History Hounds | Michigan Made: WWII Gliders and Ford Motor Company
Apr
24
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Michigan Made: WWII Gliders and Ford Motor Company

[History Hounds] Michigan Made: WWII Gliders and Ford Motor Company with Kenneth Hafeli, Audiovisual Archivist (Ret.)

In early 1942, the Ford Motor Company body plant in Iron Mountain faced closure. Through the determination of the plant's superintendent and company executives in Dearborn, Ford received a contract to build CG-4A Gliders for Allied forces. Join us to learn about this Michigan-made product that helped win the Second World War.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | The Clapp Family Mastodon: Michigan's Massive Find
Apr
30
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | The Clapp Family Mastodon: Michigan's Massive Find

[History Hounds] The Clapp Family Mastodon: Michigan’s Massive Find with Cory Redman, Grand Rapids Public Museum

In 2022, the Grand Rapids Public Museum recovered the nearly-complete skeletal remains of the Clapp Family Mastodon from a Kent City site. Join us to learn about the mastodon’s discovery; the excavation, donation, curation, and research process; and the current and future plans for this amazing Ice Age find.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | A Snapshot of History: Argus Cameras in Ann Arbor
May
8
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | A Snapshot of History: Argus Cameras in Ann Arbor

[History Hounds] A Snapshot of History: Argus Cameras in Ann Arbor with Cheryl A. Chidester, Argus Museum

One of the world’s most popular cameras, the famous Argus C3, was made in Ann Arbor. Join us to learn about the company whose products transformed the world of amateur photography , its optical and radio equipment that helped win World War II, and the museum that preserves its history.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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Great Lakes Freighters
Jun
11
7:00 PM19:00

Great Lakes Freighters

David Lyle spent his career on the water that included work on freighters, a Customs inspector, and president of Walstrom Marine. On marine vessels, he sailed on the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic, and the Great Lakes. Join us as David recounts his work on Great Lakes Freighters. 

In cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation. Registration is recommended but not required. Click here to register.

David Lyle has over 40 years on marine experience. He was with the U.S. Merchant Marine for four years, followed by four years working as an inspector for U.S. Customs in Detroit, Michigan and Dutch Harbor, Alaska. After leaving U.S. Customs, David spent 35 years with Walstrom Marine in Harbor Springs, Michigan, and retired as its president in 2016. His nautical experience included completing the Great Loop in one year on a 28' Pearson Triton sloop. He worked as a deckhand on U.S. ore freighters, and a ordinary seaman aboard a U.S. container ship in the North Atlantic route. After crossing the Atlantic twice, David worked on a tug boat out of Boston Harbor. He later worked as First Mate on a 100' Gulf of Mexico offshore supply boat for the oil rigs. Returning to Michigan, David was a ferry boat captain in Copper Harbor, Michigan. During his time with Walstrom Marine, he delivered numerous yachts in the Great Lakes.

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Great Lakes Lighthouses
Jun
25
7:00 PM19:00

Great Lakes Lighthouses

129 lighthouses dot Michigan's 3,200 miles of shoreline, the most of any state. Since the completion of the Fort Gratiot Light, Michigan's lighthouses have been beacons of hope, served as waypoints, and guided boats, sailing vessels, and freighters through treacherous waters for almost 200 years. Presenter, Jim Tamlyn, will highlight lighthouses along the northern shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

In cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation. Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register.

Jim Tamlyn is the current Executive Director of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association (GLLKA), a local non-profit dedicated to preserving lighthouses and tell the story of the amazing personnel who have lived in them. Jim was the driving force behind Emmet County's purchase of the McGulpin Lighthouse in 2009. He was also instrumental in creating a successful giftshop at McGulpin, and many of the improvements that are enjoyed by visitors during the summer. Noting the importance of local history, Jim helped create the Emmet County Historical Commission, which featured leadership from GLLKA visionaries Dr. Sandy Planisek and Dick Moehl. 

