plus,” he said, “I am also living vicariously through myfive grandchildren as I take them on their first rides. Theonly difference is that with a slight rotator-cuff problemthese days, I don’t want to get bounced around like I usedto.”

14 Museography

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum (KVM) is a par-ticipatory museum of history, science and

technology, linking Southwest Michigan to theworld through collections, exhibitions, media,and programs. The KVM offers learning and educationalexperiences to foster understanding of significant issuesshaping our regional community. Our goal is to develop cul-tural, historical, and scientific literacy through a widerange of services and programs.

As part ofKalamazoo ValleyCommunity College,the KVM is fundedprimarily by a .42-mill property tax.Our facility is freeand open to the pub-lic 361 days per year.Our family audienceapproaches 100,000visitors each year, ranging in age from pre-school to adults.Our unique programs offer not only learning opportunitiesfor our visitors, but also create a safe environment forlearning and fun.

However, without private support from businesses as wellas individual members of our community like you, many ofthe events, programs and exhibitions (some already sched-uled into 2006) at the KVM would not be possible.

Through your contributions, you can help promote educa-tion and innovation as we work to make the Kalamazoo areaa better place to live.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum, through its affiliation withKalamazoo Valley Community College and its foundation—anonprofit 501(C)(3) corporation—aids in enhancing the edu-cational opportunities and environment in SouthwestMichigan, providing a vehicle for tax-deductible contribu-tions/sponsorships to both the college and museum.

There are many ways to assist the college and the muse-um by giving to the KVCC Foundation. The most common isa cash gift, but other options can represent vast end-of-the-

year tax savings to the donor. Here are some of the availableoptions:

Endowment Gift: a gift for endowment that is invested in a per-manent fund that earns money for the college and museumevery year thereafter. The endowment will award 5 percent ofprincipal earnings annually. The principal from an endowmentremains invested and the earnings are used to fund the yearlyaward.

Property Gift: a gift of property that has value but that is nolonger needed by the donor.

Bequest: a statement in awill that provides a gift forthe foundation’s endow-ment or to an unrestrictedfund to perpetuate thedonor’s future interests.

Charitable Gift Annuity:a gift of property inexchange for a guaranteedincome for the rest of thedonor’s life; it also pro-vides tax benefits.

Charitable RemainderUnitrust: a donor’s prop-

erty placed into a trust where it will be tax-sheltered forgrowth, pay an annual income for life based on its growingvalue, and secure tax benefits.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust: a donor’s property placedinto a trust, selecting a fixed-dollar income for life, and secur-ing tax benefits.

Charitable Lead Trust: a donor’s property placed into a trust thatwill pay income to the charity for a specified number of yearsafter which the property is returned to the donor.

Insurance: a donor’s insurance policy (one that is no longer need-ed) used to create a planned gift. This is as easy as changingthe beneficiary to the KVCC Foundation.

Gifts of Cash: cash gifts, the most common form of giving; theyare generally unrestricted unless otherwise designated.

Matching Gifts: a gift, made by a current or retired employee(and in some cases even made by employee spouses) that ismatched by an employer. To find out more contact your com-pany’s human resource department.

Your gift can make a difference! For more information about any of these giving opportuni-ties, call the KVCC Foundation office at 269/488-4246, orcontact your financial adviser or attorney.

—Steve Doherty, KVCC Foundation

YYou can make a diou can make a differfference atence atthe Kthe Kalamazoo Valamazoo Vallealley Museumy Museum


Homer Stryker exemplifies thegreat American story—aninventor whose invention leads

him to success in the business world.Born near Fulton in Wakeshma Township in 1894,

Stryker graduated from Western State Normal School

in 1916 and became a teacher in the Upper

Peninsula. He served in the U.S. Army during World

War I. In 1921, he enrolled in the University of

Michigan Medical School.

Following his graduation frommedical school, Dr. Stryker served as a surgical intern. During thistime, he tinkered with surgical equipment trying to improve it. After hisinternship, he returned to Kalamazoo in 1928 and opened his medical prac-tice. He served as the county physician providing medical care for the poor.In 1935, he returned to Ann Arbor for a residency in orthopedic surgery.

During this residency, Stryker developed his first successful invention,the Stryker Turning Frame. This device made it easier to turn patients overfrom their back to their stomach when they were unable to do so by them-selves. Word of the new product spread quickly in both medical journals andpopular magazines, including LIFE. Dr. Stryker continued to tinker while hewas completing his residency and made improvements on a number of med-

ical devices then in use. He also invented his second product: a rubber heel for walking casts.Having completed his residency, Stryker returned to Kalamazoo in 1939 as the only certified orthopedic surgeon in

southwestern Michigan. He was offered office space at Borgess Hospital and opened his practice. As part of the agreement,the Borgess Hospital administration offered him space for a basement workshop in which to continue his work on medical

equipment. In that workshop, with the help of two part-time workers, and sewing help from his wife, Dr.Stryker began to manufacture orthopedic turning frames and walking-cast heels.

