Did you know that in addition to having a great collection of artifacts that tell the story of Rockford's past, the RAM also has a collection of documents, photos, and publications that would be the envy of many larger museums?
These include local newspapers dating back to the 1870's as both hard copies and on microfilm.
Our Burch Research Room has photos, documents, school pictures, publications, and much more to support our
research staff led by Pat Frye, our Research Director. Help with research is available on an appointment basis.
For more information, send a message on the "Contact" page of this website.
There is more to the RAM than you might imagine.
As part of the plan for rotating exhibits at the Rockford Area Museum (RAM) to
keep Providing new experiences for visitors, a display of vintage lunch boxes is now
on exhibit. All of these plus some more modern versions are on display at the RAM
from now until January. The display is at the RAM thanks to Nate Brown, a
Rockford resident and former builder who is an avid collector of many categories of
memorabilia.
The boxes on display are just a small portion of Nate’s lunch box collection. They
are sure to bring back memories for many of us. They will also be a treat for the
RAM’s young visitors who will marvel at these valuable pieces of American history. Each one tells part of the story of much simpler times for us all when we got by with just 2 or 3 TV channels and we depended on the Sunday newspaper in which we could see our favorite comic characters - IN COLOR!
The display boasts several dozen lunchboxes, both with and without thermoses as well as a few separate thermos bottles. Some related items such as tiny toy lunchboxes and lunchbox inspired Hallmark Christmas ornaments can also be seen. We are privileged to have these items on loan to us.
THIS EXHIBIT WILL BE CLOSING IN LATE JANUARY
IT WILL BE REPLACED BY THE STORY OF ROCKFORD IN POSTCARDS
Watch for a new exhibit about voting and the Women's Suffrage Movement
that will be in place in late April.
See the
Sjogren statue and the Sjogren exhibit inside
1976 - 2013 2013 - PRESENT
Powerhouse built in 1903 Courthouse built in 1976
STOP
DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IN THE ROCKFORD AREA HAVE AN INTERESTING COLLECTION?
IF SO, LET US KNOW.
WE WOULD LOVE TO
SHOW IT OFF FOR YOU.
THE COLLECTION COULD BE OF ITEMS FROM OLD LOCAL HOMES, CHURCHES, AND BUSINESSES, OR OF TOYS, DOLLS, FIGURINES, TOOLS, SCHOOL LUNCH BOXES, FISHING LURES, ETC. FROM AROUND THE NATION, LIGHTHOUSES FROM AROUND MICHIGAN, OR ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE OF INTEREST.
OUR GUESTS LOVE TO SEE COLLECTIONS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. ITEMS CAN BE DONATED TO THE MUSEUM OR LOANED FOR SHORT TERM EXHIBITS. CONTACT AL PRATT, MUSEUM DIRECTOR
Vintage Rockford Class Pictures Now On Display
One of the newest exhibits in the RAM is the display of Rockford Graduation Class pictures
dating back to 1922. They have all been framed and are hanging in the RAM's rear hallway
for everyone to see. Here is the picture of the 1946 class as an example. Over the years, the
Rockford Area Historical Society did a terrific job of collecting these valuable photos, but
they were all in different frames or were not framed at all. They were stored but were not
easily accessed for viewing. New frames and an area dedicated to their display changes that.
We hope you will have a chance to stop by to see what familiar names and faces you may find
in this exhibit.
THE NEW RAM WAS NOT PRIMARILY FUNDED BY HUGE
CORPORATE GIFTS OR GOVERNMENT FUNDS. YOUR RAM
IS THE RESULT OF A GOOD OLD FASHIONED GRASS ROOTS
EFFORT BY THE PEOPLE IN THE GREATER ROCKFORD AREA
WHO KNEW THAT OUR RICH HERITAGE WAS WORTH
SAVING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Many call this "THE ROCKFORD WAY" because the people of this
great community always seem to come through when a genuine need
is recognized.
You can be confident that the new RAM will continue to work to
increase its service to the community - our way of saying THANK YOU
to the People from the entire Rockford area who made this all possible.
IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED THE NEW RAM YET, PLEASE PLAN
TO DO SO SOON. WE THINK YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AND
PROUD OF WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
616 866-2235