sign in sign up
<<
Home , Culture of Detroit

March 28-29, 2014

Michigan56th Annual The Local inHistory PerspectiveConference

Best Western Sterling Inn Banquet & Conference Center 34911 Van Dyke Avenue, Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Sponsored by

Detroit Public Library • State University Press University of Michigan Press • Walter P. Reuther Library Press Algonquin Club of & Windsor • Bentley Historical Library • Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, Inc. • Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society • Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan • Jewish Historical Society of Michigan • Michigan Genealogical Council • Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame • Oakland County Historical Commission • Troy Historical Society • William L. Clements Library

For details and registration, visit www.hsmichigan.org or call toll-free (800) 692-1828 Friday, March 28 Opening 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Registration (Sterling Inn Lobby) and Exhibits Keynote 9:30 a.m. Detroit Bankruptcy: 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. RefreshmentsFriday A City in Transition Sheila Cockrel, 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Opening Keynote (see right) Crossroads 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. Concurrent Session I (see Breakouts 1 – 5) Consulting As a former Detroit Detroit Sound Conservancy Oral History City Council member Carleton Gholz, Founder, Detroit Sound Conservancy from 1994 to 2009, The founder of the Detroit Sound Conservancy (DSC) will discuss the difficulties and successes in Sheila Cockrel is preserving Detroit music history. The DSC was formed in 2012 to collect and retain the indigenous keenly aware of the musical culture of Detroit. This session will review what the DSC has learned in its two years1 and challenges facing why music should matter to all Michigan historians. Michigan’s largest

Breakout 1 Moderator: Leslie Williams, Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society city. Her opening keynote address will discuss some of the historical Digital Challenges for the Analog-Minded: Reference, Research, and circumstances that led to the largest Accessibility Strategies for Digital Archives municipal bankruptcy in the U.S., the current process led by the emergency Elizabeth Clemens, Audiovisual Archivist and Digital Specialist, Walter P. Reuther Library manager, and how Detroit can move Melanie Bazil, Senior Archivist, Conrad R. Lam Archives, Henry Ford Health System forward under the leadership of its The changes in reference services will be discussed, along with the low-cost yet highly effective2 discovery new mayor, Mike Duggan. tools and strategies that have allowed increased access to audiovisual collections. Also, a review of various digital research methods used to access manuscript medical and scientific materials will be presented. Moderator: Richard Wiener, Breakout 2 President, Historical Society of Moderator: Kathleen Schmeling, Walter P. Reuther Library Michigan

Origin of U.S. Immigration Controls on the U.S.-Canada Border Thomas Klug, Associate Professor of History, When the federal government assumed control over immigration in the 1880s, there was no obstacle Friday Luncheon to immigration coming into the U.S. from Canada. By the 1920s, however, a network of ports of entry operated along the border. How this transformation came about and what it meant 3for those Keynote 12 p.m. crossing the boundary will be examined by looking at the Detroit and Windsor border. Henry D. Brown

