In an exciting new collaboration between the Central Upper Peninsula and NMU Archives and Public Radio 90, history majors Erin O'Toole and Elijah Croshere are helping bring the Upper Peninsula’s rich past to life through the U.P. History Moment. This short-form radio series, which airs Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., will explore fascinating local stories, offering insights and anecdotes that reflect the area’s unique heritage.
Both Erin and Elijah have a deep connection to the NMU Archives, having worked as student assistants on various preservation and digitization projects. For Elijah, working at the archives seemed like a natural fit from the moment he discovered the resource. “When I learned about the archives, I felt like that was where I needed to be,” Elijah said. He plays an important role in the Upper Peninsula Digital Network (UPLINK) project, which digitizes physical records, making them more accessible to the public. This work is crucial in preserving historical documents and ensuring that they are available for future generations.
Erin, who holds the informal title of “Number One” student assistant, takes on a management role within the archives while also handling an essential task as an “accession specialist.” Her job is to organize newly acquired collections, often disorganized, to ensure they are accessible to the public sooner rather than later. “It’s creating a rough draft of a collection’s organization so that more people can access it sooner,” she explained, highlighting the importance of making history available without delay.
Their work on the U.P. History Moment allows them to share some of these archival treasures with the broader community. However, condensing historical research into concise, engaging radio segments has presented its own set of challenges. “The process of selecting topics is one of the more difficult parts,” Elijah admitted. “The topic has to be narrow enough that it will fit in the time span we’re given.” He has had to revise scripts multiple times to make them fit the format, often cutting out beloved details.
Despite these challenges, both Erin and Elijah have found great joy in the storytelling aspect of the project. Erin finds it refreshing to move away from dense academic writing, choosing instead to focus on presenting history in a way that is enjoyable and accessible to the general public. “It’s been challenging but also refreshing to be able to just tell the story for what it is,” she said.
The pair have already unearthed some remarkable stories, including a quirky account of Babe Ruth’s visit to the U.P. and an amusing tale about the ex-Chancellor of Austria getting lost en route to Marquette. These moments of levity and surprise are what make the U.P. History Moment a delight for both the creators and the audience.
As the project continues, Erin and Elijah are excited to delve even deeper into the archives and uncover more hidden gems. “We’re getting new ideas now that we have the general format of what we’re doing,” Elijah said. The two are mentored by Professor and University Archivist Marcus Robyns, CA, and Public Radio 90 Operations Manager Hans Ahlström.
Kurt discussed the production with hosts and producers Erin O'Toole and Elijah Croshere:
Listeners can tune in to Public Radio 90 on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. (and again on Sundays at 5:35 p.m.) to catch the latest installment of the U.P. History Moment. With their passion for storytelling and preservation, Erin O'Toole and Elijah Croshere are helping to shine a spotlight on the vibrant and often overlooked history of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
