This new program series explores local history topics supported by the Holland Museum’s collection and archives.
Local historians Geoffrey Reynolds and Dave Brooks will discuss their research from the Museum archives. Enjoy a lively evening of history and conversation.
During World War II Holland, boat building companies built large and small military vessels that would help win the war. Geoffrey Reynolds will present an illustrated history of Holland’s important part in this key war industry and its lasting effect on the community after hostilities ended. To close our evening, Dave Brooks will discuss the genealogy and family history of Sarah Tolk, the only person to lose her life in the 1871 Holland Fire.
Watch the recorded program now!
This program was live on Thursday, September 23 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Free, Virtual Family Program. Donations appreciated.
Meet the Presenters
Geoffrey Reynolds
Geoffrey D. Reynolds has been The Mary Riepma Ross Director of The Joint Archives of Holland, Hope College since July 2001. Previous to that he served as the collections archivist from January 1997 to July 2001. He graduated from Wayne State University with a Masters in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and an Archival Administration Certificate in 1995. He has worked at various times for Infoflo as a records management specialist, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, General Motors Media Archives, and Illitch Holdings on its Detroit Tiger baseball club archival materials. He currently serves as a board member of the Holland Historical Trust, the treasurer of the Dutch-American Historical Commission, membership chairperson for the Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies, and Executive Director of the Holland Area Historical Society. His research and writing interests include the American pleasure boat building industry and vintage boat racing history. His first and latest book, Boats Made in Holland: A Michigan Tradition, was published in May 2018 by The History Press.
Dave Brooks
Dave Brooks became interested in history earning a Community Service merit badge while in Boy Scouts in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Growing up he often visited his grandparent’s cottage at Macatawa Park. While in the Air Force, stationed in England, the history bug bit hard. Dave has a teaching certificate from University of Maryland, a BS in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Tech and Graduate work with Illinois Institute of Technology. His engineering career took him to Maynard, Massachusetts with GTE Labs (now Verizon Labs) right in the heart of his family history at Concord, Massachusetts where Genealogy took over. Now retired with his wife in north Holland, he works with the Zeeland Historical Society and the Holland Museum on genealogy and special projects.