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Guided Cemetery Tours
Jul
13
9:00 AM09:00

Guided Cemetery Tours

Learn St. Ignace’s history through the stories of the city’s past residents. Take a glimpse into their lives on curated tours through 3 local cemeteries: Gros Cap, Lakeside, and St. Ignatius Loyola. Tours will be 1 to 1.5 hours.

9am | Lakeside Cemetery (100 Graham Ave.) Currently under the administration of the City of St. Ignace, Lakeside Cemetery was first established in 1887 by the Lakeside Cemetery Association, who owned it for 115 years.

1pm | St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Cemetery (458 Chambers St.) Once located on State St. near the present-day Shell gas station, the St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Cemetery was relocated to its present location in the early 1900s.

4pm | Gros Cap Cemetery (1502 US-2) Gros Cap Cemetery is the Nation’s oldest cemetery still in use. For centuries it has served as the burial grounds for Native Americans, traders, and early pioneers through to residents today and yesteryear.

Through funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, these tours are free to attend. Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register for individual or all tours.

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3rd Annual Bridging History Celebration
Jul
17
5:30 PM17:30

3rd Annual Bridging History Celebration

Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 17, 2024, when we will celebrate the contributions of the Maurer Family and Maurer Publishing at the MHS Bridging History Celebration at Little Bear East.

The MHS Bridge Award for Historical Impact is given to those who inspire use with their outstanding philanthropy, community involvement, and dedication to preserving history so that others may learn from it. We are honored to celebrate the contributions of the Maurer Family and Maurer Publishing whose names have been synonymous with journalism and integrity on Mackinac Island, St. Ignace, and the Les Cheneaux Islands for more than six decades. Their impact on all of Mackinac County has been profoundly felt by many and we proudly celebrate their dedication to make their community a better place.

Maurer Publishing began with Wesley and Margaret Maurer, Sr. and continued with Wesley and Mary Maurer, Jr. until March of 2023. Wesley Maurer, Sr. was a professor of journalism at the University of Michigan and dedicated to improving journalism education. During his extensive career he received numerous accolades for his work. The highest honors include receiving the title of professor emeritus from the University of Michigan, the Honor Medal for distinguished service in Journalism, and induction to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Mr. and Mrs. Maurer, Sr. purchased the Mackinac Island Town Crier in 1957 to use the small-town paper as a laboratory for graduate journalism students interested in community journalism. They extended the laboratory when they purchased the weekly Harbor Springs’ newspaper Harbor Light in 1963, eventually turning the paper over to a former student. In 1975 the Maurer family purchased the Les Cheneaux Weekly Wave and then The Republican News & St. Ignace Enterprise. The paper was later renamed to The St. Ignace News and incorporated the Weekly Wave in 1978. Wesley Maurer, Sr. was devoted to social justice and to professionalizing the field of journalism and believed that “the newspaper is the basic element of the community, its institutions and life. The newspaper’s objective should be information” (Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame). He lived this purpose and instilled these values in his family. Dedication to journalism education, seeking the truth and reporting it has been a hallmark of the Maurer family, as well as a love of history and preservation of the past which is still seen every week in Wes Maurer, Jr.’s popular column, “Looking Back.”

The net proceeds of this event go toward finishing the Straits Cultural Center

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"Sea Stacks"
Aug
13
7:00 PM19:00

"Sea Stacks"

Meet John Hagen, story teller and author of "Sea Stacks," a collection of short stories about the lives, loves, and humor of residents of the fictitious Ojibwa County. He will present excerpts from "Sea Stacks" and other stories, poems, and songs. Attendees will also get a preview of Hagen's upcoming novel.

In cooperation with the the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation.  Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register.

