Royal Oak Historical Commission

Meet Royal Oak’s “Hello Girls.” From left: Gladys Benedict, Doris Schroff, three unidentified women, and Marie DeWaters (far right). In 1916, telephone switchboard operators at the Michigan Bell Telephone Office in Royal Oak formed a club called “The Bell Operators Social Club,” which became the “Hello Girls” social club in 1920, with Marie DeWaters as president. “Hello Girls” was used as early as 1900 for American female switchboard operators known for their polite voices regardless of demanding or impatient callers. Can you help us identify these other women? Do you have any stories to share?

Join the Royal Oak Historical Society in celebrating Black History Month with our speaker series on February 28th. We are excited to welcome Canadian historian Irene Moore Davis, a descendant of freedom seekers who settled in Ontario. She will join Leslie S. Edwards and Leslie Pielack in the panel discussion “Hidden Histories: Stories of Underground Railroad Connections with Ontario, Canada.” To register for this free event: https://royaloakhistoricalsociety.com/shop/ols/products/hdn-hstrs

Royal Oak Historical Society Speaker Series: In December 1944, the German Armed Forces launched a massive offensive in the Belgian Ardennes, creating a deep "bulge" in the Allied lines. This desperate gamble became known as the Battle of the Bulge—one of WWII’s most intense battles.

Join Steve Mrozek, local historian & Executive Director of Selfridge Military Air Museum, as he delves into this historic battle.

📅 Friday, February 14, 2025
🕒 7:00 PM
📍 Royal Oak Historical Society Museum (1411 W. Webster Rd. at Crooks)

Reserve your seat: https://royaloakhistoricalsociety.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40624ffcf03ebf9ea9709a269&id=8135e20bca&e=a1ebbf6011

Bob Muller discusses the Saginaw Trail 📅 Date: Friday, January 24, 2025🕒 Time: 7:00 PM📍 Location: Royal Oak Historical Society Museum, 1411 W. Webster Rd. at Crooks

The Underground Railroad in Oakland County
In 1851, 2,371 people of color in Michigan - 60 resided in Oakland County. Nearly half of them lived in Royal Oak Township- the census recorded 26 people in 1850, 34 in 1860, and 30 in 1870. What brought these people to the area, and what connections were there to the Underground Railroad?

Please join the Royal Oak Historical Society in January and February 2025 to experience the Underground Railroad in Oakland County traveling exhibit.
On January 10, 2025, our Speaker Series will feature local historian and Birmingham Museum Director Leslie Pielack, who will discuss the exhibit and the ongoing research project that inspired it (space is limited to 50).

In addition, the Society will display its own exhibit curated by archivist and historian Leslie S. Edwards. A Tangled Web: Stories of African
Americans in 19th-century Royal Oak will present new stories—beyond the ones we already know—and explore the relationship between the Black community in Royal Oak and the Underground Railroad network in Detroit.

Take advantage of the grand opening! Sunday, January 12th, 2 - 4 pm
Refreshments will be served, and
volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. The Exhibit runs through May

Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum
1411 W. Webster Rd. at Crooks
Contact us for more information at 248-439-1501 [email protected]

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Our Halloween open house will be Sunday the 27th, 1-4pm! Come out and tour the house and enjoy donuts and cider! Hope to see you there!!