Breakout 3 Moderator: Mark Bowden, Burton Historical Collection, Memorial Lecture Revisiting “Rosie the Great Female Artists of Detroit Riveter”: The New Workers Suzanne Bilek, Author and Artist in the Arsenal of Democracy See Detroit through the eyes of the creative class and how they Charles K. Hyde, Wayne used talent and sheer grit to become heroines of modern society State University and enter the mainstream of fine art. The presentation4 contains Our luncheon keynote will discuss 50-plus historic and contemporary images from local archives the “new workers” who filled many and anecdotes from personal interviews. jobs in the defense industry Breakout 4 Moderator: Loraine Campbell, Troy Historic Village when the predominantly white male labor force left Hank Greenberg: Love and Hate in Detroit for the military services. He John Rosengren, Author will focus on three distinct groups—white workers The author of the definitive biographyHank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes will detail the Hall of from the Appalachians and Fame player’s sometimes testy, sometimes happy relationship with the Motor City. He will also describe the iconic status Greenberg occupied during the ’30s and ’40s in Michigan. 5 the South, , and women—and the unique challenges Moderator: Bob Sadler, Detroit Historical Society Breakout 5 they faced when they entered the defense industry. The success of the 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Luncheon and Keynote (see right)(ticket required) Arsenal of Democracy was largely the result of their contributions to war 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Concurrent Session II (see Breakouts 6– 10) production. Moderator: Larry J. Wagenaar, Grant Writing for Local Historical Organizations Historical Society of Michigan Tamara Barnes, Assistant Director for Diversity and Outreach, Historical Society Greeting: Robert Bury, Detroit of Michigan Historical Society This workshop will review a variety of grant applications—including community foundations, the Michigan Humanities Council Project Grant, and the Heritage Preservation Conservation Sponsored by Assessment Program—to show how small organizations can fund projects by utilizing resources6 at local, state, and national levels. Participants will have the chance to review sample narrative statements using the evaluation criteria that application reviewers use. Breakout 6 Moderator: Kellie Bolster, Historical Society of Michigan 3:15 p.m.-4:30ConcurrentSession 2:45 p.m.-3:15Refreshmentsand Exhibits Break Breakout 11 Breakout 10 Breakout 9 Breakout 8 Breakout 7 Moderator: Janet Mendler, HistoricalSociety ofMichigan and trainedvolunteers, theJunior thathelpfamiliesandtheircommunities. incollaborative partnerships Leaguehasinitiatedandparticipated League ofDetroit andhow ithasbeenaleaderinaddressing andresponding to theneedsofarea residents. With from financial support resources networking organizationpositively groupimpactingcommunitiesaround toadiverse theglobe.Thissessionwillalsodiscuss service Junior organization.Discoverto leadalargeservice how International, Kiwanis whichwillsooncelebrate itscentennial,grew from amen’s business In thissession,you’ll hear from Sue Petrisin, International astheKiwanis president, who,in2015,willserve makingherthefirstfemaleelected Cristina C.Garberding,JuniorLeagueofDetroit,Inc. Sue Petrisin,VicePresident,KiwanisInternational Centennials