Stories of my family in Taylor Springs were shared with me by my mother who treasured family, friend, and community relationships and a commitment to passing history along. Her stories inspired me to continue this tradition and work on a genealogy. I am also researching immigration history in Taylor Springs to ensure history is preserved and individuals are not lost or forgotten but rather honored and remembered as vital members of our community.

Professor Mildred Pratt at Illinois State University encouraged an interest in oral history when I was an undergraduate social work student. I then learned about the significance of social photography while working on a master’s in social work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in legal studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield with an interest in immigration and how immigrants contributed to our community history.

I will include sources on any information I share. To ensure quality, accuracy, and completeness, feedback is welcome.