J. L. Hagen is a writer, poet, musician, and retired non-profit executive. He is the author of Sea Stacks, a collection of short fiction available on Amazon.com. These stories reference  the fictional Upper Peninsula community of Loyale, Michigan. His story “Chelsea’s Rescue” in the anthology Again, Hazardous Imaginings was named one of the best science fiction short stories of 2020. In 2022, his novelette "Runtley Goes Rogue" won a gold medal from Florida's Royal Palm Literary Awards. His poem, "Northwest of the Skillagalee," was anthologized in "Thrills and Chills," where it was recognized as one of the top three submissions. Recently, his short story, "Two Bells," was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. A graduate of creative writing programs at the University of Michigan Residential College and the University of Chicago, he grew up in St. Ignace, MI.  He has lived and worked in four states and briefly taught English Composition at the Community College of Indiana. He and his wife Joy commute between Lake Michigan and Tampa Bay.

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Shipwrecks of the Straits
Sep
10
7:00 PM19:00

Shipwrecks of the Straits

The Great Lakes are as notorious for shipwrecks as they are for beauty. Since the beginning of European sailing vessels traversing the lakes, there have been more than 6,000 documented shipwrecks. Approximately 20 of those occurred on the Straits of Mackinac. Shipwreck researcher, Ric Mixter will discuss his discoveries, vessels lost on the Straits, and where to find them.

In cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation. Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register.

Ric Mixter is a familiar voice at Michilimackinac; you can hear him daily in the shipwreck video he produced at the shipwreck museum at Old Mackinac Point. He has appeared most recently on National Geographic Explorer and has an article in this year's Michigan History Magazine on a recent discovery he was part of in Lake Superior. Add in appearances on History, Discovery Channel and 30 shows on PBS, and you'll know why Ric is frequently asked to share stories live with audiences. 

Ric started diving in 1991, and served as SCUBA cameraman on underwater expeditions to the Great Lakes largest shipwrecks, the Edmund Fitzgerald and Carl D. Bradley.  He has interviewed dozens of shipwreck survivors over the past 15 years, including two from the 1913 Storm, two from the 1940 Armistice Day Storm and survivors from the largest shipwrecks in lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie. 

With over 20 years of stories on historical preservation, Ric was awarded the 2009 Award for Historic Interpretation by the Association for Great Lakes Maritime Historians.  In 2011 he was elected to their board of directors.  Ric was also the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association’s third president.

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Claiming Michigan: The 1820 Expedition of Lewis Cass
Sep
24
7:00 PM19:00

Claiming Michigan: The 1820 Expedition of Lewis Cass

In 1820, the governor of th Michigan Territory, Lewis Cass, and thirty-five compainions participated in an expedition from Detroit to the furthest limits of what would become the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dan Truckey, Director and Curator of the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center will retrace the expedition oand delve into the lives of those in Cass's party and the effice it had on indigenous people.

In cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation. Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register.

Dan Truckey has been the Director of the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center since 2007. Before returning to Northern Michigan University, his alma mater, Dan served as executive director of the Grand Traverse Heritage Center in Traverse City. Previous employers included the Sioux City Public Museum in Iowa, Noah Webster House, the Connecticut Historical Society and the former Catskills Entertainment Hall of Fame. In his spare time, Dan is a folk singer/songwriter, and enjoys downhill skiing, biking, hiking, playing tennis and spending time with his wife and their two kids.

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Black Ash Basket Workshop
Oct
8
10:00 AM10:00

Black Ash Basket Workshop

Learn the traditional art of black ash basketry. Using the knowledge passed down through the generations, Joshua and Sarah Homminga of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, harvest and process all the materials used in their basketry. They will share their knowledge while guiding attendees as they make their own baskets to take home. 

Seating is limited and registration is required. The $75 registration fee includes all supplies and may be paid online or at the workshop. Please note this workshop is 7 hours. Please bring a sack lunch. Click here to register.