ofKiwanisInternationalandJuniorLeagueDetroit Civic Detroit Moderator: LeslieC.Williams,FredHartWilliamsGenealogicalSociety commend theirlegacy. andonvideo—toshareon thework thatisunderway—online thestories ofDetroit eldersandto of thememories handeddown from theirparents andgrandparents. Thissessionwillprovide anupdate legacy ofourcommunity, are livingwitnessestomuchofthetwentieth century, andare theguardians to honoroureldersandrecognize theirsignificancetoourcommunity. and thehistory Our elderscarry The Detroit Elders Project wasconceived by distinguishedfilmmaker Julie Dashasasustaining project Juanita Anderson,Director,FilmandDigitalMediaInitiatives,WayneStateUniversity The DetroitEldersProject Moderator: ArthurM.Woodford,AlgonquinClubofDetroitandWindsor workers’much-deserved rights, made“going north” more enjoyable forgenerationstocome,andwon World War list. II.Andthatisonly apartial the accomplishmentsofbothfamousandanonymousMichiganians whobuiltastate,contributed toAmerica’s Industrial Revolution, secured This newmonographon Michigan’s rich and varied pastfocusesonanarrayofstories—some well-known, othersobscure. Thetaleschronicle Roger Rosentreter,MichiganStateUniversity Michigan: AHistoryofExplorers,Entrepreneurs,andEverydayPeople oftheattackandsetstagefortheirre-occupationsurvivors ofMichilimackinac inSeptember 1764. “pays d’en haut,” or“upper country.” Instead, itledtoaseries ofnegotiationsamongdifferent Native nationsthatdetermined thefateof British On June ofOjibwe 2,1763,aparty warriors captured Fort Michilimackinac from theBritish. Theassaultdidnotignitealargerwarinthe Keith R.Widder,CuratorofHistory,MackinacStateHistoricParks,Retired Beyond Pontiac’sShadow and economicstrife. Mr.Taylor alsoshows how thewaralmostcametoDetroit’s doorandhow itscitizens responded totheneedsofitssoldiers. During theCivil War, award-winning authorPaulTaylor explores how thatdiscord almosttore thecityintwoandexaminesissuesofgender, labor, Though locatedfarfrom Southern battlefields, Detroit churned withethnicandracialunrest during the Civil War. In Paul Taylor,Author Old SlowTown:DetroitDuringtheCivilWar New BooksinMichiganHistory Moderator: KimberlySimmons,DetroitRiverProject asameetingplaceforveterans oftheCivilconstructed War andorganizationsrelated totheGrand Army oftheRepublic. renovation beganontheonce-grandbuilding,transforming itintoan“as historically accuratestructure aspossible.” This“Memorial Hall” was The long-abandonedG.A.R.buildingwaspurchased from thecityof Detroit inthefallof2011.Over thecourseofnexttwo years, David Carleton,Co-OwnerofNewGARLLCandMindfield G.A.R. Building demonstrate thosechallengesandpresent adaptive reuse solutionsthatcanbeutilized tokeepthecity’s builtheritage offtheendangered list. This sessionaddresses preservation-related issuesfacinghistoric structures inthecityof Detroit. Ms. Bilobran willhighlightseveral buildingsthat Dawn Bilobran,PreservationDetroit Endangered BuildingsofDetroit Preserving OurPast:HistoricPreservationinDetroit of Michigan Moderator: Larry J.Wagenaar,Historical Society Lakes State. Michigan recognizes significantstories ofthe pastinthe Great recognizable green markers are waythestateof animportant to Michigan’s history. Found throughout thestate, theseinstantly This sessionwilldiscussthemarker program and the value it adds Tom Truscott,MichiganHistorical Commission Markers Traveling ThroughTime: MichiganHistorical (Michigan StateUniversityPress) 11