During World War II, Stryker’s turning frame* was in great demand by the U.S. Army for use inmilitary hospitals. Dr. Stryker, however, found himself with an increased patient load, including

more surgery, since younger doctors were drafted into the Armed Forces and older doctors had topick up the extra load. As a result, he collaborated with the Kalamazoo Sled Continued next page…

16 Museography16 Museography

Imagine if a child of one of Thomas Edison’s inventingteam were used as a model to illustrate what the devel-

opment of the light bulb meant to humanity and qualityof life. That’s kind of like what happened to Julia Carsonwho, back in the late 1950s, was used to showcase thebenefits of the “Circ O Lectric” hospital bed, which somebelieve to be one of the premier examples of Dr. HomerStryker’s inventive powers.

Carson, who teaches English and language skills atBattle Creek Northwestern Middle School, was used as a“patient prop” in both photographs and training filmsdemonstrating the capabili-ties of the bed. Basicallylike a gyroscope, it could beturned “every which waybut loose” electrically toeither make immobilepatients more comfortableor to make it easier for med-ical personnel to care forthem.

For Stryker, it was thenext step up from his “turn-ing frame” that came on themarket at the end of the1930s. The Circ O Lectric bed went further by allowing thepatient to be rotated from stomach to back and back againas well as to be placed in a variety of positions includingupright. The patient could operate the bed, too.

So how did Julia Carson get involved?Her father became a salesman following a miltary career.

One of the doors he knocked on was that of Dr. HomerStryker. Apparently, the two hit it off and Stryker hiredthe senior Carson to be the sales manager of his smallenterprise, then known as the Orthopedic Frame Co.

For the next 15 years, the former Army officer built

Stryker’s sales staff, conceived the first marketing cam-paigns, and moved the company toward globalization. Healso had a hand in developing some new products, accord-ing to his daughter.

“I was 14 at the time,” she said. “One of the Circ OLectric’s first unveilings was at a convention in Denver. Ican remember the crowds that came around it because thebed was so unusual. My job was to be a model patient andto operate the controls.”

Big payoffs came from demonstrations given to hospitalstaffs and, even more, from the training films produced for

the Stryker sales staff whomade pitches to medical profes-sionals around the country.

Those kinds of promotions,plus the bed’s quality and capa-bilities, made it something of ahousehold word in the medicalworld. Adding to its fame wasthe fact that a Kennedy sonused a Stryker bed following aplane crash; it was also laterfeatured in the Tom Cruisemovie, “Fourth of July.”

The senior Carson eventuallyreturned to his home state of Colorado and launched hisown company. He died in 1984, four years after Dr. Stryker.

Julia, who graduated from Portage Central High School,attended college in Wisconsin for a year and eventuallyfinished both a BA and MA at Western Michigan University.After careers as a social worker and teaching at WMU part-time, she became a teacher in the Battle Creek schools.

She continues to teach graduate extension courses inreading methods through WMU’s Battle Creek KendallCenter, modeling for others the power of words and lan-guage.

Julia Carson: ‘Model Patient’

Company to produce the turning frames during the waryears. It was also during these years, that he began exper-imenting with another device that would later be an impor-tant product for his company, the cast-cutter saw, whichgreatly simplified the process of removing plaster castsfrom patients. Like the turning frame, the cast-cutterquickly became popular with doctors across the country.

After the war ended, Dr. Stryker realized that the pro-duction of turning frames, cast-cutters, and rubber heels

for walking casts was becoming more than he could handlewith a small staff in his spare time. In March 1946, heincorporated the Orthopedic Frame Company. Production ofthe orthopedic frame continued, but the cast-cutting sawabsorbed more and more of his time as Dr. Stryker realizedthe same principle could be applied to a variety of othermedical applications, such as cutting bones in surgery.

In 1947, the company expanded and moved into newContinued on page 24


From museum visitor as a toddler tomuseum volunteer as a fourth-year stu-

dent at Western Michigan University, BenWhitt knows about its fun and its tests ofingenuity. Today he’s a card-carrying member ofthe Bill Gates generation—a computer hobbyist whocan’t get enough of learning the ins and outs of theelectronic marvels.