This workshop is in cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and the St. Ignace Area Creative Arts Council, and funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Josh Homminga is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, located in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. He was born on August 2, 1978. He grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and lived there until 2012, then moved to Bay Mills Indian Community with his wife, Sarah. Josh worked for Sault Tribe, within their Cultural Division, for most of his adult life and in 2015, he decided to pursue basketry full-time. Black ash basketry has always been part of his life growing up. Josh's great, great-grandmother, Jane Williams, passed this art down to her children and it continued down to his great-aunt, Bernadette Azevedo. Bernadette is the one who taught Josh basketry. He made his first basket in 2007, in which he harvested and processed all the materials. His aunt and uncle, Bernadette and Roger, shared their knowledge by hosting basket workshops. They were concerned that this art would die out within their family. Her words were, “anyone can make a basket, but would they also be able to harvest and process a log to make the supplies to make the basket”. Josh took her words to heart and decided he would continue on this art and teach our future generations. He taught my wife, Sarah and together they have hosted many workshops and demonstrations. They are teaching our children so the art of black ash basketry stays alive within their family.

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Green Mountain Snowshoe Workshop
Oct
19
10:00 AM10:00

Green Mountain Snowshoe Workshop

Have you ever been curious about how snowshoes were laced in the past? Learn about the tools and methods as instructor Hillary Pine guides you through the process of lacing your own pair of Green Mountain snowshoes.

Seating is limited and registration is required. The $200 registration fee includes all supplies and may be paid online or in person. Please note this workshop is 7 hours. Please bring a sack lunch. Click here to register.

This workshop is in cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and the St. Ignace Area Creative Arts Council, and funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Hillary Pine lives in St. Ignace and is a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She has a B.A. in Art History from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in Cultural Heritage & Museum Studies from the University of East Anglia. She is the Northern Lower Peninsula Historian for the DNR and Michigan History Center. Hillary works out of Hartwick Pines State Park and is responsible for the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum, the Higgins Lake Nursery, and the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps Museum. Hillary especially enjoys giving tours and public programs to share Michigan’s diverse history with the public.

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History Hounds | Muddy Ground, Part II: Why Chicago Matters to Early American History
Apr
16
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Muddy Ground, Part II: Why Chicago Matters to Early American History

[History Hounds] Muddy Ground, Part II: Why Chicago Matters to Early American History with John Williams Nelson, Texas Tech University

Join our presenter for the second part of his book, Muddy Ground: Native Peoples, Chicago’s Portage, and the Transformation of a Continent, to learn how Chicago posed challenges to the American ideas of settlement, and the how the city's incorporation reveals broader patterns of conquest across America’s frontiers.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | The Michigan State Grange: Patrons of Husbandry
Apr
10
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | The Michigan State Grange: Patrons of Husbandry

[History Hounds] The Michigan State Grange: Patrons of Husbandry with Jackie Bishop, Michigan State Grange

The Michigan State Grange has advocated for rural communities since 1873 and is a chapter of the nation's oldest national agricultural organization. Learn the historic and progressive tenets of the Michigan community in this presentation.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Born of Hope and Indignation: The Michigan Female College, 1855-1869
Apr
2
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Born of Hope and Indignation: The Michigan Female College, 1855-1869

[History Hounds] Born of Hope and Indignation: The Michigan Female College, 1855-1869 with Valerie Marvin, Michigan State Capitol

Despite being seen as a national leader in public education, the State of Michigan denied women access to the state’s top public schools until 1870. In the meantime, sisters Abigail and Delia Rogers took the fight for coeducation to Lansing, where in 1855 they founded the Michigan Female College. For 14 years the Michigan Female College educated Michigan’s daughters—and sons—while simultaneously lobbying the state to provide true coeducation to all.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Higher Power Calling: Lucretia Mott and Harriet Tubman
Mar
27
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Higher Power Calling: Lucretia Mott and Harriet Tubman

[History Hounds] Higher Power Calling: Lucretia Mott and Harriet Tubman with Nilgün Anadolu-Okur, Temple University

