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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=638 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:6.65in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><img width=600 height=88 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D06233.97AAED40"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=319 valign=top style='width:239.4pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Historical Society of Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>5815 Executive Dr.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Lansing, MI 48911<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Contact: Nancy Feldbush<br>(517) 324-1828<br><a href="mailto:feldbush@hsmichigan.org"><span style='color:windowtext'>feldbush@hsmichigan.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=319 valign=bottom style='width:239.4pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=638 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:6.65in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-transform:uppercase'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=638 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:6.65in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-transform:uppercase'>RECORD-SETTING NUMBERS ATTEND HISTORY CONFERENCE<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=638 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:6.65in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=638 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:6.65in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Nearly 700 attendees—a record-breaking number—flocked to this year’s Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference hosted by the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM). The conference was held in Sterling Heights, Mich., on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, at the Sterling Inn and drew attendees from all over the state. A robust lineup of subjects and speakers, expanded content and a new Saturday afternoon event combined to make the conference a roaring success.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Our attendance was up by 35 percent,” said HSM Executive Director Larry Wagenaar. “That increase is mainly due to the planning committee’s efforts to create content that appeals to a diverse yet history-minded audience.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=244 height=163 src="cid:image001.jpg@01D06236.F8DC0830" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>New for 2015 was the Saturday afternoon Gala: Loosening the Laces: The History of Michigan Told Through Fashion. This unprecedented event, presented by Fashion and the Automobile, brought together more than 60 reenactors and models to portray 300 years of Michigan’s past. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Our closing Gala was a brand-new event for the conference,” added Wagenaar. “From voyageurs and Woodland Indians to Civil War and World War I soldiers and civilians to flappers and Rosie the Riveter, the Gala brought Michigan’s history to life like never before.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The largest of the Society’s three conferences, the Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference is open to anyone interested in state or regional history. The conference is held annually in the Wayne/Oakland/Macomb tri-county area. This year’s major sponsors were Meijer, the Detroit Historical Society, and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. More information can be found on HSM’s website: <a href="http://www.hsmichigan.org/"><span style='color:windowtext'>www.hsmichigan.org</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:543.4pt;margin-top:19.15pt;width:187.05pt;height:124.65pt;z-index:251659264;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=249 height=166 src="cid:image006.jpg@01D06236.F8DC0830" align=right hspace=12 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Society also hosts two other annual conferences: the Upper Peninsula History Conference and the Annual Meeting and State History Conference. This year’s Upper Peninsula History Conference will be held June 26-28, 2015, in Ironwood, and the State History Conference will be held Sept. 25-27, 2015, in Saginaw.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Historical Society of Michigan is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828 by territorial governor Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Schoolcraft. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This e-mail is sent to our members and friends to keep you updated on historical activities and opportunities to learn more about our state’s history. To opt-out, please respond to this e-mail with “remove” in the subject line.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>