April Earle
Librarian | Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY, UNITED STATES
April Earle is a librarian at Greenley Library, and a researcher of family histories.
Biography
April Lynne Earle has been a member of the Library Faculty at Farmingdale State College since July 2013. In addition to her primary role as the cataloger, she also provides reference service and information literacy instruction. She received her Master of Library Science in 2009 and a Master of Arts in Public History in 2016, from St. John’s University. Recipient of the 2012 Pratt-Severn Award from ASIS&T, for her paper, “Design of an Application Profile for the St. John’s University Oral History Collection,” the focus of her studies was on the creation, use, and accessibility of oral histories. It is her firm belief that a resource without a record virtually does not exist.
In addition to writing and righting records, her real joy is helping others research their family history. She has seen that connecting people to the past through the stories of those who have gone before us helps individuals to develop empathy, a sense of belonging, and an ability deal with the circumstances surrounding them.
Areas of Expertise (4)
Archival Description & Metadata Design
Oral History
Genealogy
Local History
Industry Expertise (4)
Research
Information Services
Education/Learning
Library and Information Management
Accomplishments (1)
Pratt-Severn Award (professional)
Recipient of the 2012 Pratt-Severn Award from the American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T), for a post-graduate paper on metadata and an oral history collection; “Design of an Application Profile for the St. John’s University Oral History Collection.”
Education (4)
St. John’s University: MA, Public History 2016
St. John’s University: MLs, Public Librarianship and Youth Service 2009
Adelphi University: BA, Art/Art Education 1996
Nassau Community College: AA, Commercial Art 1994
Affiliations (6)
- New England Historic Genealogical Society
- Association for Information Science and Technology
- Nassau County Library Association
- New York Archives Conference
- Society of American Archivists
- State University of New York Librarians’ Association
Links (1)
Languages (1)
- English
Event Appearances (11)
“Practical Use of Genealogy Resources”
Long Island Library Resource Council Longwood Public Library, Middle Island, NY
“Using DNA in your Genealogy Research”
Adult Programming Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Shirley, NY
“Kathryn Freeman: Our First Phenomenal Woman”
Phenomenal Womyn Luncheon Farmingdale State College, Farmingdale, NY
“Genealogy 101: Getting Started”
Adult Programming Farmingdale Public Library, Farmingdale, NY
“Exploring African-American Ancestry”
African-American History Month Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Shirley, NY
Finding the Class of 1919
Centennial Commencement Celebration Farmingdale State College, Farmingdale, NY
2019-05-22
Let’s Talk: Academic Librarians Respond to COVID-29: Planning, Implementation and Assessment in Exile
Let’s Talk St. John's University
2020-04-02
Kathryn Freeman: Class of 1919, Our First Phenomenal Woman AND Claire M. Berg: Class of 1955, A Woman of Strength in Science
Kathryn Freeman Phenomenal Womyn’s Awards Farmingdale State College
2020-03-10
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors
International Education Week Farmingdale State College
Genealogy 101
Genealogy 101 Walt Whitman Birthplace, Melville, NY
Finding the Class of 1919 or How to Have a Class Reunion When the Whole Class is Long Dead
Long Island Alumni Directors Consortium Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Sample Talks (1)
“Using DNA in your Genealogy Research”
DNA testing is the most recent tool added to the field of genealogical research. Using your own DNA testing results, can connect you to cousins near and far to obtain information about your ancestors. This presentation covers the various types of DNA testing available, the multitude of companies offering such tests, and how to interpret your results.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
Research Focus (4)
Genealogy
With over 30 years of experience in researching my own family history and degrees in both Library & Information Science and Public History, I now teach and assist others in researching their own family history through formal instruction, one-on-one consultations, and informal publication of my findings and experiences. The link to my personal blog has been provided above.
Farmingdale State College History
The College does not presently have a College Archivist but my background in public history makes me well suited for researching topics of historical relevance to the College using the archival collection and other resources. Two specific topics I have researched extensively include Mr. Boller’s Scrapbook and the Class of 1919. See below.
Boller’s Scrapbook
I have done extensive research on the Boller Scrapbook, which is housed in our archival collection. This resource came to us through the former Head of Agricultural Division, Norman Foote.
Class of 1919
In recognition of our centennial graduation, I have also done extensive research on the 15 members of our first graduating class, the Class of 1919. My research has resulted in brief biographical sketches on each graduate and, in some instances, establishing connections with the descendants of the graduates, including sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews, etc.
Published Articles (1)
"My First Digital Exhibit: Mr. Boller's Scrapbook
Museums Journal. Vol. 1
Earle, April Lynne
This article presents the experience of creating a digital exhibit of one of the most curious objects in the Farmingdale State College Archives; Mr. Boller's Scrapbook. Created by Claude Villette Boller, the scrapbook dates from 1883 in the town of his birth, Lexington, Illinois, to 1907 in the garment district of New York City. Mr. Boller established the menswear department of the noteworthy Montgomery Ward & Co. in Chicago, Illinois. He left the company amidst the turbulent Chicago Teamsters' Strike of 1905, which is noted as one of the bloodiest labor strikes in U.S. history. That strike began in the Montgomery Ward & Co. cutting room where Mr. Boller was the manager. After leaving Chicago, Mr. Boller established his own clothing manufacturing company in New York City. He and his wife eventually moved to the town of Freeport, Long Island, where they raised five children. It is believed this resource was given to the College by Mr. Boller’s son-in-law, Norman H. Foote, who served as a member of the College’s faculty and administration for more than 30 years. In addition to Mr. Boller's employment experience and political inclinations, much of Mr. Boller’s scrapbook is devoted to the social customs, popular culture, and entertainment of the time. A digital online exhibit of the scrapbook can be viewed at http://bollerscrapbook.omeka.net.