III (seeBreakouts11–15) (Wayne StateUniversityPress) plan catering needs. Sign upforyour free ticket whenyou register. conference attendees,buttickets are required sowe canappropriately with otherconference attendees. This reception isfree forall registered annual reception. tomeetandmingle Thisisa uniqueopportunity Join usfor lightrefreshments Conference’s at the LocalHistory Reception Sterling InnLobby 9 (University ofMichiganPress) 5:30 p.m. Old Slow Town: Detroit 10 8 7

5:30 p.m. Reception (seeleft) 4:30 p.m. - 5:30p.m.Break Breakout 14 Breakout 13 Breakout 12 Moderator: BobSadler,DetroitHistoricalSociety theshow.social mediatorun group cametobe,whatthey’ve donetogether, andhow theyuse history. Co-founderAmyElliott Bragg willtalkabouthow the to talk,drink, mingle,goonfieldtrips, andlearn about Detroit’s lovers,loosely knitorganizationoflocalhistory whogettogether The Detroit Drunken Historical Society isanunofficialand Preservation Detroit Amy ElliottBragg,PresidentandBoardMember, Historical Society History attheBar:TheDetroitDrunken social interactionover generations. Detroiters have enjoyed placestoshare food,drink, music,and locationsofthe’70s. This finer culinary presentation reviews how ’40s…to thejazzclubsand,later, nightclubsofthe’60s…to during prohibition totheneighborhoodbarsof’30sand from theillegalbars century: gathering placesofthetwentieth The Detroit Historical Museum’s newexhibitexplores the Historical Society Tracy Irwin,DirectorofExhibitions&Collections,Detroit Since 1920 Out ontheTown:DrinkingandDininginDetroit History ofandinDetroit’sPubsBars Historical SocietyofMichigan Moderator: PatriciaMajher, Michigan HistoryMagazine, downs ofcreating awell-balanced historical novel. backdrop. Attend lose itshistory thissessiontolearn theupsand read likeatextbook;too muchtheotherway, andtheresult can historical accuracy. Leantoomuchoneway, andtheoutcomecan that’smust walktocraftacompellingfictionalstory steepedin Between “historical” and“novel,” there isafineline thatanauthor Society ofMichigan Nancy Feldbush,CommunicationsManager,Historical Researching andWritingaHistoricalNovel Commission Moderator: JamesMcConnell,Warof1812Bicentennial culture toretain yet try theirdistinctidentity. toengagethemainstreamthe immigrantsmakeefforts American colonization. Theadjustmentandadaptationhascontinuedas been influenced by its Middle-Eastern neighborsalongwith British an overviewofthiscomplexcommunity. Over thecenturies, ithas and multi-religious, aswell asmulti-ethnic.Thissessionwillgive immigrants from theIndian subcontinentthatismulti-lingual The mid-60simmigrationchangesbrought inawave of Latika Mangrulkar,ACSW Communities inDetroitandMichigan The AccidentalImmigrants:SouthAsian have madeinthecommunity. immigration totheU.S.,andmanycontributions they will explore whoArabAmericans are, theirrich stories of concentration ofArabAmericans intheU.S.?Thissession How didtheMetro Detroit area cometohave thelargest Nadia M.Bazzy,FamilyandCoupleTherapyCenterLLC Community Largest intheU.S.:TheDetroitArabic Ethnic Detroit:ArabandAsianCommunities (ticket required) 14 12 13 given afterMarch 18,2014. the optional mealsbecausetickets are required Please note:No for entry. refunds willbe the doorandmealtickets willbeavailable onlyifthere isroom. **You mustregister for March 19 – 21,2014.AfterMarch 21, 2014,registrations willbeavailable onlyat *The conference registration deadlineis March 18, 2014.Late registration isfrom For reservations,call(800)953-1400,thenchooseOption1 Register onlineatwww.hsmichigan.org. Best WesternSterlingInnBanquet&ConferenceCenter HSM Basic Membership Saturday Luncheon (ticketrequired) Saturday Breakfast (ticketrequired) Friday Reception (ticketrequired) Friday Luncheon (ticketrequired) OPTIONAL ITEMS Late Registration (Mar. 19–21)* Registration (by Mar. 18)* ITEM ADDITIONAL ATTENDEENAME ADDITIONAL ATTENDEENAME DAYTIME PHONE(WITH AREA CODE) E-MAIL CITY, STATE, ZIP ADDRESS NAME Or usetheformbelowtomailorfaxyourregistration. Michigan inPerspective:TheLocalHistoryConference See forpaymentoptionsandinformation. thebackofthisform

Breakout 15 34911 VanDykeAvenue,SterlingHeights,MI48312 Donna Odom,SouthwestMichiganBlackHeritageSociety world isquintessentialJackson andMichigan history. Southern Michigan, becamethetwolargestwalledprisons inthe prison andhow thisfacilityanditssuccessor, theState Prison of Jackson wonthebattletobeseatof Michigan’s firststate the “Big House” ofhow wasontherise.andwhy Thehistory When Michigan becameastateonJanuary 26,1837,theeraof Steve (Barney)Rudolph, JacksonHistoricPrisonTours Prison Tours Jim Guerriero,InterpretiveTourGuide,JacksonHistoric Historic PrisonTours Judy GailKrasnow,FounderandDirectorofJackson Michigan’s FirstPrison:TheJacksonPrison Registration Deadline:March18,2014 Conference Registration Request Conference theLocalHistory or ** Conference Hotel Historical Society ofMichigan rate. March 28-29,2014

$89/night

HOW MANY

______Total Due

x $25 x $23 x $17 x $23 x $55 x $45 x $0 COST    

  SPECIAL MEAL 15 $______$______$______$______$______$______$______$______GLUTEN-FREE VEGETARIAN GLUTEN-FREE VEGETARIAN GLUTEN- VEGETARIAN FREE T OTAL 0

