Author David Gelwicks to share Michigan's mining history Wednesday at MCCC

For more than 40 years, David Gelwicks has been interested in Michigan’s copper and iron mining days.

Recently, Gelwicks, 63, of Monroe published “Michigan Mining Scrip: Paper of the Northern Michigan Copper and Iron Mining Districts.”

Scrip was a type of monetary currency given to miners. The 320-page reference book also covers mining in the state from 1824 to 1963 as well as Michigan history.

At 2 p.m. Wednesday, Gelwicks will talk about the book and Michigan history in Room C-114 in the Campbell Academic Center at Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Road. The public is welcome. Admission is free.

“Gelwicks will take participants on a remarkable exploration of the mining story of the iron-rich and native copper lands of Michigan from a new perspective, with specific description and local history enjoyable for both novice and veteran collectors and history enthusiasts alike,” MCCC said.

“I will cover Michigan history. I’ll be showing notes of interest from the book,” Gelwicks said. “I’ll talk about the Michigan history of the Native Americans in the U.P. and the mineral lands. The Toledo War in 1837 gave us the U.P.”

Gelwicks has already given about 10 in-person and virtual presentations on the book. This spring he’ll speak in Quincy and Hancock.

“Michigan Mining Scrip: Paper of the Northern Michigan Copper and Iron Mining Districts” was actually started around 2004 by Judith Haskins Davis and the late Chester L. Krause. In 2015, Gelwicks learned about the unfinished book online.

“The book stalled for various reasons, including poor health. I met with both of them. With a handshake, they gave me the book to finish. (At the presentations) I always tell the story of how I met the authors,” Gelwicks said.

For the next six years, Gelwicks went through the authors’ notes and found many more documents.

“Most of their notes were not saved in 300 dpi or greater. I had to find the notes and rescan them for my editor,” Gelwicks said.

The finished hard-cover book contains more than 1,100 PDFs of mining notes, scrip, maps, postcards, coupons, recipients, letters, certificates and more.

Gelwicks found the documents at several places, including the archives at Michigan Tech, the Marquette Regional History Museum, the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan and the Library of Michigan. Others came from collectors and families around the state.

“They were very gracious to let me go into their homes,” Gelwicks said.

His journey took him all around the state, including Wisconsin, MI in the Upper Peninsula.

It was the COVID pandemic that inspired Gelwicks, a sports official, to finish the book.

“The push to finally say, ‘I’m done doing research,’ came when the 2020 high school season was canceled. I had 40 dates already blocked out on my calendar. I said I was going to finish the book. It took almost eight months (after that) to complete,” Gelwicks said.

The author said the book has several audiences.

“People interested in Michigan history and the copper mining boom, which was greater than the gold rush as far as economics is concerned. It’s also for anyone who had family working in mines and who are finding this paperwork in their basements,” he said.

The book has been well-received.

“It’s doing very good for a small, hobby book. There is a small group of collectors. The comments have been very positive,” Gelwicks said.

Reviewers John and Nancy Wilson, for example, said, “The reference goes the extra mile, providing accurate and precise information and data on every known mining note or ephemera item. We think you will enjoy reading this well-done and comprehensive reference on Michigan mining scrip.” Their review was published in The E-Sylum, a publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

“Michigan Mining Scrip” is Gelwicks’ first book. He said it will likely be his last.

Gelwicks and his wife, Carrie, are 1982 graduates of Michigan Tech. David Gelwicks has a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering. His career was in steelmaking. He worked for North Star Steel in Iowa, Monroe and Texas. Later he worked for Monroe's Hickman, Williams and Co. He lived on and off in Monroe until 2011, when he returned permanently. He retired in 2019.

The couple have one daughter, Sarah, and three grandchildren.

Gelwicks also is involved in the Blissfield Model Railroad Club and has been an official for high school basketball and baseball for years. He serves on the Foundry Educational Foundation Advisory Board at Michigan Tech.

The book runs $50 plus postage. For more information or to order, email michiganscrip@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Author Gelwicks will share Michigan's mining history Wednesday at MCCC