About Me

About Me

My full name is Sarah Ann Van Deventer Kirby. Kirby is my maiden name.

Education

BS Engineering - Aerospace

MA Education - Teaching College Project Management

MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science)

Grad Cert - Biblical and Theological Studies

PLCGS (Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies) - concentration Genealogical Librarianship

expected summer 2008

Genealogical Experience

My genealogical interest began early and evolved naturally. I had a fortunate childhood in which both sides of my family socialized closely. I grew up knowing not only my first cousins, but my second cousins as well. As part of this socialization, family stories were frequently told. My paternal grandmother also thought it was important that I meet all of the relatives still in the area where she lived - this included 3rd cousins, and even more distant relatives. She told stories of her own relatives as well as my grandfather's. Would that I had recorded those stories. Sigh.

Both my mother and my paternal grandmother were antique collectors. In addition to dragging me to every antique shop they could find, they educated me on the "old stuff" - what it was used for, when it was used, and what was going on in the country during that time. My folks also thought it important to visit museums and historical sites on all vacations. Stopping to read historical markers was mandatory. As a result, I began to develop an interest in American history. A nascent genealogical bug was planted in my mid-teens when my grandfather found the book "The Van Deventer Family" (which names him), and called his research "done!" Many years later, I began to wonder what else was out there besides the book excerpts I had and whether I could document the truth (or error) behind the family stories I did remember.

Real research began ca. 1994 with a goal of compiling all my lines "back to when they crossed the Pond" (i.e., the Atlantic). I've been fortunate enough to find several surname histories that tie directly into my line plus one transcription of church marriage records that took one line back 150 years! After "collecting names," my focus is now on documenting all my ancesters with primary source records. I've even dabbled in research "across the Pond," having begun to document my Kirby and Hutchinson ancestors (the two most recent immigrant lines).

Memberships

Association of Professional Genealogists (since 2005)
National Genealogical Society (since 2005)
Genealogical Speakers Guild (since 2008)
GENEALIB-L, A Discussion List for Librarians Serving Genealogists (since 2003)
New England Historic Genealogical Society (since 1998)
New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (since 2003)
Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society (since 2000)
Detroit Society for Genealogical Research (since 2006)

Publications - Genealogy

Apr-Jun 2007

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

Oct-Dec 2007

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

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Finding Newspaper Archives In Print or Online

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Lake County Illinois Newspapers with Online Archives

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Using Maps to Illustrate Your Genealogy.

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Using Census Patterns to Help Find Ancestors with Unusual Surnames

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Van Deventers in Western New York prior to 1840. Transcripts and Extracts of Records.

Dec 2001

Copyright for Genealogists. Self-Published.

Publications - Library

Oct 2006

How to Find Resources Without Using Subscription Services. Information Outlook 10(10):23-31.

Win 2004

Mold Resources. ERMD Newsletter 10(3):8-9.