Lucretia Coffin Mott was a Quaker abolitionist and social reformer. Harriet Tubman escaped slavery, became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and served the Union Army as a Civil War nurse, scout, and spy. Discover the inspiring stories of two reformers who represent American women’s historic struggles to achieve freedom, equality, and suffrage.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Michigan's Father of Modern Horticulture
Mar
13
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Michigan's Father of Modern Horticulture

[History Hounds] Michigan’s Father of Modern Horticulture: Dr. Liberty Hyde Bailey with Dan Williamson, Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum

Liberty Hyde Bailey of South Haven is considered by many to be the "Father of Modern Horticulture.” An 1882 graduate of Michigan Agricultural College (now MSU), Bailey later chaired its Horticulture Department—the first in America. Come learn about this leader in agricultural extension services, the 4-H movement, nature study, parcel post, and rural electrification.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Triumph and Tragedy: John DeLorean and the GTO
Mar
5
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Triumph and Tragedy: John DeLorean and the GTO

[History Hounds] Triumph and Tragedy: John DeLorean and the GTO with Barry Levine, Yankee Air Museum

Discover the triumphs and failures of auto executive John DeLorean, who zoomed up the ranks at General Motors through successful cars such as the Pontiac GTO. The failure of his DeLorean Motor Company ensnared him in charges for tax evasion, loan fraud, and drug use. Although acquitted, he was financially ruined.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Glory: Col. Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts
Feb
28
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Glory: Col. Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts

[History Hounds] Glory: Col. Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts with Claire Herhold, Historical Society of Michigan

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment played a pivotal role in the American Civil War. The exemplary service of its members—including over 60 soldiers from Michigan—opened the door for 180,000 Black men to serve in the Union army. The leadership of its young and ill-fated colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, has been cited by historians for setting the trajectory of the unit’s reputation and impact. Learn how Shaw’s upbringing among an elite set of wealthy, East Coast activists influenced his decision to accept this controversial command and identify with the men he died alongside.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | An Auto Disaster: The 1927 Briggs Manufacturing Tragedy
Feb
20
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | An Auto Disaster: The 1927 Briggs Manufacturing Tragedy

[History Hounds] An Auto Disaster: The 1927 Briggs Manufacturing Tragedy with Thomas A. Klug, University of Detroit-Mercy

On April 23, 1927, a fiery explosion at the Briggs Manufacturing Company in Detroit killed 21 men—most of them African-American migrants from the South. Briggs managers and Detroit fire officials called it an “Act of God,” but was it negligence? Join us for the story of this Motor City disaster.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Klansmen and "Thugs": Rationalizing Violence in the Arsenal of Democracy
Feb
14
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Klansmen and "Thugs": Rationalizing Violence in the Arsenal of Democracy

[History Hounds] Klansmen and “Thungs”: Rationalizing Violence in the Arsenal of Democracy with Karen Miller, Oakland University

In 1942, a violent episode at the Sojourner Truth housing projects in Detroit pitted white, middle-class families against Black defense workers. The result was the construction of a myth: Detroit's troubles were caused by uncouth Southerners who had tarnished the city’s good name.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Bodyguards of the Cumberland: The Story of the 9th Michigan Infantry
Feb
6
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Bodyguards of the Cumberland: The Story of the 9th Michigan Infantry

[History Hounds] Bodyguards of the Cumberland: The Story of the 9th Michigan Infantry with Kathy Bilger, Historian

Mustered into federal service on October 15, 1861, the 9th Michigan Infantry Regiment has a lengthy and notable Civil War service record over its time spent in service. Several companies were captured in one of the regiment's first battles, the First Battle of Murfreesboro. Then, the company rose in favor with General Henry Thomas, the commander of the Army of the Cumberland. The 9th eventually was assigned guard duty over the captured Champ Ferguson, a notorious Confederate guerilla. Join the presenter to learn about those interesting scenarios and the history of this unique regiment.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Say "Yah" to Yooper Talk, Eh!
Jan
31
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Say "Yah" to Yooper Talk, Eh!