Saturday, March 29 Saturday Breakfast 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Registration(Sterling Inn Lobby) and Exhibits Keynote 8:30 a.m. Henry Ford’s $5 Day: Too 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. Breakfast andSaturday Keynote (see right)(ticket required) Good to Be True? John Staudenmaier, S.J., 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Refreshments and Exhibits Break Editor Emeritus, Technology 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Concurrent Session IV (see Breakouts 16 – 20) and Culture; Assistant to the President for Mission Maritime Trilogy: Submerged History & Heritage in and Identity, University of Daniel Harrison, Systems Librarian, Eshlemen Library, Henry Ford Community College Detroit Mercy Maritime heritage is explored through three ongoing archaeological investigations: the British In 1914, Henry Ford startled the world colonial period, the War of 1812, and the twilight of the Age of Sail on the Great Lakes. when he announced that Ford Through partnership with academia and state and federal agencies, communities 16are reclaiming Motor Company would pay The Narrows’ pre-industrial past as a step toward reinventing its post-industrial future. $5 for an eight-hour workday. Moderator: Arthur Woodford, Algonquin Club of Detroit and Windsor Breakout 16 The ramifications of this event changed Ford Motor Company, Demographics of Detroit: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going? southeastern Michigan, our Kurt Metzger, Emeritus Director, Data Driven Detroit (D3) nation, and the world. John After losing a quarter of its population in the last decade and having the highest poverty rate of Staudenmaier—consultant for the Henry any city in the country, Detroit enters 2014 at a pivotal point in its history. Entrepreneurism Ford documentary that aired last year and spurred technology are bringing new jobs, population, and housing to the downtown17 area. on PBS’s “American Experience”—will Will this continue? Will blight removal improve the neighborhoods? Is Detroit Future City the explain lesser-known aspects of this story framework for success? and dispel some myths. Breakout 17 Moderator: Mark Bowden, Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library Moderator: Bob Sadler, Detroit Historical Society

Conference Registration Marketing Tips for Small Museums Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference Bob Sadler, Director of Marketing and Sales, Detroit March 28-29, 2014 Historical Society Registration Deadline: March 18, 2014 This interactive presentation will explore marketing tactics, both old and new, that will help put your small museum1 or historical society on the map—without taking a huge bite out of your8 Registering for the conference is easy! budget! The presenter has more than two decades of marketing  Visit www.hsmichigan.org to register online. and public relations experience in the nonprofit sector, with the It’s fast, easy, and secure! Breakout 18 last 16 years at the Detroit Historical Society. OR Moderator: Loraine Campbell, Troy Historic Village  Register by phone by calling our toll-free number: (800) 692-1828. The Underground Railroad: Dispelling Myths and OR Telling Our Stories in the Region  Fill out both sides of this form, then mail it in with Christina Streety Napier, Descendant of William Lambert your payment or fax both sides to the number below. Mary Edmonds, Past Member, National Advisory Board— NPS Underground Railroad Network to Freedom19  Mail to Roy Finkenbine, Professor of History and Director of the Local History Conference • HSM • Black Abolitionist Archives, University of Detroit Mercy 5815 Executive Dr. •Lansing, MI 48911 Aided by the strength and courage of heroes from both sides of  Fax to the Detroit River, thousands of enslaved people came to the city (517) 324-4370 to find freedom. The panelists, who include direct descendants

Breakout 19 of those who fought for freedom, will discuss an array of topics  Make checks payable to regarding southeastern Michigan’s Underground Railroad, with Historical Society of Michigan an emphasis on the legacy of the Detroit Vigilant Committee.  Please use the form below to pay by credit card Moderator: Kimberly L. Simmons, Descendant of Caroline Quarlls Watkins CREDIT CARD NUMBER Respecting Those Who Came Before Us: Why Is EXP. DATE SECURITY CODE BILLING ZIP CODE Repatriation So Important to Tribal Communities Eric Hemenway, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians SIGNATURE Very few issues strike as much emotion, controversy, and passion in tribal and scientific communities as the repatriation20 of human remains. This talk will give perspectives on why repatriation is important to tribes, how they claim ancestors, and how a federal  A map to the conference can be downloaded law—Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act from our website: www.hsmichigan.org. A (NAGPRA)—steers this course much of the time. copy of the map will also be mailed with your Breakout 20 Moderator: Patricia Majher, Michigan History Magazine, registration confirmation. Historical Society of Michigan 1:30 p.m.-2:45ConcurrentSession 12 p.m.-1:30LuncheonandKeynote(seeright) 11:30 a.m.-12p.m.ExhibitsBreak