“I began going to the Kalamazoo museum rightafter I learned to walk,” said the WMU electrical-engi-neering major. “I loved being exposed to its scienceand technology aspects and, growing up, took part inthose kinds of summer programs.”

Whitt, a 1998 Kalamazoo Central High School grad-uate, has been a summer volunteer at the KalamazooValley Museum since his junior year there. He was oneof 30 on duty this summer who pitched in to help with the“Let Us Entertain You” free programs for kids.

“I initially signed up because I thought it would lookgood on my resumeand on applicationsfor scholarships,”he said. “But then Ilearned that volun-teering at a place Iloved to go was veryenjoyable. It was asmuch fun on oneside of the table asa volunteer helpingkids as it was onthe other side ofthe table as a visi-tor.”

Whitt, 22, partic-ularly enjoys help-ing youngsters whorun into dead-endson a project andstart to show frus-

trations. Guiding them to a sense of success is very reward-ing. He’s also the “techie” who can help his mother,

Barbara, who is an interpreter for hearing-impaired stu-dents at the Maple Street Magnet Center for the Arts, findher way through computer mazes and frustrations.

“I own many video games,” he said. “When I’m notinvolved with those, I’m tinkering with computers bothinternally and externally, figuring out why somethingdoesn’t work. Games are for fun, malfunctions are for thechallenge.”

As many as 18 hours a day he’s a walking technical-sup-port person for his mother’s two computers and for his pals’units. Whitt himself has a custom-built job and a laptop.

While computer software is intriguing, he prefers towork on the innards of the machines. He’s not certainwhere his studies at Western will take him careerwise, buthe’s certain that he’s pursuing what he loves to do.

If he ever gets tired of scoping out computers, whichseldom happens, he will engage in an activity relativelyrare for people his age—the ancient Japanese art form oforigami.

“I got interested in it at the museum when folding paperairplanes,” Whitt said. “My interest really peaked at aSister City Days in Kalamazoo when people from Numazuset up a display.

“I do origami when I get bored,” he said. That wouldprobably be the other six hours of the day… when he’s notsleeping.

Ben Whitt: Growing up with the KVM

KVM VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Ben (in much earlier days) on a visit to theKalamazoo Valley Museum—then theKalamazoo Public Museum.

18 Museography

Guided tours are becoming a part of the KalamazooValley Museum’s repertoire of services and, thanks to

technology, you’ll be in charge of the itinerary.Visitors will be able to rent for $3 a unit that looks like a

CD player with head phones and a control system. That will betheir ticket to an audio tour of the

three-level museum.“We already have materials

for a self-guided tour, but thatis only a sheet of paper,” saidValerie Eisenberg, director ofvisitor services at the muse-um. “And our Greeter Guidesare on the floor to respond toquestions and give directions.“We thought it would add to

the visitor’s experience to provide more interpretive informa-tion by means of an audio tour,” she said.

Assisted by Artie Fact, the museum’s taxicab icon, “audiotourists” can make their way through the roster of features —On the Trail of History, the planetarium, the latest nationally

touring exhibition, the Challenger Learning Center, the torna-do, artifacts in the Core Exhibit, the Science Gallery, and, ofcourse, the famous mummy.

“The introductions and scripts were written by staff mem-bers,” Eisenberg said. “The material is ‘layered,’ meaning thata visitor can spend as little time at a stop or as much time ashe or she wants. At the press of a button, they can continueto get greater details about a particular exhibit.”

If a visitor listened to all of the recorded information, shesaid, it would be about a three-hour adventure.

The museum staff worked with Cameo Multimedia, based indowntown Kalamazoo’s Rose Street Market, on the audio tourand with Jeff Johnson in particular.

“We wanted a storytelling, anecdotal approach,” Eisenbergsaid, “That’s why we used actors and actresses to record theinformation with dialogue and short plays.”

The eight units can be rented at the registration desk in thelobby. In addition to the $3 fee, users must have a driver’slicense to serve as a deposit.

The audio-tour units will be ready for public use when themuseum opens its “The World We Create” exhibit on Sept. 28.

Anew planetarium show designed to showcase the skies to young children, and the Canadian entertainer who pro-vided the “Sesame Street”-like music for that production are coming to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Jan. 25.

Scheduled to open that day is the creation of the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Ark., that features 1,200 space-ori-ented toys and collectibles, along with video clips from vintage science-fictionmovies and TV episodes.

Joining “Space Toys” on the billing that day will be the debut of the museum’snewest planetarium show, “In My Backyard,”focusing on the night sky, the seasons, thestars of the Big Dipper, the phases of the moon,phenomena such as lightning, rainbows andmeteors, and the plant and animal life thatchildren can see at home.

