Beginning in early 2016, members of the historical society initiated a project to scan and upload our vast photo collection consisting of more than 4,000 images. Now, the public can view and download actual scanned images through our website.

Project leader Suzy Frederick - May 2016 

Photos scanned by: Suzy Frederick, Susan Norder, Chris Penning, Audrey Rojo, Arlene Steenwyk

Updated: April 2019

Note: Our photo collection is located outside of this website.

You may access our photo collection:

• BY KEYWORD   - This option will take you online to where our photo albums are stored.  There, you may type in a search word and find all occurrences that are stored online.

• BY DONOR  - This option will take you to specific photo albums that were donated to the Zeeland Historical Society.

• BY CATEGORY - This option is based on catalogued folders that are stored in massive filing cabinets in one of the back rooms at the Zeeland Historical Museum. The folders are organized by category. 

Can You Help?

If you can help us identify additional details (i.e., names, locations, dates), please select the image and press "Say something" at the bottom of the picture. When you are finished, press SEND.     Thank you!

BY KEYWORD . . .

Below, you will find instructions that will take you online to where our photo albums are stored.  There, you may type in a search word and find all occurrences that are stored online.

1. Click here to access our photo collection at google.com
2. "Sign in" with zhsphotos@gmail.com and NEW PASSWORD:  rose$1212 (see NOTE2 below)
3. Press the magnifying glass at top of page 
4. Where is says, “Search your photos”, type "vanden bosch" (as an example)
5. You will see every occurrence of “vanden bosch” in our photo collection, including death records 
6. You can —>  or  <—  to move through the images

NOTE:   You may see duplicate images :: You may see unrelated images

NOTE2: The first time you try, you may get blocked. Just try again later.

BY DONOR . . .

Below, you will find specific photo albums that were donated to the Zeeland Historical Society.

KEY: Photos scanned by: CP (Chris Penning) ; SN (Susan Norder) ; SF (Suzy Frederick):

AR (Audrey Rojo) ; AS (Arlene Steenwyk)

BY CATEGORY . . .

Below, you will find a list of the catalogued folders that are stored in a massive filing cabinet in one of our back rooms. The folders are organized by category.

How To . . . 

How to view our collection...

Click on a link below and you will see a collection of photos. Then click on an image.

If you cannot see the caption automatically, press the "i" (Info) at the top right of page.

Downloading images...

You have our permission to download images. Click on the image and either right-click and Save Image As... or press the 3 vertical dots (More Options) and click Download. Our only request is that you use "Zeeland Historical Society" as your source.

Education - P005

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Area Schools
• • Buildings (P5-1-1)
  • Students (P5-1-2)
  • Graduation Pictures (P5-1-3)
  • Sports (P5-1-4)
  • Class Activities - not scanned
• Zeeland Christian Schools 
• • Buildings (P5-2-1)
  • Class Pictures (P5-2-2)
  • Graduation Pictures (P5-2-3)
  • Other Activities (P5-2-5)
• Zeeland Public Schools
• • Buildings (P5-3-1)
  • Elementary Class Pictures (P5-3-2-1)
  • High School Students (P5-3-2-2)
  • High School Graduation (P5-3-3)
  • High School Sports (P5-3-4)
  • High School Other Activities (P5-3-5)

Municipal - City of Zeeland - P010

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• City of Zeeland - Public Buildings (P10-1)
• Zeeland - Cemeteries (P10-2)
• City Committees (P10-3)
• Councils and mayors (P10-4)
• Fire department (P10-5)
• Law enforcement P10-6)
• Museum (P10-7)
• Community Bands and Choruses (P10-8)
• Sports (P10-10)
• Parades and celebrations P10-11)
• Zeeland Street Scenes (P10-12)
• Zeeland Post office (P10-13)
• City Parks (P10-14)
• Hospitals (P10-15)
• Zeeland - Aerial views (P10-16)
• Other City Activities (P10-17)
• News media photos - not scanned

Portraits - P015

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Civic Leaders, Doctors, Dentists (P15-1-1)
• Clothing Styles (P15-2)
• Family Groups (P15-3-1)
• Individuals - Identified (P15-4-1)
• Groups - Organizations - Clubs (P15-5)
• Children and Babies - Identified (P15-6-1)
• Children and Babies - Not Identified (P15-6-2)
• Leisure Activities (P15-8)
• Tin-Type Pictures - not scanned
• Individuals (not identified) - not scanned 

Religion - P020

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Area Churches (P20-1)
• First Baptist Church (P20-2)
• First Christian Reformed Church (P20-3-1)
• North Street Christian Reformed Church (P20-3-2)
• Third Christian Reformed Church (P20-3-3)
• Bethel Christian Reformed Church (P20-3-4)
• Haven Christian Reformed Church (P20-3-5)
• Free Methodist Church (P20-4)
• First Reformed Church (P20-5-1)
• Second Reformed Church (P20-5-2)
• Faith Reformed Church (P20-5-3)
• Community Reformed Church (P20-5-4)

Business (Retail) - P025

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Retail Business - Zeeland (P25-1)
• Retail Business - Surrounding Communities (P25-2)
• Business Personnel - Zeeland (P25-3)

Industrial - P030

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Industries & Industrial Buildings (P30-1)
• Industrial Personnel (P30-2)
• Industrial Products (P30-3)
• Area Businesses (P30-4)

Rural - P035

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Barns (P35-1)
• Farms and Cattle (P35-2)
• Rural Scenes (P35-3)
• Country Homes (P35-4)

Transportation - P040

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Automobiles and Trucks (P40-1)
• Horse and Buggy (P40-2)
• Street Car (Interurban) (P40-3)
• Train (P40-4)
• Bikes, Ships (P40-5)

Homes - P045

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Homes - Zeeland (P45-1)
• Homes - Surrounding Area (P45-2)
• Homes - Interiors (P45-3)
• Nursing Homes and Adult Foster Care Homes (P45-4)

Dutch Pictures (Taken in the Netherlands) - P050

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Dutch Buildings and Scenes (P50-1)
• Dutch People (P50-2)
• Dutch People - Not identified (P50-2)
• Transportation (P50-3)

Funeral Traditions - P055 (NOT FOR THE SENSITIVE VIEWER)

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Funeral Traditions (p55)

Area Parks, Scenes and Events - P060

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Area Scenes and Events - not scanned
• Area Parks - not scanned

Famous People - P065

• Famous People - not scanned

Military - P070

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Military (P70)

Home Tours - P080

Home Tours - not scanned

Museum and Gallery Displays - P095

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories

• Museum Building
• • Main Floor and Basement (P95-1)
  • Second Floor (P95-1)
  • Museum Grounds (P95-1)
• Museum Gallery Displays
• • 1970s (P95-2-1970s)
  • 1980s (P95-2-1980s)
  • 1990s (P95-2-1990s)
  • 2000s (P95-2-2000s)
• Historical Society Activities
• • 1970s (P95-3-1970s)
  • 1980s (P95-3-1980s)
  • 1990s (P95-3-1990s)
  • 2000s (P95-3-2000s)

Historic (General) - P100

This collection of photographs consists of the following categories:

• Historic (P100)