Al and David Eicher, have for the past seventeen years produced 25 Michigan visual history documentaries. Their efforts in preserving town histories and events in Michigan have led to the creation of a lecture series. They have designed these lectures, including multimedia displays, for Colleges, Historical Societies, Libraries, Church Groups and Museums. Fifteen are currently offered: ”Michigan in the Civil War”, “The Early Days of Radio in Michigan”, “When Mark Twain Came to Michigan”, “The Orphan Train in Michigan”, “Michigan’s Lumbering Days”, “Michigan’s Largest Commercial Fishery”, “History of Music Boxes in Michigan”, “The Indian History of Southeastern Michigan”, and “Ballooning, Blimps and the Great Airships”. This year we have added the “History & Legends of Finland” and “History & Legends of Norway” to our adventure series. Other programs in this series are “History & Legends of Russia & the Volga River”, “History & Legends Along the European Waterways: Amsterdam to Vienna”, “History & Legends of Greece & Turkey” and “Traveling the Inside Passage to Alaska”.
Lectures have been given at various campuses of Kellogg Community College, the Historical Society of Michigan, Rochester Hills Public Library, Lapeer County Historical Society, Saginaw Valley State University, Monroe Library System, Wixom Historical Society, Troy Museum, The Washtenaw County Museum Consortium, Kirk of the Hills, Birmingham Senior Men’s Club, Historical Society of Indiana, Southeastern Michigan MENSA, the Farmington Hills Historical Society and the Oakland County Pioneer Society.
Our lectures and visual presentations are divided into 5 or 6 chapters. Printed handouts address key points, display boards around the room have 100 or more historic photos about the topic. Historic objects and documents are also on display. The visual segments originate from an interactive DVD, which is shown on a video projection system or large screen television.
Our presentations range from sixty to ninety minutes, with a question and answer session to follow. Please book 6-8 weeks in advance to insure date and availability. Download our 2012 Lecture Brochure here.