James Seelye of Kent State University at Stark will present “Researching the Venerable: Frederic Baraga and the Catholic Hierarchy” at the Central Upper Peninsula & Northern Michigan University Archives. His talk begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in room 126 of the NMU Learning Resources Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

Known as the “Snowshoe Priest,” Bishop Baraga is one of the most recognizable names in Upper Peninsula history and is under consideration by the Vatican for sainthood. He has reached “venerable” status, one step from canonization. Seelye’s presentation will discuss how Baraga is remembered by different people, as well as the challenges, obstacles and rewards involved in conducting research on the man.

As a recipient of the Grace Magnaghi Visiting Research Grant, Seelye spent last summer in the archives continuing his historical research on Baraga and the Catholic Church hierarchy in the Upper Peninsula.