As the Free-Range Historian, I often undertake projects on behalf of a non-profit, a small business, or a private collection. This work always takes me down an exciting rabbit hole, encountering an area of the past that I may not yet have studied or appreciated. But some projects come from my very own family, objects… Continue reading Labor of Love
What could be more fitting than to be handed the battered, tattered, well-used maps to a small rural cemetery on All Saints' Day? A perfect project for these dreary November nights! St. Titus Church, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, recently acquired the plot maps for the Mageetown Immaculate Conception Cemetery, located between Titusville and the nearby town… Continue reading Mapping Souls
After months of research, collaboration, and copy-editing (did I spell Chevrolet right here, here, and here?!), the day has finally arrived--my newest exhibit, "A Tale of Two Millers" is ready for its debut! This project has given me a fascinating glimpse into the oil industry in its later years, and shown once again how far-reaching… Continue reading A Tale of Two Millers
Back in January, I embarked on a new adventure that I'm excited to share with you today! It started with a tour through the newly opened Titusville Iron Works in Titusville, Pa., and a chat with its owner about his antique vehicle collection. We quickly decided to collaborate on a museum-quality exhibit focused on a… Continue reading New Year, New Project
Ah yes, the excitement of finally putting pen to paper (or, since it's 2018, hands to keyboard) and transforming research notes into a finished publication. This is installment four of a company history that I started in May of this year, with a fifth soon to follow. So many of our local businesses have incredible… Continue reading Let’s Write.
The Free-Range Historian 