Sisu Stories

FAIN: PY-234454-16

Marquette County History Society (Marquette, MI 49855)
Kaye Hiebel (Project Director: June 2015 to March 2022)

Digitization events and community exhibits in Marquette County, Michigan. The project would support the digitization of family documents and photographs. In order to serve a larger segment of the population in the largely rural county, digitization events will be held in two communities. The project would collect community stories as well as personal and family documents. Following the digitization days, an exhibit based on the contributed materials would be presented at the Marquette County History Museum, along with a series of public events including curator talks, poetry readings, musical performances, and commentary on community history in local newspapers. The proposed events would be organized around the concept of “Sisu,” a Finnish word for determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, and would contribute to understanding of the Finnish American legacy in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The Marquette Regional History Center will utilize the theme Sisu Stories for our project. Sisu, a Finnish word, describes the character of the people living in our region, a dynamic, persevering and resourceful people, who are shaped by this challenging environment. This deep connection between the people and the landscape will be central to our project. A unique cultural identity has emerged through time. We will use this theme to promote the digitization project as well as the exhibit and related programming. We have chosen to offer this project to the whole county as the population is spread out through this rural area. Marquette County is the largest county in Michigan and as such will require two locations for digitizing materials to make it more accessible for those living in outlying areas to the west of Marquette. The digitization events will take place in the fall of 2016.

Media Coverage

Sisu Stories: Who are You? Discovering family histories Event (Media Coverage)
Publication: WLUC TV6
Date: 4/1/2017
Abstract: Local Event Calendar
URL: http://http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/events/416357163.html

Yooper family treasures turned into digitized history (Media Coverage)
Author(s): ABC 10
Publication: ABC 10/Lake Superior Community Broadcasting Corporation
Date: 9/14/2016
Abstract: Local news coverage of digitization event
URL: https://abc10up.com/2016/09/14/yooper-family-treasures-turned-into-digitized-history/

Discover family histories at special history center event (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Jackie Stark
Publication: Marquette Monthly
Date: 4/3/2017
Abstract: The "City Notes" section lists local events for the month, our event is about half way down the page.
URL: http://marquettemonthly.org/city-notes-6/

Sisu Stories: Who are You? Discovering family histories (Media Coverage)
Author(s):
Publication: Marquette Downtown Development Authority
Date: 4/12/2017
Abstract: Event Description on a local calendar
URL: https://downtownmarquette.org/event/sisu-stories-who-are-you-discovering-family-histories/

Associated Products

Sisu Stories: Who Are You? Pop-Up Exhibit (Exhibition)
Title: Sisu Stories: Who Are You? Pop-Up Exhibit
Curator: Jo Wittler
Abstract: Items from the Sisu Stories digital repository and the MRHC permanent collection including wood carvings, miners’ headlamps, and photos were on display at the MRHC.
Year: 2017

Sisu Stories Digital Repository (Web Resource)
Title: Sisu Stories Digital Repository
Author: Beth Gruber
Abstract: Sisu Stories digital repository and online catalog for the John M. Longyear Research Library.
Year: 2017
Primary URL: http://marquettehistory.pastperfectonline.com/
Primary URL Description: Sisu Stories digital repository and online catalog for the John M. Longyear Research Library.
Secondary URL: http://marquettehistory.pastperfectonline.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_criteria=Sisu&searchButton=Search
Secondary URL Description: A keyword search for items relating to sisu in the digital repository.

Yooper POW in World War I (Article)
Title: Yooper POW in World War I
Author: Beth Gruber
Abstract: The World War I story of the Hebert brothers including Ray who was a POW and Earl who was KIA.The documents preserving this story were digitized as part of the grant.
Year: 2017
Primary URL: http://www.miningjournal.net/news/superior_history/2017/04/yooper-pow-in-world-war-i/
Primary URL Description: digital copy of a newspaper article
Access Model: answer consumer survey questions to access
Format: Newspaper
Publisher: The Mining Journal

Sisu Stories Parts 1 & 2 (Article)
Title: Sisu Stories Parts 1 & 2
Author: Beth Gruber
Abstract: Two newspaper articles about the sisu and the local community promoting the digitization events.
Year: 2016
Access Model: not available online
Format: Newspaper
Periodical Title: The Mining Journal
Publisher: The Mining Journal

Sisu Stories: Who Are You? (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Sisu Stories: Who Are You?
Abstract: A presentation featuring digitized materials from the grant including wood carvings, miners’ headlamps, photos. Other parts of the program included genealogy mysteries from several local families including a missing child and a miner turned confectioner.
Author: Beth Gruber
Author: Rosemary Michelin
Date: 4/12/2017
Location: Marquette Regional History Center

Sisu Stories Ad (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Sisu Stories Ad
Writer: none
Producer: WLUC TV6
Abstract: Television advertisement for the two digitization events.
Year: 2016
Access Model: not available online
Format: Digital File

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