Historical Society of Michigan

06/16/2026

Jane Irene Cutler’s life changed forever on February 15, 1932. The 57-year-old housewife had just lost her husband, Berrien County Sheriff Fred Cutler, ten days earlier after a sudden illness. Now, in an extraordinary transition, she was appointed as his successor, becoming the first and only woman to serve in that post in Berrien County.

As Sheriff, Fred Cutler dealt with some very high-profile cases, including the trial of Fred “Killer” Burke and the arrest of notorious gangster Gus Winkeler, who was wanted for the largest bank robbery in history to that date. After Fred’s shocking death, the Berrien County community rallied to nominate Jane Cutler as the successor to her husband’s office. She served an eleven-month term and handled a record number of inmates—totaling 1,234—that year.

To learn about how Cutler obtained confessions using a motherly disposition, why one inmate chose to stay in the jail under Cutler after his sentence was up, and more, read the FULL ARTICLE “Madam Sheriff: The Unlikely Stry of Jane Irene Cutler” for free athttps://hsmichigan.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/PUB-MHM-Sample%20Story%20-%20MayJun26.pdf

06/15/2026

Our Michigan History Day® students and volunteers loved this year’s MHD State Finals T-shirt so much, we couldn't keep them from you!

Add a new history shirt to your collection with our "HSTRY DY" License Plate shirts. Inspired by the vintage Water-Winter Wonderland license plates originally issued in 1965, this shirt is a fun and stylish way to show your love for Michigan AND history.

Get your shirt today at https://shop.hsmichigan.org/products/hstry-day-navy-short-sleeve-t-shirt

06/12/2026

Learn all about the revolutionization of the iron ore industry in Marquette and the preservation of the iconic Saint Peter Cathedral at the U.P. History Conference in Marquette this June 25-28!

The breakout session “Tsu-Ming Han: The Iron Man of Marquette County” delves into the history of Tsu-Ming Han, who fled the communist regime in China in 1948 to pursue a degree in geology. His team developed a process to enrich low-grade iron ore, helping to save the economy of central Marquette County.

The session “Keeping the Faith: The Restoration of St. Peter Cathedral” will explore the history, artwork, and ongoing restoration of St. Peter Cathedral after being destroyed in a 1935 fire. We will learn all about how the cathedral was rebuilt, redesigned, and decorated by several of America’s finest artisans.

Don’t wait, save your seat today at https://hsmichigan.org/programs/conferences/upper-peninsula-history-conference

06/11/2026

Graduate students, it's your time to shine!

Enter the 2026 Graduate Student Essay Contest from The Michigan Historical Review! The winner receives a cash prize of $1,000 and publication in its Spring 2027 issue. The contest is open to papers from graduate students exploring themes related to Michigan’s past. Submissions will be judged on originality, research, style, and proper documentation. The contest deadline is July 1, 2026.

Send submissions to [email protected]. Learn more at www.hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-historical-review/student-essay-contest

06/10/2026

Check out what Dan Truckey, the director of the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center at Nothern Michigan University, has to say about this year's Upper Peninsula History Conference on My UP Mornings. Thanks for spreading the word, Dan!

Register for the conference and get in on the fun at https://hsmichigan.org/programs/conferences/upper-peninsula-history-conference

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WBUP/WJMN) — Every year, the Upper Peninsula History Conference features a different town and this year it’s in Marquette from June 25 to June 28.

06/09/2026

Marquette’s shoreline is a living cultural landscape, and we will be exploring multiple stories about its history at this year’s U.P. History Conference.

In “Where Water Meets Land: The Story of Marquette’s Shoreline,” we will learn about public spaces along the shoreline, beginning with the Anishinaabeg presence in the area through modern times. Presenter Tiina Morin will trace our relationship with the water’s edge and examine the choices shaping its future. The presentation “Marquette’s Winter Lifeline: The Carp River Trail” delves into the myth—or is it a myth?—that once winter came and Lake Superior froze, people were trapped in Marquette. Russell Magnaghi will teach us all about the trail that was constructed in the 1850s, connecting Marquette to Escanaba and the outside world.

There are still seats available at the conference! Take a deep dive into the U.P.’s unique history with us at https://hsmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/hsmichigan/event.jsp?event=10&

06/08/2026

Are you part of a business, organization, or municipality that is celebrating a significant anniversary in the near future? Consider applying for a Milestone Award!

Michigan Milestone Awards are an excellent way to commemorate your history and honor your commitment to your local community. HSM offers Milestone Awards to entities celebrating their 50th, 100th, 150th, and 200th year anniversaries. With this recognition comes a sturdy cast-aluminum plaque featuring the name of your organization, business, or municipality and its founding date. In addition, awardees receive a listing in Chronicle magazine and eligibility for a spotlight feature in either Chronicle or Michigan History magazine so readers all over Michigan can celebrate your entity, too!

Interested in applying? Learn more about Milestone awards at https://www.hsmichigan.org/awards/milestone-awards

06/05/2026

A big thank you to the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts for awarding the Historical Society of Michigan with a significant grant to support our programs this calendar year!

Thank you for supporting Arts & Culture programming, including HSM’s educational programs & events, publications, historical honors & awards, and support for local history groups around the state.

06/04/2026

We will be exploring some fun U.P. cultural topics in breakout sessions at this year’s U.P. History Conference in Marquette!

Interested in Finnish culture in the U.P.? Check out “Hot and Steamy: Researching the History of the Finish Sauna” with Risto Rice! Is food history your thing? Learn all about how mass media, the development of car culture, and the significance of soldiers returning to the U.P. in the aftermath of World War II affected the spread and popularity of what is now a Yooper staple—pizza. Or do you like learning about dance culture and music? Explore the histories of dance venues such as Pine Gardens in Iron Mountain, Terrace Gardens in Escanaba, and many more with “Shall We Dance?: Dance Venues in the Upper Peninsula” with author Christine Byron.

Standard registration for the conference is still open through June 17! Save your seat by going to https://hsmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/hsmichigan/event.jsp?event=10&

06/02/2026

Material culture offers a way to see what conventional Revolutionary narratives miss: Indigenous endurance, women’s political and artistic labor, and Michigan’s Revolutionary era as a Great Lakes story rather than a mere footnote to events happening on the Atlantic coastline.

Seed beads are an example of material culture tools that made relationships tangible—distributed in councils, worn in public diplomacy, and transformed into gifts that carried memory and obligation. Examining beads reveals a different Revolutionary Michigan, where Indigenous nations shaped the terms of alliance, diplomacy depended on material proof, and the war’s outcomes were not simply decided in 1783 but contested into the 1790s and beyond.

To learn about how glass seed beads functioned as a material form of diplomacy and the importance of beads in Michigan’s indigenous cultures, read the full article in the May/June issue of Michigan History magazine! Learn more at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history