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Oral history project undertaken by Professor John Tevebaugh of Grand Valley State Colleges in 1976. The focus of the interviews was the history of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Oral history project undertaken by Professor John Tevebaugh of Grand Valley State Colleges in 1976. The focus of the interviews was the history of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Interviewees included longtime residents of the city, church, business, and community leaders, as well as representatives of Grand Rapids ethnic groups. The interviews were subsequently used as the basis for a WUOM radio series entitled, "Fitzgerald's Prophecy." There are currently no transcripts for the interviews. There are, however, notes made from some of the interviews. These interview notes include individuals for whom there are no extant tapes.

Pastor of the Grand Rapids A. M. E. First Community Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, city commissioner, acting mayor, and later mayor, 1971-1975. Mayoralty files, political materials, scrapbooks of career activities, and photographs.

The Lyman Parks collection consists mainly of files created and accumulated during the period of his mayoralty. Included are files on the many federal, state and local conferences that he attended. The correspondence files consist mainly of congratulatory letters. The best documentation of Parks' mayoralty will be found in his speech file and in the several scrapbooks from the years when he was in office. The collection also includes photographs, both portraits and photographs of public activities.

The collection has been arranged into the following series: Biographical and Personal; Correspondence; Mayoralty Files; A.M.E. Activities; Photographs; and Scrapbooks.