A forgotten memoir, written in German and discovered at a Detroit estate sale, sparked a years-long search that stretched across archives in the United States and Europe. With limited clues and no known author, the research team set out to understand the context, meaning and history behind the document — and the life it hinted at.

In this Spotlight Event, two members of the three-person research team share how they approached this real-life historical puzzle, from translation, interviews and archival outreach to the surprising discoveries along the way. If you’re curious about how history gets uncovered, this one’s for you.  

Event Details

Date:  February 18, 2026

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Free and open to the public.