The Copper Country Historical Images database began as the Keweenaw Digital Archives in 2005 to provide online access to historical photographs housed at the Michigan Tech Archives. This project was funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The initial project developed a web-based searchable database of digitized historical photographs documenting Michigan’s historic copper mining district. This important project provided digital access to rare and fragile resources that were previously accessible only in the Michigan Tech Archives reading room. Further benefits included increasing access to, and awareness of the rich image collections of the archives while also preserving those photographs and negatives of enduring historical value.
This project was an important component to the Van Pelt and Opie Library’s development of an initial digital library. A debt of gratitude is owed to key project staff including archivists Erik Nordberg and Julie Blair, Christine Holland (responsible for a major portion of the digitization) and programmer Bryan Marino.
For more information about the Michigan Tech Archives or for assistance in navigating the Copper Country Historical Images please e-mail copper@mtu.edu or call (906) 487-2505.