As the new academic year begins, we take a moment to thank our fantastic summer 2024 intern, Katie Higley, for all of her hard work and wish her well on her next journey. Summer in the MTU Archives is always an adventure and Katie weathered everything in stride beautifully. Thank you, Katie!
We always make sure that our interns get a chance to reflect on their time spent with us so please enjoy a few parting words from Katie.
In my last week at the Michigan Tech Archives, I would like to reflect on all the learning and fun I have had over the past twelve weeks. In the last few weeks, I have had a hand processing ten collections, assisting patrons online and in the reading room, and replacing the labels on hundreds of vertical files. I have learned so much from these experiences, from learning about the history of Michigan Tech and the Copper Country to getting experience with the tricks of our trade, such as answering reference questions, cataloging, and updating ArchivesSpace. I have truly enjoyed working with patrons and giving them access to the history of the Copper Country through the collections held in the Archive.
As a Michigander, it has been a joy learning more about and exploring my home state. I am thankful for the opportunity to visit and connect with the folks at other Keweenaw Heritage Sites. I am grateful that I could connect with their staff and look behind the scenes. My visits to these sites and my time here in the Keweenaw Peninsula are something that I will long remember and cherish.
I want to thank the staff of the Van Pelt and Opie Library for making me feel welcome and always being willing to answer my questions about their duties. I am especially grateful to the Archives staff for their friendship and mentorship. Thank you, Allison, Kim, Emily, and Lindsay, for allowing me to be part of the team this summer. I will greatly miss working with you and exchanging many (emphasis on many) cat photos.
This internship has been an invaluable experience for me. I will be taking my experiences back with me to the University of Illinois as I start the last year of my master’s program. I wish the Archives team continued success, and I sincerely hope our paths cross again.
For more information on the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library Internship Program or to set up a time to welcome our new intern, please call the archives at (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Twitter: @mtuarchives and Instagram: michigantecharchives.