History buffs will find no scarcity of topics to pique their interest at "Michigan in Perspective -- the 40th Annual Conference on Local History" set for Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, at Wayne State University's McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

A sampling of discussion topics: Civil War photographs, passenger steamships, historic Woodmere and Mt. Elliott Cemeteries, oral history interview techniques, birthplace of the Model-T Ford, book collecting.

The two-day event, which gets under way with registration, a coffee hour and exhibits at 9 a.m. Friday, April 17, also will include films on historic topics such as the Pewabic steamship disaster, the final days of the steam locomotive and pioneers of powerboat racing.

Brian Leigh Dunnigan of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan will deliver the Henry Brown Memorial Lecture, "Picturing Old Detroit: 1701-1837," at noon April 17.

William Pretzer of Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village will be the guest speaker for a 12:15 p.m. luncheon April 18. He will discuss "Strategies for Public History and Public Education."

There will be a reception at the Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collections Room on April 17 from 5-6:30 p.m, and a get-acquainted breakfast hosted by the Michigan Oral History Association at 8:30 a.m. April 18 in the McGregor Center.

Conference registration is $7. Admission to the luncheon programs is $11each. The breakfast on April 18 is $7. Advance payment for breakfast and luncheon programs is strongly recommended to ensure seating.

The conference has multiple sponsors, including Wayne State. For more information and a registration form, call (313) 577-4003 or (313) 234-5049.