[History Hounds] Say “Yah” to Yooper Talk, Eh! with Kathryn Remlinger, Grand Valley State University

The remote and isolated location of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, combined with locals’ contact with speakers of English, Finnish, French, Anishinaabemowin, and other languages, have shaped the way Yoopers speak over the past 150 years. In this presentation, Dr. Kathryn Remlinger will discuss the history and development of “Yooper Talk” and explain why it remains distinct from other varieties of American English.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Why Do Fools Fall in Love? Frankie Lymon's Tombstone Blues
Jan
23
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Why Do Fools Fall in Love? Frankie Lymon's Tombstone Blues

[History Hounds] Why Do Fools Fall in Love? Frankie Lymon’s Tombstone Blues with Gary Johnson, Michigan Rock & Roll Legends Hall of Fame

Take a trip to the 1950s to follow the rise and fall of teen rock star Frankie Lymon, including his hit song, “Why Do Fools Fall In Love”; the highly publicized court case involving the Mafia-connected head of Lymon’s record label; and the three women all claiming to be Lymon’s legal wife and the heir to his songwriting royalties.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Conquering Heroines: U-M Women Paving the Way to Title IX
Jan
17
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Conquering Heroines: U-M Women Paving the Way to Title IX

[History Hounds] Conquering Heroines: U-M Women Paving the Way to Title IX with Sara Fitzgerald, Author

Fifty years ago, sex discrimination was rampant on the University of Michigan (U-M) campus. Women made up only seven percent of the faculty, and undergraduate admissions officers enforced gender quotas. Learn about the small group of women who successfully challenged U-M and led the way for women seeking to resolving similar complaints at other U.S. universities.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | The McKinley Years: The Life and Times of the 25th U.S. President
Jan
9
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | The McKinley Years: The Life and Times of the 25th U.S. President

[History Hounds] The McKinley Years: The Life and Times of the 25th U.S. President with Ally Carlson, McKinley Presidential Museum & Library

Learn about the life of twenty-fifth President William McKinley—from birth to tragic death—through photographs and videos from the archive of the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Grand Rapids, The Furniture City: An Enduring History
Jan
3
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Grand Rapids, The Furniture City: An Enduring History

[History Hounds] Grand Rapids, The Furniture City: An Enduring History with Matthew Daley, Grand Valley State University

Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, a group of cabinetmakers and entrepreneurs remade a Michigan river town  into the center of furniture production in the United States. Yet, far from a simple story of luck and perseverance, the city’s success was achieved by vision, skill, trials, and struggle—including the furniture strike of 1911. Far more than a place to buy chairs and tables, “Furniture City, U.S.A.” is the product of a community’s shared determination.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Trailblazers and Icons: The Great Women of Mackinac 1800-1950
Dec
19
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Trailblazers and Icons: The Great Women of Mackinac 1800-1950

[History Hounds] Trailblazers and Icons: The Great Women of Mackinac 1800-1850 with Melissa Croghan, Author

The great women of Mackinac were trailblazers who established the community on Mackinac Island. They were leaders in the island’s fur trade, healthcare, literature, horse culture, and education, and their lives ran the gamut from scandal to tragedy. The personal stories of those women—including Madeline Laframboise, Agatha Biddle, Margaret Fuller, and Daisy Blodgett—reveal inventiveness and perseverance in a time when women had few rights.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Shifting Sands: Shaping Saugatuck's Natural Landscape
Dec
13
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Shifting Sands: Shaping Saugatuck's Natural Landscape

[History Hounds] Shifting Sands: Shaping Saugatuck’s Natural Landscape with Eric Gollanek, Saugatuck-Douglas History Center

