This page is a place for me to showcase some of the work I’ve done for various organizations, institutions, businesses, and private clients. To read more about my research and adventures, as well as upcoming events, you can also follow me on Substack.
“Why Family History Needs Historians”
When I was asked to present a virtual talk for Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center, it took me a while to find a topic. What expertise can I offer? What perspective do I have that makes me special? I landed on this: my personal approach to genealogy, a hybrid of the disciplines I’ve studied. Coming to genealogy with a historian’s background has been a unique—not always easy—experience, as I discuss in my talk. However, I think it gives my research depth and meaning. I feel like I “get to know” the people of the past, not just add their names to a family tree. Read more on my blog.
The talk is available on YouTube. If you’re interested in hearing this talk at your own institution, please get in touch!
Boundary Stones, WETA’s Local History Website
Since 2020, I have been researching, writing, and editing content for Boundary Stones, a local history website maintained by the PBS-affiliate WETA network. My articles cover a wide range of topics: the history behind some of my favorite local museums, the stories behind place names in the D.C. area, biographies of unsung local heroes, and even the history of the Levittown neighborhood where I grew up. They have been featured on the social media accounts and websites of major area institutions: the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, Ford’s Theatre, and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture. One of my articles was even turned into a short video feature that aired on WETA’s broadcast channels and is streaming online. Click here to view a list of my articles.
Enlightenment v. Enslavement: Interpreting Gabriel Duvall’s Library
When I worked as the historian-in-residence and assistant curator at Marietta House Museum, I conducted original research for the museum’s new educational programs and exhibits. One project culminated in the writing and co-curation of a permanent exhibit, Enlightenment v. Enslavement. I also presented my research in a lecture, which was recorded and is available on YouTube!
My research explored the complicated legacy of American Founders who also enslaved Black laborers. For one of my first projects at Marietta, I reconstructed (on paper, at least) the personal and professional library of Gabriel Duvall, the house’s original owner. Duvall was a Supreme Court Justice, the first U.S. Comptroller, a national and state Congressman, and a local lawyer. Compiling a list of the books he owned led to fascinating insights into his conflicting philosophy and practice—the fact that he represented enslaved clients suing for their legal freedoms, but also enslaved over 100 people at Marietta.
We installed the exhibit in Duvall’s former law office, where built-in bookshelves hint at the great collection that was once housed there. Informational panels tell museum visitors about the genres of books that Duvall owned—with focus on law, classics, theology, and philosophy—and what these areas of study say about Duvall as a lawyer, judge, academic, and man.
Though I worked on many exhibits and events for Marietta, this one was my favorite!