 Under the State Department, the journal converted to a popular magazine format and became a bimonthly publication beginning in 1978.The Division of Michigan History was renamed the Michigan Historical Center in 1995 and transferred from the Department of State to the newly created Department of History, Arts, and Libraries in October 2001.In July 2009, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm issued Executive Order 2009-36, which terminated the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries and directed that "Michigan History" be transferred to a nonprofit society or foundation.