Currently accepting clients for...

• Speaking / Presenting

I am a Genealogy and Local History Librarian with a passion for connecting people with their roots. I have been researching my own family history since 1998.

I earned a Master of Library and Information Science (MS/LIS) degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois College. I am on the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, and a Consultant at the Wilmette FamilySearch Center.

I have presented at Wilmette Public Library, DeKalb County History Center, Glidden Homestead, Allen County Public Library, and at other organizations. I am available to present on a variety of topics.

In addition to blogging, I also contribute to DeKalb County's Cornsilk magazine and have written two locality guides.

Additional specialities or search keywords
Librarian

Publications/Media

• DeKalb County, IL Locality Guide (June 2017)
• Wilmette and Kenilworth, IL Locality Guide (May 2017)
• “At the Front Lines and On the Home Front: DeKalb County Women of World War II,” Cornsilk, vol. 42, no. 1 (Spring 2023). 
• “The History of Pleasant Hill School and Cemetery,” Cornsilk, vol. 40, no. 3 (Fall 2021). 
• “How has the Census changed throughout the years?” Cornsilk, vol. 39, no. 3 (Fall 2020). 
• “Hidden Heroes of WWII: DeKalb County Women on the Home Front,” Cornsilk, vol. 39, no. 1 (Spring 2020). 
• “Hidden Heroes of WWII: An honor roll of DeKalb Co. women veterans,” Cornsilk, vol. 38, no. 4 (Winter 2019). 
• “1906: A New Minister at the Kingston Methodist Church,” Cornsilk, vol. 38, no. 2 (Summer 2019). 
• “Two Brothers Operate Tinning Shop,” Cornsilk, vol. 38, no. 1 (Spring 2019). 
• “Letters from a DeKalb Kaiser in the Great War,” Cornsilk, vol. 37, no. 4 (Winter 2018). 

Lectures

• Genealogy 101: Just the Basics
• Genealogical Records You Should Be Using
• Sharing the Stories of Your Ancestors
• Organizing Your Digital Genealogy Files
• Cooking Up Memories: Creating Your Family Cookbook
• DeKalb County Women of WWII
• Wish You Were Here! : DeKalb County in Postcards

See descriptions here. I would be happy to add new topics upon request.

Repositories

• Wilmette Public Library
• Wilmette FamilySearch Center
• Newberry Library

Languages
English

Affiliations

• Illinois State Archives Advisory Board & Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board (ISHRAB)
• Association of Professional Genealogists
• Illinois State Genealogical Society
• American Library Association

Degrees

• Master's of Library and Information Science (with Special Collections Certificate) - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign