The Michigan Tech Archives is grateful to continue a strong partnership with the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library to sponsor the annual travel grant program. Two researchers, Dr. Matthew Liesch and Wesley Thompson, were delighted to have the opportunity to advance their research in the Copper Country.
Dr. Liesch concluded a multi-part research plan, which started in 2017 and culminated in June 2018. In addition to countless hours poring over photographs and historic documents pertaining to his “rephotography” project, Liesch shared his expertise in a travel grant presentation that took place on June 25, 2018. His talk, “Circling Lake Superior: Rephotography to Document Changing Landscapes of the Lake Superior Circle Tour,” guided the audience on a photographic journey to explore changing landscapes from throughout the Copper Country and the Lake Superior Circle Tour. The presentation featured historic landscape photography from the Archives, and supplemented those with other scenes along the route. For comparative purposes, Liesch rephotographed ordinary landscapes around Lake Superior during 2018.
Wesley Thompson was another new grant recipient this year and his research visit is slated for late October. Please see the FMTL wesbite or contact the archives for details on Thompson’s presentation, which will be taking place on Wednesday, October 24 at 4 p.m. in the library; please contact the Archives at copper@mtu.edu or (906) 487-2505.
by Lindsay Hiltunen, University Archivist