Breakout 23 Breakout 22 Breakout 21 Michigan CouncilforHistory Education Historical Society ofMichigan Historical Society ofMichigan Moderator: ArthurM. Woodford,Algonquin Club ofDetroitand Windsor “Thunderbolt II,” airfieldintheU.S. Selfridge has arguablybecomethemostcomplex military more than 3,600-acre airfieldwithmore military than 40tenantunitsfrom allbranchesof themilitary. From theJN-4“Jenny” totheA-10 of SelfridgeThis sessionwill tracethehistory ANG Base from itshumble beginnings asa642-acre airfieldin1917toits military present Lt. Col.LouisJ.Nigro,MIANG (Ret),ExecutiveDirector,SelfridgeMilitaryAirMuseum Selfridge AirBase ofthe history short , ofthebomberplantasitsfuture whichisintheprocess ofsavingaportion home. ofbombers for intheconstruction industry WWII and,ultimately, tobuildthe BomberPlant. Thepresentationa willalso include Motors Corporationtoorganize America’s industry. Mr. Hotton willdiscuss worldandnationalevents leadinguptothedecisioninvolve theauto The with Willow starts Roosevelt’s Run story callin May 1940tobuild50,000airplanesper year andhisdecisiontodraft the president of General Randy Hotton,YankeeAirMuseumBoardMemberand Historian How DetroitSavedtheWorld:TheWillowRun Story Defending Freedom:Detroit’sMilitaryAirports Moderator: TamaraBarnes,HistoricalSocietyofMichigan postmasters, doctorsanddentists,authorsattorneys. demonstrates thatwomenwere involved inamyriad ofoccupations.Theybecamephotographers and employment inthenineteenthcentury. Using Michigan womentoillustratenationaltrends, thistalk In herbook,APurse ofHer Own,Susan Nenadic debunksthestereotypes associatedwithwomen’s Susan Nenadic,Author Women atWorkintheNineteenthCentury Moderator: LeslieC.Williams,FredHartWilliamsGenealogicalSociety professionals, andprojects willalsobediscussed. journalism, radioandtelevisionbroadcasting, andfilmin . Present-day mediaoutlets, This sessionwill ofmediapioneersandtheircontributions inthefieldsof review thehistory Juanita Anderson,Director, Film andDigitalMedia Initiatives, Wayne State University Metro Detroit’sHistoryofAfricanAmericansinCommunication&MediaArts Larry J.Wagenaar Conference Administrator Mary AnneSmith Jim Cameron Co-chair Co-chair Lansing, MI48911 5815ExecutiveDr. Historical SocietyofMichigan Michigan inPerspective:TheLocalHistoryConference—PlanningCommittee Burton HistoricalCollection, Detroit PublicLibrary

War of1812Bicentennial Commission Historical Society ofMichigan Loraine Campbell James McConnell Tamara Barnes Mark Bowden Troy HistoricVillage

V (seeBreakouts21–23) Michigan Roundtable forDiversity andInclusion (ticket required) Kathleen Schmeling Cover pageimages courtesy oftheLibraryCongress, Prints&PhotographsDivision. Walter P.Reuther Library Detroit HistoricalSociety Freda Sampson Bob Sadler 22 23 For information onaspecific image, [email protected]. 21 Saturday Luncheon Education Michigan CouncilforHistory Moderator: JamesCameron, explore itsfuture role. operations, andchallenges review itshistory, development, rail transitsystem.Thissessionwill $600 millioncity-andmetro-wide downtown distributor foraproposed in 1987andwasintendedtobethe The Detroit People Mover opened University Technological Michigan Bill Sproule, Mover Detroit People Keynote 12p.m. Fred HartWilliams Genealogical Society Algonquin ClubofDetroit andWindsor Kimberly L.Simmons Arthur M.Woodford Leslie C.Williams Detroit River Project Permit No.512 U.S. Postage Organization Lansing, MI Nonprofit PAID