The Richland Community Library Barnes & Little History Room focuses on the community of Richland and its history.
Our collection compiles photos, maps, documents, and more that pertain to Richland Township.
If you are interested in browsing our Local History Collection, please contact the library to schedule an appointment.
In 2019, Richland Community Library partnered with Western Michigan University to write a grant offered by the Institute of Museums and Libraries and the Library of Michigan to digitize items/photos from the local history collection.
The grant funding and partnership focused on "improved access to services and information in areas of local history or special collections."
Please click here to access this collection hosted by WMU and the Digital Public Library of America.
A special thanks to Ken & Carol Baker for doing the work!
Richland: From Its Prairie Beginnings contains the history of Richland, from its earliest settlement in 1830 until 1980.
If you have a question pertaining to Richland's first 150 years, you will most likely find it in this book!
Physical copies of this book are available for check out at the library OR as a digital.
Click the icon below to view a searchable PDF of the book.
*Please note, the copyright status is unknown for both of these videos. They have been digitized from older formats. Both are available via DVD from the Richland Community Library. These works may be protected by copyright. If you believe there may be an issue over copyright, please contact the library.
Richland Consolidated School - 1926
This silent film was created in 1926 by Roger M. Combs Jr. out of Chicago. It highlights the recently constructed Richland Consolidated School.
Built in 1923, this building consolidated the seven rural area schools into one building. The Richland Consolidated School was located near the corner of Gull Road & D Avenue. It has since been demolished.
Copyright Status Unknown - work may be protected by copyright.
Gull Lake: A Pictorial History - 1880-1923
This video contains a history of Gull Lake, Michigan through pictures & narratives.
The copyright statues of this video is unknown. This work may be protected by copyright.
If you have materials* you wish to donate to the Barnes & Little Local History Room, please contact the library via phone or email.
(269) 629-9085
richlandclibrary@gmail.com
Please note that this collection pertains solely to the Village & Township of Richland and parts of Gull Lake. If your materials cover areas outside of Richland Township, please consider contacting neighboring libraries about their history collections.
Ross Township - Augusta McKay Library - (269) 731 - 4000
Hickory Corners & Delton - Bernard Historical Society - (269) 623 - 3565
*Materials suitable for our collection may include photographs, maps, publications, written records, etc.