Explore the layered history of the Lake Michigan shoreline near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. This program examines the important role of forests in the history of the Saugatuck and Douglas area—touching on the lore of “Michigan’s Pompeii,” the mill town of Singapore. Additionally, attendees will delve into the cultural significance of the area’s environmental history, including the rise of West Michigan’s fruit industry and the wooden architecture of steamship and automobile tourism.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Fly Me to the Moon? The Story of the First Lady Astronaut Trainee
Dec
5
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Fly Me to the Moon? The Story of the First Lady Astronaut Trainee

[History Hounds] Fly Me to the Moon? The Story of the First Lady Astronaut Trainee with Nicolle Zellner, Albion College

In 1961, Dr. William Randolph Lovelace II invited the nation’s best female airplane pilots to his medical facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he subjected them to physical and psychological exams designed to determine if they had “the right stuff” to fly in space. Now commonly known as the Mercury 13, that class of First Lady Astronaut Trainees (FLATs) included twins, a senator's wife, a few mothers, and a woman who would realize their shared dream of becoming an astronaut 60 years later.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Muddy Ground: Chicago's Role in the French Great Lakes
Nov
29
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Muddy Ground: Chicago's Role in the French Great Lakes

[History Hounds] Muddy Ground: Chicago’s Role in the French Great Lakes with John Williams Nelson, Texas Tech University

Explore the role of the Chicago Portage in French imperial ambitions during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. By examining the specific canoe routes and portage paths used to navigate the Great Lakes Region, this speaker highlights the importance of geography and environmental knowledge in explaining Indigenous and French relations.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Fishing with Hammer and Chisel: Armor-Plated Fish of Michigan's Devonian Period
Nov
21
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Fishing with Hammer and Chisel: Armor-Plated Fish of Michigan's Devonian Period

[History Hounds] Fishing with Hammer and Chisel: Armor-Plated Fish of Michigan’s Devonian Period with Joseph J. Kchodl, Paleontologist & Author

During the Devonian Period—or the Age of Fish—Michigan was at the bottom of an ancient saltwater tropical sea. Millions of years of sediment covered much of the state until glaciers exposed the bedrock beneath. Join PaleoJoe as he goes fishing for those ancient fish—not with a fishing pole and worms, but with a hammer and chisel.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Lincoln's Kalamazoo Visit: Shocking New Discoveries
Nov
15
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Lincoln's Kalamazoo Visit: Shocking New Discoveries

[History Hounds] Lincoln’s Kalamazoo Visit: Shocking New Discoveries with Tom George, M.D., Vice-President of the Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Institute

On August 27, 1856, Abraham Lincoln made what would be his only trip to Michigan. He came to speak at a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate John Fremont. The text of Lincoln's speech was found by researchers in the 1930s. In this presentation, former HSM president Tom George will reveal what modern research has uncovered related to Lincoln's visit.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Snowshoe Priest: Bishop Frederick Baraga
Nov
7
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Snowshoe Priest: Bishop Frederick Baraga

[History Hounds] Snowshoe Priest: Bishop Frederick Baraga with Lenora McKeen, Bishop Baraga Association

Father Baraga arrived in the New World on December 31, 1830. For the next several decades, he traveled throughout the Great Lakes Region and beyond to minister to Native and immigrant communities. Join the speaker to learn about the far-reaching impact and legacy of the Shepherd of the Wilderness

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | William Henry Harrison, Oliver Hazard Perry and the War of 1812
Nov
1
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | William Henry Harrison, Oliver Hazard Perry and the War of 1812

[History Hounds] William Henry Harrison, Oliver Hazard Perry and the War of 1812 with David Curtis Skaggs, Historian

Join the presenter to examine decisive victories of the War of 1812 on the Great Lakes and the cooperation displayed between Major General William Henry Harrison and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Their leadership and strategy allowed the United States to regain control of the Lower Peninsula and provides a unique example of what modern military parlance calls "combined operations."

