MARQUETTE, Mich.—The Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives will host an open house and offer tips on researching family histories from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in room 126 of the Learning Resources Center. The public is invited to this free event. Because space is limited, attendees are asked to RSVP by Tuesday, Nov. 15, to 227-1225 or archives@nmu.edu. Refreshments will be available.

            Rachael Bussert, project archivist, will offer general advice on conducting family history research, including the use of online sources. Marcus Robyns, university archivist and records manager, will talk about the genealogical resources available specifically at the Central U.P. and NMU Archives. These include naturalization and citizenship records for Marquette from the 1850s-1970s, along with earlier 19thcentury records that extend to the entire U.P. region. The archives has the complete set of Marquette County court records from 1852 through those most recently archived from the late 1990s. The records cover such cases as criminal activity, divorce and child custody. 

Other resources include the tax rolls and tax assessment records for properties throughout the central Upper Peninsula, the region’s historical newspapers that were transferred to microfilm; and Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. records to track down relatives who might have worked at area mines and to get an idea of what they experienced.