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Marquette Regional History Center
145 W. Spring Street, Marquette, MI 49855
906-226-3571    [email protected]

Hours, Admissions, Map:  Please see the VISIT page

Contact the Staff:
Cris Osier, Executive Director, [email protected]
Jo Wittler, Curator, [email protected]
Betsy Rutz, Museum Educator, [email protected]
Beth Gruber, Research Librarian, [email protected]
Emi Tinder, Cataloging Librarian, [email protected]
Jessica Bays, Store & Rental Manager, Publicity, [email protected] 
Emily Varga, Education & Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

2025 Board of Trustees

Chuck Swanson, President
Kathryn Russell, Vice President
E. James Dixon, Secretary
Perry Truscon, Treasurer
Priscilla Burnham
​Mark Canale
Pam Christensen
Ann Hilton Fisher
Jeff Gagnon
April Lindala
Judy Vonck

Award Recipients

​Our history awards are presented during our annual meeting. The 2024 awards were given in early 2025. Do you know an individual, a business or organization that supports and promotes local history? Please submit a nomination!​ Read below about our awards.

For our 2025 awards, awarded at our Annual Meeting on February 25, 2026, please submit all nominations by Friday, February 6, 2026. 
Email your nomination in: [email protected], or drop off a paper copy to the front desk. 
Picture
The Marquette County Fair received the 2024 award, presented by Kathryn Russell. Pictured here with fair representatives Sam and Chris Durley.
Peter White Award:
1985 Shiras Institute
1986 Marquette Maritime Museum
1987 The Mining Journal
1988 Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company
1989 Negaunee Public Library
1990 Kaufman Endowment Fund
1991 Peter White Public Library
1993 Marquette Monthly Magazine
1994 Pesola Management Group
1995 Forsyth Township Historical Society
1997 WLUC-TV 6 Finland Calling
1998 City of Marquette Sesquicentennial Celebration
1999 NMU Centennial Committee
2000 Landmark Inn
2001 UpFront and Company
2002 J.M. Longyear Heirs
2003 Marquette Hockey Historical Association
2004 Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee
2005 WNMU-TV 13
2006 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
2007 Jack Deo, Superior View Studio
2008 Michigamme Steam Team
2009 Lake Superior Theatre
2010 Paul Bonetti, Congress Lounge & Pizza
2011 Iron Ore Heritage Trail
2012 Negaunee Historical Society, Negaunee Lions Club & City of Negaunee
2013 Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club
2014 Gwinn Clock Tower Project
2015 Ishpeming Historical Society
2016 Barnes-Hecker Remembrance Committee
2017 Beaumier Heritage Center
2018 Iron Bay Restaurant & Tap Room
2019 Bishop Baraga House / Association
2021 League of Women Voters of Marquette County
2022 Central Upper Peninsula and NMU Archives
​2024 Marquette County Fair 
​
Ameen, Honkala and Richards
Young Historian Award

Cassidy Calderwood
Cameron Lutey
Axel Seitz
Senara Dollar

​Lifetime Achievement Award:
C. Fred Rydholm
Picture
Granddaughter of Helen Longyear Paul, Carol Brady, presents the 2024 award to Chip Truscon.
Helen Longyear Paul Award:
1984 Frank G. Matthews, Sr.
1985 Maxine Honkala
1986 James R. Paquette
1987 Kenneth D. LaFayette
1988 Russell Magnaghi
1989 Fred Rydholm
1990 John D. Voelker
1991 James L. Carter
1993 Robert H. Clark
1994 Fred Huffman
1995 Barbara Harling Kelly
1996 John Maitland
1997 Jayne K. Hiebel
1998 Judith Paul Case
1999 Frederick Stonehouse
2000 Leo LaFond
2001 Burton H. Boyum
2002 LaVerne Antilla
2003 G. Peter Kelly
2004 Donna Weesen
2005 Lon and Lynn Emerick
2006 K.Charles Wright
2007 Ken Salo
2008 Larry Chabot
2009 Loraine Koski
2010 Marion Sonderegger
2011 Ben Mukkala
2012 Dan Hornbogen
2013 Earl Otchingwanigan
2014 Kathy Peters
2015 Joe Drobny and Dixie Franklin
2016 Dave Dompierre
2017 John Anderton
2018 Jim Koski
2019 John P. Case
2021 Rachel L. Crary 
2022 John Parlin
​2023 Virginia Paulson and Bill Van Kosky
2024 Chip Truscon 

The Annual Awards have been awarded since 1984. The Helen Longyear Paul Award recognizes individuals, and the Peter White Award honors foundations, companies, organizations, and institutions. Both recognize exceptional effort in the enhancement, restoration, conservation, or interpretation of the history of our area.

Nominations should be a page long and delivered by mail or in person to 145 W. Spring Street, Marquette, MI 49855, or, use [email protected] to nominate by email. Each letter should include the award category, how the individual/organization has shown dedication and commitment to local history, and the projects they have worked on. 

Annual Awards are presented each year at our annual meeting in February, honoring these two award recipients for the prior year. 

 

Cultural Data Project

The Cultural Data Project is a unique system that allows arts and cultural organizations to enter financial programmatic and operational data into a standardized online form.  Organizations can then use the CDP to produce a variety of reports designed to help increase management capacity, identify strengths and challenges, and inform decision making. They can also generate reports to be included as part of the application processes to participating grant makers. The MRHC has participated in the CDP since 2009 and the process has been useful and informative. 
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Marquette Regional History Center | 145 W. Spring St. Marquette, MI 49855 | (906) 226-3571 | ©2020