The 40-minute show, targeted for youngstersages 4 to 7, teaches in simple, straightforwardterms with a musical format provided byCanadian educator/performer Fred Penner.

Penner himself will at the museum that day for four performances. The events are all partof Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated’s annual “Great Winter Adventure.”

“In My Backyard” will become the 40th in the planetarium’s inventory of star shows. Partof the fall offerings beginning in September will be the first in the “Where in the Universeis Carmen Sandiego?” series.

Additional details of the day’s activities will be forthcoming.

‘Space Toys’ and ‘In My Backyard’ debut at the KVM

Artie leads the way for new museum guided tours


The 2003 football season in Southwest Michigan will becoming early—in the spring.

Scheduled to open on May 31, 2003, at the KalamazooValley Museum, “Football: The Exhibit” will be part of thestatewide “A Summer of Sports” as seven major museumsthroughout Michigan offer exhibitions focusing on the rolesthat athletics and recreational activities have played in thelives of people.

For more than a year, Tom Dietz, the museum’s curator ofresearch, has been making arrangements to borrow memora-bilia that tell the story of college, high school and communi-ty football in this part of the state.

“By this fall, I will have fleshed out our theme and what weplan to exhibit in about six cases,” he said. “I think we haveenough stuff, but if a person thinks he or she has somethingspecial, nothing is set in stone right now and we wouldn’t turnit down. I’d take a chance and give me a call at 269/373-7984.”

Among the artifacts and anecdotes that Dietz has alreadycollected are those of Sam Dunlap, Western MichiganUniversity’s first African-American player who still holds theseason record for touchdowns—19 in a six-game season,including seven in one game.

The storied Kalamazoo Central-Battle Creek Central andOtsego-Plainwell rivalries are a planned highlight.Complementing old footballs, trophies, letter jackets, teamphotos, pennants and similar forms of fan support, cheerlead-ing costumes, vintage equipment, and other misty watercol-ored memories about the gridiron glories of days gone by willbe another attraction.

“Football: The Exhibit” will also explore thescience, mathematics and technology

underlying the sport in a nationally touring exhibition creat-ed by the Arkansas Museum of Science and History in LittleRock. The theme of the 3,000-square-foot, hands-on exhibi-tion is that the science in ordinary life can be revealedthrough football’s familiar aspects, such as passing, kicking,the action at the line of scrimmage, and even cheerleading.

Visitors will learn why the spiral stabilizes the flight of thethrown football, how balance, angular momentum and centerof gravity are key components of blocking, tackling and sack-ing the quarterback, and how the protective equipment hasevolved over the years.

For more information about what the other six museumsaround the state will be featuring as part of the “Summer ofSports” project, check this website: summerofsports.com.

“We came to Kazoo to visit

our grandparents and they

brought us here. We had a

lot of fun! Thanks”

– Geneva, Switzerland

“What a fun day we’ve had! I

love that there’s always some-

thing new to do here!”

– Battle Creek, Mich.

“Great toddler area!”

– Kalamazoo, Mich.

“I want to come here again. Ihad a great time. Thank you!” – Sturgis, Mich.

“Thrilling! Probes the imagina-tion, then teaches.” – Laguna Woods, Cal.

“We had such a great time! Wewill for sure be back to visitagain! A lot to see and learnhere!!” – Kalamazoo, Mich.“Loved it all. Great fun for allages.” – Dorr, Mich.

“Very fun! Superb! Best simu-

lation! Exciting!” – Athens, Greece

“You have a fabulous, wonder-

ful museum. An asset to the

community!” – Gaithersburg, Md.

“We’ve been to many, many

children’s museums. This tops

them all.” – Clarkston, Mich.

“Great fun for adults”

– Grand Rapids, Mich.

Football season to come early in 2003

20 Museography

Oh, if only walls could talk. What would they say? There is a spe-cial wall in the museum. It’s tucked away in the On the Trail of History

gallery. If it could talk it would surely have some fascinating stories totell. To begin, let’s go to Galesburg.

In a little clearing on 35th Street, just north of M-96 and the railroadtracks, is a stone monument that reads “Boyhood Home of Major GeneralWilliam Rufus Shafter 1835-1906.” The home is no longer there and today,the exploits of William Rufus Shafter are largely forgotten. The home wasa log cabin, built around 1836 by pioneers Hugh and Eliza Shafter. Theiroldest son, William, or “Bill” as he was more commonly known, was wellknown in Galesburg as quite a handful. He was aggressive, tough, intelli-gent, competitive, and earned the nickname of “Bull.” He had a reputa-tion for being “a born soldier.” One story tells us that he used girls’ dollsfor target practice. Another claims that during recess he often played sol-dier, marching his schoolmates up and down in the schoolyard. But Billalso had a softer side. He was an avid reader of romantic and adventurenovels; he was one of the best spellers in the Galesburg area, having wonseveral local spelling bees; and he was a great storyteller,much to the community’s delight. But his passion was in sol-diering and he saw an opportunity to live that passion whenthe Civil War broke out in 1861. He enlisted in the 7thMichigan Infantry and within a few weeks reached the rankof first lieutenant—the first of many promotions.

