Friends of the Michigan Tech Library Graduate Archives Intern Martin Kaehrle recently wrapped up his tenure at the Michigan Tech Archives. He had a busy summer packed with field trips, writing reports, and processing collections! Martin shares his thoughts on the last day of work in the blog post that follows.
It’s hard to believe that two and a half months have passed, and that I will be departing Houghton tomorrow.
Interning in the Michigan Tech Archives has been a stellar learning experience. I have had the opportunity to handle a wide variety of formats, ranging from engineering drawings to stock certificates, across nine collections, six of which I independently processed. I have enjoyed learning from Allison, Emily, Lindsay, and Kim over the summer, and I have much gratitude for their guidance. In addition to processing, I have deepened my knowledge of digitization and digital preservation through researching improvements for the archive.
It has been great to be part of the Michigan Tech Library community. In addition, I have enjoyed connecting with the Upper Peninsula’s history and archives communities more generally through visits to Northern Michigan University, the Keweenaw Historical Park, and the Quincy Mine.
I have a deep respect for UP residents’ commitment to preserving the region’s history. Walking through downtown Calumet, one can feel the energy of the city past—the sounds of the street cars, or the bustling Calumet & Hecla offices—as a result of the historical buildings and interpretation. Or one can picture the Quincy Mine No. 2 shaft’s steam hoist revolving to lift rock. It was wonderful to hear about ongoing initiatives to preserve and interpret the region’s history at the annual KHP Heritage Sites meeting. I am impressed by practitioners’ efforts, grateful for the community’s support, and happy to have made a small contribution to this broader commitment.
I look forward to returning to the UP soon. I still have much to see! I would like to thank the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library for supporting my internship, and everyone for making me feel welcome here.
Thanks for spending your summer with us, Martin, and for your hard work processing collections! You were incredibly productive, and our researchers will no doubt appreciate the materials newly available to them. Best of luck in your future endeavors, and happy birdwatching!