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Michigan Oddities & Rarities
Oct
24
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Michigan Oddities & Rarities

[History Hounds] Michigan Oddities & Rarities with Ron Rademacher, Author

Michigan is replete with the strange and unexplained: mysterious statues discovered in the roots of a fallen tree, megalithic walls, an ancient stone amulet found in Nahma, and one of America’s most famous archaeological hoaxes. Learn about these and more as we explore the world of Michigan oddities.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Winds of Change: The Farms of Ogemaw County
Oct
18
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Winds of Change: The Farms of Ogemaw County

[History Hounds] Winds of Change: The Farms of Ogemaw County with Stacy Radecki, Ogemaw Heights High School

At Ogemaw Heights High School, students of Ms. Radecki's U.S. history classes are working with the school's STEM department on a cross-curricular project to research how local farms have changed over the years. The students were able to use drone technology to capture what nine county farms look like today and show how they have changed since the 1980s. Several local farmers came to class to share the histories of their properties and help the students gain a better knowledge of their town. This year, the project’s focus is on centennial farms and their impact on the community.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | All About Eleanor: A Virtual Visit to Ford House
Oct
10
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | All About Eleanor: A Virtual Visit to Ford House

[History Hounds] All About Eleanor: A Virtual Visit to Ford House with Jason Dake, Ford House

Get to know Eleanor Ford during this unique program that highlights some of Eleanor's favorite things during a tour of many rooms within the family's home. We'll share stories about her family life, her love for the arts, and her philanthropic contributions—including her final gift that created Ford House.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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History Hounds | Say "Yah" to Yooper Talk, Eh!
Oct
4
7:00 PM19:00

History Hounds | Say "Yah" to Yooper Talk, Eh!

[History Hounds] Say “Yah” to Yooper Talk, Eh! with Kathryn Remlinger, Grand Valley State University

The remote and isolated location of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, combined with locals’ contact with speakers of English, Finnish, French, Anishinaabemowin, and other languages, have shaped the way Yoopers speak over the past 150 years. In this presentation, Dr. Kathryn Remlinger will discuss the history and development of “Yooper Talk” and explain why it remains distinct from other varieties of American English.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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Porcupine Quill Workshop
Oct
3
10:00 AM10:00

Porcupine Quill Workshop

Learn the traditional art of porcupine quill work with award winning Native American Master Artist, Ron Paquin. Using birch bark, sweetgrass or black ash, spruce root, and porcupine quills, attendees will make their own wall pocket featuring a trillium flower made from porcupine quills.

The workshop is $50/person and includes all materials and supplies. Seating is limited and registration is required.  Click here to register.

Please bring a sack lunch.

Ron Paquin, a Chippewa Indian born in St. Ignace, is a nationally know, award winning traditional artist. He uses natural materials including birch bark, black ash, sweet grass, antlers, porcupine quills, and red willow to create birch bark canoes, antler carvings, baskets, jewelry, dreamcatchers, knives, and more. Featured on PBS in "A Craftsman's Legacy," Ron teaches and shares his knowledge with children and adults in schools and at art workshops throughout Michigan. He has been awarded a Master Artist grant over 10 times through the Michigan State University Master Artist/Apprenticeship Program. He is the co-author of "Not First in Nobody's Hear - the Life Story of a Contemporary Chippewa" and "Ron's Honest Canoe." 

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History Hounds | Harsens Island: It's All About the Water!
Sep
26
12:00 PM12:00

History Hounds | Harsens Island: It's All About the Water!

[History Hounds] Harsens Island: It’s All About the Water with Robert Williams, Harsens Island St. Clair Historical Society

Harsens Island, located at the mouth of the St. Clair River on Lake St. Clair, once attracted thousands of Detroit tourists who arrived aboard the steamer Tashmoo to enjoy Tashmoo Park and the island's resort hotels. Learn about the island that is now a DNR Wildlife Area and home to 1,200 residents.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

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