I am an archivist and historian based in the Midwest.
My job is to share the odd corners of history: the overlooked, underappreciated, and forgotten stories that deserve to be told. I focus primarily on women’s history, American culture, and the history of entertainment. I believe strongly in engaging and accessible storytelling.
As an archivist, I document collections and share them with the public through exhibitions, events, and print and digital publications. The best part of my job is pairing someone with a primary source that sparks their curiosity.
As a historian, I research and write about compelling stories, often those that I have come across in the archives. My interests are somewhat eclectic and frequently start with artifacts: a young woman’s diaries, a broadside for a glassmaking performance, a collection of glass plate negatives damaged in a flood.
And now for some more routine biographical information: my archives and library experience spans public, academic, special, and nonprofit cultural institutions. I am currently the Genealogy Services Librarian for the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Most recently I was Reference Librarian, Genealogy & Local History Specialist at the Ela Area Public Library, where I managed genealogy collections, services, and programming. Previously, I was the Project Archivist for the Barbara Walters ABC Collection at Sarah Lawrence College, where I created and implemented multiple points of access for researchers and members of the public to explore Barbara Walters’ groundbreaking career in journalism and television. Prior to that, I was the Outreach Librarian at the Corning Museum of Glass, where I oversaw library programming, content marketing, internal and external communications, and led our oral history and Wikipedia programs. I have held positions at the University of Maryland (College Park), the American Institute of Physics, and Augustana College (IL), among others. You can learn more about my professional experience on my CV (PDF).
I earned my MA in Women’s History from Sarah Lawrence College and my MLIS, specializing in Archives & Records Management, from the University of Maryland, College Park. My BA in history, English, and German, with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, is from Augustana College (IL).
Currently I live with my cat, books, and ever-expanding collection of cardigans. Sometimes I wear glasses too.
Photo: Mickey Dann for The Corning Museum of Glass