Learning about the region
Northern Michigan University’s Archives document many different aspects of life in the central U.P. They can be used free of charge by anyone interested in learning more about the region.
The person in charge of the archives guides residents through how to use them. Marcus Robyns says it’s important to figure out how informative certain materials are. It involves using critical thinking skills in a way that may be unfamiliar.
He especially likes two early 20th century documents. They both involve Cleveland Cliffs President William Mather, writing about how to build underground toilets for miners to use.
Robins made the presentation for the Northern Center for Lifelong Learning. It’s NMU’S Continuing Education Program. The NCLL hosts classes on a wide range of subjects for anyone in the community who’s interested.