Sophia Ward Brewer | From Grand Rapids to Black Eden: A Century of Connections to Idlewild
Sophia Ward Brewer is a librarian, local historian, archivist, and community advocate dedicated to preserving and sharing African American and local history. A longtime resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, she has spent more than three decades working in libraries, education, historical research, and community engagement.
Sophia is a faculty librarian at Grand Rapids Community College and a recipient of the 2024 Gordon Olson Award for Excellence in Local History and the 2025 Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award. In 2026, she was appointed to the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission, where she contributes to statewide efforts to preserve and promote the history of the Underground Railroad and the struggle for freedom in Michigan.
An active member of the Detroit and National Idlewilders, Sophia has a special passion for preserving the history and legacy of Idlewild, Michigan, historic “Black Eden.” Through research, preservation, storytelling, and public programs, she works to ensure that the people and places that shaped African American history are remembered, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.
Andrea Melvin | A Close Look at the Grand Rapids Chicks’ Uniform
Andrea Melvin is the Senior Collections Curator at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. She finds joy in empowering and inspiring young minds through radical access to museum collections, especially the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s incredible fashion collection of 10,000 pieces of clothing and accessories. Andrea holds a bachelor’s degree in history and costume studies from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and a master’s degree in public history from Western University in Ontario.
Adam Oster | Time to Hit the Books: Unearthing Hidden Research Treasures in the Library of Michigan’s Yearbook Collection
Adam Oster is the Community Engagement Librarian for the Library of Michigan. Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Grand Valley State University with a minor in Political Science and Secondary Education Certification. He also has a Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University. Adam’s interests include genealogy and local history research.
David Winnick
David Winnick is well-known for having designed Airstream’s 75th Anniversary Bambi Trailer as well as custom trailers for rock stars and actors. He has also done several restoration projects for the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