During the Civil War Shafter earned the CongressionalMedal of Honor for “most distinguished gallantry in theBattle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.” Following the war, he

*Additional logs are on display at the Galesburg Historical Museum at 190 E. Michigan Ave.Thanks to the Galesburg Memorial Library and Galesburg Historical Museum for their assistance with reference materialfor this article. For more reading on William R. Shafter:Carlson, Paul H., Pecos Bill: A Military Biography of William R.

Shafter. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1989.

Hidden Treasure: The Shafter Cabin

received a “Regular Army Commission” and was stationed inTexas. There he commanded Negro troops whose missionwas to secure peace between the pioneers and Indians, andto explore, map and chart the topographical features of theTexas Panhandle and New Mexico. His accomplishments dur-ing that period were instrumental in opening up theSouthwest for settlement.

For 40 years, Shafter served his country faithfully but notalways easily. He had a reputation of being coarse, abusiveand gruff—the “terror of his subordinates,” but he was alsoknown as one of the most reliable and effective field offi-cers in the service. During the Spanish-American War (1898)he commanded the largest force of U.S. troops that had everleft American soil, later leading to his greatest claim tofame. As a major general, Shafter led ground troops to cap-ture Santiago and East Cuba in just one month. But hisprominent efforts during the war were overshadowed by the

romanticized actions of Teddy Roosevelt charging up SanJuan Hill and the naval heroics of Commander George Deweyin the Philippines.

Throughout his eventful life, Shafter always found timeto return to Galesburg. The little log cabin that he grew upin stood steadfastly, waiting for his return. Over the years,the log cabin found other owners and eventually fell intodisrepair. In 1956 it was demolished, but it is not reallygone. The museum saved many of the logs during the dem-olition. Today, they are unobtrusively gracing the walls ofthe schoolhouse* in the museum’s On the Trail of Historygallery.* If only those walls could talk… what would theysay? —Paula Metzner, KVM collections manager

William H. Shafter from an engraving in the Kalamazoo Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Oct. 23, 1898; the Shafter cabin.


Calendar of Events

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONSTHE WORLD WE CREATESeptember 28, 2002 – January 5, 2003Move it, compute it, play it, design it, andbuild it – there’s no limit to what you cando. This exhibit brings to life lessons inapplied science, engineering, and technolo-gy. At exciting, interactive stations, experi-ence how human creativity solves problemsand advances technology. You’re the creativeproblem-solver, whether you’re building atower that can withstand an earthquake ordesigning a new kind of bicycle. Let yourimagination be your guide through threethemes: Construction Zone, Transit Hub, andTech World. Free“The World We Create” is a traveling exhibitiondeveloped by the Louisville Science Center and sup-ported in part by the National Science Foundation.

SO YOU WANT TO BE ANINVENTOR?September 28, 2002 – January 5, 2003A companion exhibit features original art-

work by DavidSmall for therecently pub-lished book SoYou Want To BeAn Inventor?David Small is aw e l l - k n o w nartist, writer,and illustratorof children’sbooks and win-ner of the pres-t i g i o u sC a l d e c o t tAward. Free

COMING SOON…SPACE TOYSJanuary 25 through May 18, 2003Explore 130 years of space travel imagina-tion! Toys, models, collectibles, graphics andvideo clips in eleven interactive exhibitssample space science fiction and introducescience topics. Explore rockets, robotics,gravity, distances in space, astronomy, andmore! Free

“Space Toys” is a traveling exhibit organized bythe Arkansas Museum of Discovery.

FEATURED PROGRAMSAND EVENTS

Join us for a series of Saturday family pro-grams, the Sunday collection series, and yourannual favorites. Visitors can drop in anytimeduring the hours indicated for hands-on pro-grams. All programs are free. A star (*) indi-cates programs of special interest to adults.Programs for Brownie scouts are indicatedwith the symbol. Scouts, call for a com-plete list of our programs designed just foryou.

JAM SESSION *Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 5; 2 –5 p.m.Listen to K’zoo Folklife Organization musicon the first Sunday of every month.

