The Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives will host two October events in celebration of American Archives Month. An open house and presentation titled “The Embezzling Bishop” is scheduled Thursday, Oct. 15. A presentation on the archives’ role in documenting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community history will take place Thursday, Oct. 29. Both are free and will be held in room 126 of the NMU Learning Resources Center.

The open house begins at 6:30 p.m. to showcase the NMU Archives’ new office, conference room and kitchenette. Light refreshments and desserts will be offered. At 7 p.m., Liz Fielding-Oliver will discuss her archival research on Hayward Abelwhite, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan in the 1930s, who was found guilty of embezzling up to $99,000. The story involves dark secrets, chorus girls, Chicago nightclubs, a devastating fire and a record-setting blizzard, all set against the background of the Great Depression.

NMU history professor Chet Defonso will speak about LGBT-related archives materials and their value in documenting the community’s history at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. For more information, visit northerntradition.wordpress.com, contact mrobyns@nmu.edu or call 227-1225.