Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting

I am the Genealogy and Local History Archives Librarian in the Huntington City-Township Public Library's Keefer Center. In Huntington since late 2016, I have over 30 years of genealogy experience and over 20 as a professional. I was appointed the Huntington County Genealogist in 2022 by the Indiana Genealogical Society.
With degrees in aerospace engineering, theology, and library science, I am adept at mastering new skills and new research areas. I can also teach to the experience-level of the audience/ student. 
No job is too big or too small. And, with Fort Wayne only 30 minutes away, I have access to the best in both paper and online resources.

Geographic Specialities
My specialties are, not too surprisingly, in the areas in which I have lived since 2000 and where my ancestors have lived. That covers most of the MidWest, New York, and New England. I have also done some colonial Pennsylvania and dabbled in Canada (Ontario and Quebec), England, and German research. My position as a full-time genealogical librarian frequently has me doing some sort of research, even if only to find out what resources exist, around the country and sometimes outside it.

Publications/Media
Going Beyond the Begats - Where to Look for Biographical Information. Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Society Quarterly 28(2):5-6. Oct-Dec 2007.

Abraham Lincoln and the Case of the Acrimonious Neighbors. Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Society Quarterly 27(4):2-3. Apr-Jun 2007.

.... [more to be listed]

Lectures
I like to talk about just about anything from basic to advanced topics. I'm particularly adept at making obscure and under-utilized resources understood. I am both tech-savvy and fond of dusty archives and court houses.
I am happy to design a new talk for your group.

Sample Titles as of January 2025 (email for full list and/or descriptions):

• A Brief Introduction to Genealogy
• A Genealogist’s Introduction to WorldCat
• All About Books (Online and In Print)
• DNA Basics
• Finding Archives: Using the Internet to Find Hidden Sources
• Finding Online Newspapers
• Genealogical Librarianship: A Brief Introduction
• Getting the Records out of Ancestry
• Going Beyond the Begats: Adding Biographical Detail to Your Genealogies
• Important Websites: Or, what to do when you’re stuck in the mud
• Indiana Research: Keys to Getting the Low-Hanging Fruit
• Mapping Your Genealogy: A DIY Tutorial
• Next Steps: After You Master the Basics of Genealogy
• Online Maps: Some Major Sites and How to Use Them
• Over Here - WWI at Home
• Over There - Civilian Service in WWI
• PERSI: An Overview of a Neglected Source
• Researching at the Keefer Center:  the biggest little history room you'll ever visit
• The Genealogy Research Process
• Where in the World Did I Put That? Or, How to Organize Your Genealogy
• Will the Real Fact Please Standup? Evidence Analysis for More Accurate Genealogies
• Writing Your Family History

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Repositories
Allen County Public Library
Huntington City-Township Public Library
libraries, courthouses, and museums within 60 miles of Huntington, IN

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Honorifics/Credentials
PLCGS - Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (Genealogical Librarianship) from the International Institute of Genealogical Studies, https://genealogicalstudies.com
 

Certificates
Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (IIGS)

Affiliations
State/Regional Genealogy Societies  -- National Genealogy, Indiana, New England, New York, Ohio
Huntington Co IN GS
APG

Degrees
MLIS (Library & Information Science), MA (Education), BSE (Aerospace Engineering), Graduate Certificate (Theology)