INDUSTRIAL KALAMAZOO1850–1900 *Sunday, September 22; 2 p.m.This slide lecture discusses the developmentof manufacturing in Kalamazoo in the sec-ond half of the 19th century.

IT’S ABOUT TIMESaturday, October 12; 1– 4 p.m.Discover, experiment with, and create clocks.The Museum’s solar clock, grandfather clock,neon dry-cleaner’s clock, and the new clockon the Kalamazoo Mall will be featured.

SAFE HALLOWEENSaturday, October 26; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.Bring a t-shirt to decorate, and make jewel-ry, hats, and masks as part of downtownKalamazoo’s Safe Halloween. Wear a costumeand plan to have fun! Brownies may earntheir Art to Wear Try-it. Our special, scaryplanetarium program, Nightwalk, is free allday and will be shown every 20 minutesfrom 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (This show is not rec-ommended for children under 6 years old).

CARE OF FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHSAND DOCUMENTS *Sunday, October 27; 2 – 3:30 p.m.The collections manager offers practicaladvice on caring for family photographs anddocuments. Visitors may bring in items forspecific advice.

HALLOWEEN IN SPACEWednesday, October 30; 6 – 8 p.m. A crime has been committed in the Museum,and we need your help to solve it! A stellar

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is located at 230 N. Rose St. in downtown Kalamazoo.FREE GENERAL ADMISSION—OPEN DAILY (except Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday and holidays from 1 to 5 p.m.

22 Museography

theft must be matched with stellar detective work. Curious? Comedressed in your best space costume (be an alien—or yourself!) andsee if you’ll be the one to crack this case. This party for teens only(ages 12 to 15) includes a creepy show in the planetarium, games, andprizes.

CHEMISTRY DAYSaturday, November 9; 12 – 4 p.m.The 16th annual Chemistry Day starts right after the Holiday Parade.This year’s theme is “The Science of Clean” and local scientists willshow their stuff with hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and

other fun surprises.

MILITARYMEMORABILIA*Sunday, November10; 1:30 – 4 p.m.A panel of collectorswill display and discussmilitary memorabiliaand collectibles. Bringin items for identifica-tion (no guns please.)

THANKSGIVINGSMORGASBORDFriday & Saturday,Nov. 29 & 30; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.Fly a mission, watch aplanetarium show, seescience and historydemonstrations, andenjoy the exhibits.

A TRIBUTE TO DAVID SMALL AND SARAH STEWARTSaturday, December 7; 1 – 4 p.m.David Small, local author and illustrator, and his wife, author SarahStewart—known worldwide for their wonderful books—will both behere to sign books and meet their fans. We will also bring their books tolife with a variety of hands-on arts and crafts inspired by their stories.

HOLIDAY CAROLSDecember 9 – 20 Community choral groups perform at the Museum. Please call us ateither 269/373-7990 or 800/772-3370 for a schedule.

WINTER HOLIDAY HANDS-ON HAPPENINGSJoin us for two weeks of holiday programs! See planetarium shows,travel to Mars in the Challenger Learning Center, participate indemonstrations, and join us for arts and crafts in honor of our specialexhibition—The World We Create. New this year: family activitiesduring New Year’s Fest!

CONSTRUCTION ZONEMonday, Dec. 30; 1 – 4 p.m.Put on your construction hat because we’re building today! Browniesmay earn their Building Art Try-It.

NEW YEAR’S FESTTuesday, Dec. 31; 5 – 8 p.m.Let the party begin—hats, noisemakers, and goody bags for everyone.Special free planetarium shows and mini-missions this evening.

TRANSIT HUBWednesday, Jan. 1; 1 – 4 p.m.Create a whole variety of transportation vehicles today. Brownies mayearn their Travel Right Try-It.

TECH WORKSThursday, Jan. 2; 1 – 4 p.m.Let your imagination soar with wheels, magnets, and much more!Brownies may earn their Science in Action Try-It.

INVENTIONSFriday, Jan. 3; 1 – 4 p.m.Try your hand at inventing toys, tools, or games! Brownies may earntheir Science Wonders Try-It.

and other special holiday features…HOLIDAY MINI-MISSIONSDec. 26, 27, 30, 31 & Jan. 1, 2, 3; 1:30 & 3 p.m. $3.00/person

HOLIDAY PLANETARIUM SHOWS:Dec. 26, 27, 30, 31 & Jan. 1, 2, 3 $3.00/personWhere in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego?—I: 2:30 p.m.Season of Light: 1 & 4 p.m.DEMONSTRATIONSDec. 26, 27, 30, 31 & Jan. 1, 2, 3—1 & 2 p.m. Free

PLANETARIUM SHOWSExperience a journey into space like never before with state-of-the-arttechnology to guide your imagination to locations and events through-out our amazing universe. All planetarium programs $3/person.

WHERE IN THE UNIVERSE IS CARMEN SANDIEGO?–ISaturdays & Sundays; 1:30 p.m.September 7 - January 5 Carmen Sandiego and her gang have stolen the rings of Saturn. JoinACME’s junior detectives and use the planetarium’s interactive con-trols to follow the clues to recover Saturn’s rings. Last chance to seethis planetarium; special showings during school holiday break.Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego?—I & II™ were created, written and produced by Dr. WilliamGutsch under license from and in conjunction with The Learning Company. Carmen Sandiego™, Where inSpace is Carmen Sandiego®, and all related characters and names are copyrights and trademarks ofEducational Properties LLC. Used with permission. Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego? – I & II™ isbased on the software program Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego?™ created by Broderbund Software.

GALAXIESWednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays; 4 p.m. (Sept. 7 – Nov. 24)Throughout the Milky Way are glowing clouds where stars are form-ing, shells of gas where stars have perished, and clusters of livingstars. Astronomer Timothy Ferris describes our Milky Way and com-pares it to other galaxies that fill our universe.

SEASON OF LIGHTWednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays; 4 p.m. (Nov. 28 – Jan. 5)Trace the origins of holiday symbols from around the world and travelback in time to see one possible explanation of the Star of Bethlehem.

KVM ANNOUNCEMENTSVOLUNTEER ALERT!Call the Volunteer Coordinator at 269/373-7986 and learn aboutthe benefits of volunteering at the Museum. There are opportuni-ties in the preschool play area and with hands-on public programs.

HANDICAPPED-ACCESSSign language interpreters may be scheduled for programs with aminimum of two weeks notice. Assisted listening devices are avail-able for use in the planetarium; please call in advance. Our TDD number is: 269/373-7982. For details on programs andtimes, visit us at: www.kalamazoomuseum.org or call us at269/373-7990 or 800/772-3370.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s Challenger Learning Center is an inno-vative educational facility complete with a Space Station and MissionControl. Mini-missions are hands-on, fun learning experiences. Agerestrictions are imposed for safety reasons, as well as for the enjoymentof the program by all participants.

VOYAGE TO MARS: MINI-MISSIONSaturdays & Sundays at 3 p.m. Live out your space-age fantasies with this exciting space adventure.You will be on the first Mars-Earth Transport Vehicle preparing to landon Mars. Your mission, should you accept it, is to help create a con-trol base at Chryse Station, located at the site of the first Viking land-ing. No advanced reservations allowed. Tickets may be purchasedon the day of the mini-mission. Ages 6 & up, $3/person. Each childages 6 to 11 must be accompanied by a partner 12 years or older.

SPECIAL GROUP MISSIONSAttention scouts, clubs, and businesses! Experience first-hand thevalue of working as a team and of using effective communication inthese exciting simulated space missions. Call for details and reserva-tions (269-373-7965).

FULL GROUP MISSIONSFull missions are great for business training, or just plain fun!Experience first-hand the value of working as a team and of usingeffective communication. This program includes one hour of pre-flight activities and orientation and an exciting two-hour simulatedspace mission. Successful crews will receive a certificate and missionmemorabilia. Ages 12 & up; 15 to 34 participants. Registration isrequired at least two weeks prior to mission date; $25/person.

JUNIOR MISSIONSThis is a specially designed 90-minute mission for children and adults.Pre-flight hands-on activities prepare the junior astronauts for theirexciting flight in the Challenger Learning Center’s spacecraft simula-tor. Successful crews will receive certificates and mission memorabil-ia. Ages 8 & up; 8 –14 participants. Registration is required atleast two weeks prior to mission date; $10/person.


CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER

CHILDREN’S LANDSCAPEHOURS

Monday through Friday • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday • 1 to 5 p.m.

Open until 5 p.m. during Holiday Break

Children’s Landscapeis designed to intro-duce preschoolersand their parents toan interactive muse-um setting. Hands-onactivities, exhibits,and programs aredesigned for childrenfive and under.Children older thanfive may participateonly if accompanyinga preschool buddy,with the expectationthat their play beappropriate to pre-school surroundings.Free

CIRCLE TIME PROGRAMS are offered free of charge to families and preschool groups. Differentstories, musical activities, games, and art projects will be offered eachweek. All programs are twenty minutes long and begin at 10 a.m. and1 p.m. Monday through Friday:

MONDAY: Toddler Time (2 year olds) TUESDAY: Preschool Science (ages 3–5) WEDNESDAY: Preschool Stories (ages 3–5) THURSDAY: Preschool Music (ages 3–5) FRIDAY: Preschool Art (ages 3–5)

SEPTEMBERDINOSAURS GALORE: All kinds of dinosaurs will be the topic ofplay and exploration.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBERON THE MOVE: Cars, trucks, trains, boats, and buses help us getfrom one place to another. Kid power is required for this movingexhibit.

