Historical Society of Michigan Moves Annual Conference to a Virtual Format
The staff at the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Michigan. Given the ongoing wave of the Delta variant and early indications on the spread of the Omicron variant, they are planning to host the 2022 Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference virtually. The event is still scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26, 2022.
After discussing options with the venue, the statewide society concluded that they would not be able to provide sufficient social distancing, especially during meals when masking is not possible. They also continue to hear from their members and other organizations that many people remain uncomfortable gathering in large groups. Since low attendance represents a significant financial liability to HSM, a virtual event allows us to both maximize safety and minimize financial risk.
The Historical Society of Michigan has run four virtual conferences, all of which were well received by attendees. The conference will feature two additional keynote presentations, bringing the total to 6 keynotes and 28 breakout sessions, and most (if not all) of the content will once again be available for later on-demand viewing.
At this point, they are still proceeding with plans to hold the 2022 Upper Peninsula History Conference in person but will continue to monitor COVID-19 and its spread and impact. That event is scheduled for June 24-26 in Iron Mountain. With the warmer weather and smaller attendance typical of the U.P. conference, they hope they can safely bring people together to share stories of the Upper Peninsula’s rich history.
The Historical Society of Michigan is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan’s rich history.
