As AnnArbor.com looks to the future, my job is to look to the past. A local history writer and a volunteer at the Ypsilanti City Archives, I write three weekly features for AnnArbor.com. On Mondays, “Mystery Artifact” offers a photo of a local historical artifact, a chance for readers to speculate on its function, and a follow-up discussion about a related aspect of local history. On Wednesdays, the column “Cold Off the Presses” examines one local historical news story in depth. On Fridays, “Tidbits” offers a mix of short, funny, quirky historical mini-stories, photos, and advertisements.

I used to work full-time for the Ann Arbor Observer, and contribute occasional history pieces to the magazine as a freelancer. You can see my current writing in the latest issue of the Ypsilanti Historical Society’s publication Gleanings, and on my local history blog, Dusty Diary.