I have had a life-long love of history and family stories. This led me to go to Ball State University, where I received my BS in Social Studies Education for grades 5-12. However, I never got to actually teach in my own classroom. As such, my past work history includes 8 years in the Education and Performing Arts Dept. at the Indiana State Museum. There I was involved in a variety of positions and helped develop the new museum building in White River State Park. I lost that job in 2005 due to an economic downturn, so I went back to substitute teaching.

I have done two stints as a substitute teacher. My first stint was from 1990 - 1992, and I worked in all four of the Hancock County Public School Sytems. My last stint was from 2005 - 2015, where I worked only at the school where my daughters attended. This allowed me to still be involved in their activities and work too.

During my last ten years of subbing, I was also working as the President of the Hancock County Historical Society (part time), and as a Hostess at the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum part time.

From 2010 - 2015, I was also helping my mother to care for my Grandmother - who lived to be 100 years old. After she passed in 2015, I was able to focus on my two history jobs as President of the HCHS, and I was named the first coordinator for the Riley Home. So, I gave up substitute teaching at this point. However, neither of these jobs paid the bills either on their own or combined.

So by 2017, I gave up those jobs to become the Executive Director of Tourism for Hancock County, a full time position. However, I still keep my hand in history, as I still serve on both boards of both of those institutions.

I am married and have two girls of my own as well as a step-daughter and three grandchildren from her.

I am well versed in geneaology and tracking down information. With my experience and contacts at the State Museum, the HCHS and the Riley Home - - I have a wealth of resources and knowledge - especially focusing on Indiana History - but more importantly on Hancock County, Indiana and James Whitcomb Riley. I am still considered the "resident Riley expert" in Greenfield, and have been involved in several projects as a result.

GeneaIogy goes hand in hand with history research, and as such, I have attended several symposiums and seminars on the topic. I currently have memberships to Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com - - so this helps immensely. I have even done some research for others on a variety of topics. In my spare time, I engage in several research projects - and intend to write a book one day on Little Orphan Annie and the real woman that inspired the character.

I have several trees on Ancestry...most are not related to me. They pertain to historic characters that I am researching. For family, the names that I am most interested include: Cook, Berry, Wiedenhaupt, Harrison, Likens, Young, Langenberger, Lindamood, Binford, Sears, Roesner, Schreiber, Kelly, Clayton, Bentley and others.

For historic people, or folks of local interest, I research James Whitcomb Riley, Mary Alice Smith Gray, Abraham Coffin, Beulah Driffill, Clara Green Gibson Carl, Clara Bottsford, Daisy Douglas Barr, John Dillinger, Earl K. Smith, J L Roop, Jane Ross Reeves, Jerusha Wolfe, John Felt, Myra Reynolds Richards, Retha Myer Watson, Robert Cully, Teddy Brewer, Thomas Snow, Tubby Toms, Weir Cook, William Keemer, William Wernwag, Adam Wilson and others.

I have had a life-long love of history and family stories. This led me to go to Ball State University, where I received my BS in Social Studies Education for grades 5-12. However, I never got to actually teach in my own classroom. As such, my past work history includes 8 years in the Education and Performing Arts Dept. at the Indiana State Museum. There I was involved in a variety of positions and helped develop the new museum building in White River State Park. I lost that job in 2005 due to an economic downturn, so I went back to substitute teaching.

I have done two stints as a substitute teacher. My first stint was from 1990 - 1992, and I worked in all four of the Hancock County Public School Sytems. My last stint was from 2005 - 2015, where I worked only at the school where my daughters attended. This allowed me to still be involved in their activities and work too.

During my last ten years of subbing, I was also working as the President of the Hancock County Historical Society (part time), and as a Hostess at the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum part time.

From 2010 - 2015, I was also helping my mother to care for my Grandmother - who lived to be 100 years old. After she passed in 2015, I was able to focus on my two history jobs as President of the HCHS, and I was named the first coordinator for the Riley Home. So, I gave up substitute teaching at this point. However, neither of these jobs paid the bills either on their own or combined.

So by 2017, I gave up those jobs to become the Executive Director of Tourism for Hancock County, a full time position. However, I still keep my hand in history, as I still serve on both boards of both of those institutions.

I am married and have two girls of my own as well as a step-daughter and three grandchildren from her.

I am well versed in geneaology and tracking down information. With my experience and contacts at the State Museum, the HCHS and the Riley Home - - I have a wealth of resources and knowledge - especially focusing on Indiana History - but more importantly on Hancock County, Indiana and James Whitcomb Riley. I am still considered the "resident Riley expert" in Greenfield, and have been involved in several projects as a result.

GeneaIogy goes hand in hand with history research, and as such, I have attended several symposiums and seminars on the topic. I currently have memberships to Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com - - so this helps immensely. I have even done some research for others on a variety of topics. In my spare time, I engage in several research projects - and intend to write a book one day on Little Orphan Annie and the real woman that inspired the character.

I have several trees on Ancestry...most are not related to me. They pertain to historic characters that I am researching. For family, the names that I am most interested include: Cook, Berry, Wiedenhaupt, Harrison, Likens, Young, Langenberger, Lindamood, Binford, Sears, Roesner, Schreiber, Kelly, Clayton, Bentley and others.

For historic people, or folks of local interest, I research James Whitcomb Riley, Mary Alice Smith Gray, Abraham Coffin, Beulah Driffill, Clara Green Gibson Carl, Clara Bottsford, Daisy Douglas Barr, John Dillinger, Earl K. Smith, J L Roop, Jane Ross Reeves, Jerusha Wolfe, John Felt, Myra Reynolds Richards, Retha Myer Watson, Robert Cully, Teddy Brewer, Thomas Snow, Tubby Toms, Weir Cook, William Keemer, William Wernwag, Adam Wilson and others.