DECEMBERHAPPY HOLIDAYS:Learn about holidays from around the globeincluding Christmas, Hanukkah, Posada, Kwanzaa, and Chinese NewYear.

IN MEMORY OF ALVIN H. AND EMILY T. LITTLE

Consequences continued from page 2 Soup’er Burger continued from page 7

only products that improved thequality of individual lives, but alsoinstitutions that anchored our com-munity. The economic impact thattheir companies have had on ourregion can hardly be underestimat-ed. Upjohn and Stryker have beencornerstone industries, not onlyproviding employment, but alsodrawing generations of communityresidents and leaders to Kalamazoo.Scarcely a cultural or educationalundertaking in this region has beenuntouched by their employees andby the philanthropy that Upjohnand Stryker endowed.

So if you want an example of howa solitary individual with an ideaand the will to pursue it can shapehistory, look no further than ourown William E. Upjohn and HomerStryker. Their simple solutions left alegacy that is still easing humansuffering and still building our com-munity. Kalamazoo’s foundations,colleges, university, museum, artand nature centers, human serviceagencies, musical organizations,symphony, theatres—even the rede-velopment of our central city—owetheir existence, at least in part, tothese two ingenious doctors and theideas they pursued.

—Patrick NorrisKVM director

rebounding skills, was credited with keying the semi-final victory in the 1956state tourney by scoring five points in overtime in the 82–79 win. He scoredthe two-pointer that tied the game in regulation time as well.

While city-league teams got their players from all levels, most of the squadsthat made it to the state tourney featured former college players such asStanski and Noble. “That’s why it was a tough winning at that level,” Stanskisaid.

“It was pretty intense basketball,” he said, “especially in the top league andthe higher you went up in the competition. You paid the price if you drovedown the lane for a lay-up. It was kind of like the National BasketballAssociation. When you got fouled, you really got fouled.”

Stanski also spent 25 years until 1975 refereeing basketball and footballgames at the high school level. He was frequently hired by his former team-mate for Vicksburg High games. “I still called them straight,” Stanski said. “IfSwift ever got mad at me about a call, he either never showed it or I’ve forgot-ten about it.”

He’s also forgotten about what happened to his varsity jacket. Just like theSoup’er Burger, it is a part of local lore.

facilities at 409 E. Michigan across the street from the old PennsylvaniaRailroad station. The business prospered; by 1949, it had outgrown those facil-ities and purchased a new factory, the former Graphic Arts Laboratory on AlcottAvenue near Portage Street. The company continued to grow throughout the1940s and 1950s.

During the 1950s, Dr. Stryker began to work on another hospital bed, onethat would do even more than the turning frame. It took several years of trial-and-error experimentation, but by the mid-1950s, he had solved the problems.The resulting product, the Circ O Lectric bed, was Dr. Stryker’s final invention.It was extremely successful. It allowed patients or medical personnel to changethe patient’s position with little effort. It proved enormously popular amongpatients confined to bed for extended periods. (See related story on page 2.)

Over the years, the company continued to grow and expand. In 1964, itchanged its name to the Stryker Corporation. As the company thrived, other

products were introduced. Increasingly the company relied on its ownresearch and development staff for the new products. Dr. Stryker beganreducing his involvement after 1964 and retired formally in 1969. His son,Lee, became company president.

Despite tragedy (Lee Stryker was killed in a plane crash in 1976), theStryker Corporation has continued to grow and prosper. For the past 25years, John Brown has led the corporation, making it one of the world’sforemost producers of medical equipment and furniture. In May 1980,Dr. Stryker died at the age of 85. He left behind a heritage of inventionthat has contributed greatly to the prosperity of Kalamazoo andSouthwest Michigan. In the life of Homer Stryker, history and sciencecome together. —Tom Dietz, KVM curator of research

24 Museography

“This museum is a

wonderful community

asset! My kids love visiting

it! Thank you!”– Lansing, Mich.

“The mummy is AWESOME!”

– Otsego, Mich.

“I enjoyed this museum!

I’m going to ask our mayor

to make a museum like

this.” – Tokyo, Japan

Stryker Bed continued from page 16

volume 2 - kalamazoo valley museum

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