Discovering the Peoples of Michigan, a series from Michigan State University Press, examines the rich multicultural heritage of the Great Lakes. This informative, affordable, flexible collection of books explores Michigan's ethnic dynamics. Discovering the Peoples of Michigan reveals the unique contributions that different and often unrecognized communities have made to Michigan's historical and social identity.

Driving the rural roads of Michigan one might suddenly come upon a black buggy driven by a bonneted woman or a bearded Amish man. In 1955 there were fewer than five hundred Amish in Michigan -- in 2000 there were more than seven thousand. The Amish, with their unique life-style, are found only in North America where approximately 170,000 live in twenty-four states and one Canadian province. This sensitive and fascinating volume explores the Amish historical background, immigration into Michigan, occupations, marriage patterns, cultural conflicts, community-financed schools, medical practices, and cultural survival.

Gertrude Enders Huntington is a retired professor from the University of Michigan. She is the co-author of Amish Children: Education in the Family, School, and Community.