The life of an authorHello, reader, let me tell you about myself. I have spent half a century as anengineer and technology professor. Making order out of chaos has been acalling for me, my job and career. After getting my Ph.D., I wanted toalter my viewpoint to explore the depths of history. In particular, myarea of Sussex County, New Jersey has its own unique history—as doesany area in the world. For me, I could see the “minerals, mining, and miners” aspect of mycounty. I have had the good fortune to be the Sussex County Historian for a few years now, and to help guide our young people, and older ones too, to our heritage. One lifelong aspiration was to honor our school tree—The Old Oak Tree—now well-labeled andcelebrated. I helped to get the local mineral to be honored: Franklinite is the New Jersey State Mineral. We worked with students in the local schools to write to the state legislators and “get‘er done” so they could see that they could make a difference, as Margaret Mead said,“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Another important commitment I find is to partnerwith the Smithsonian Institution to bring the Franklin area to national recognition as a place where poor locals and ragged immigrants came from around the world to find a good home fortheir families.In addition to bringing artifacts and landscape to life throughidentification and writing, I see deeper meaning to be had with mywork. While science and technology—my career—helps to make order out of chaos and helps relieve basic burdensfrom our lives, understanding history and our heritage can make ourquality of life more attractive and interesting. Writing with depth ona journey into one’s head might give insight to how we tick and whatmight ease the mind of its own internal burdens. How? How might Ibe able to help make the world a better place?Perhaps I can make a difference by providing examples on howthese local Revolutionary War men thought and reacted in theirhuman ways might give others guidance and meaning to their ownactions. This I try to do through the American Decision Series.Perhaps I can by documenting the immigrant miners’ dangerous jobsand earnest work ethics that gave value to themselves and theirfamilies. This I try to do through working with the SmithsonianInstitution and several books and videos I have done.Perhaps I can by teaching the youth. In the last couple of years, Ihave had the great fortune of working with local school kids to helpthem gently remind legislators of good stewardship and thissucceeded in getting the local mineral Franklinite to become the NJState Mineral. Judge Ogden making the right choice in his deadlydilemma. These can be examples, portraits in character if you will,that can help make the world a better place.Perhaps I can through highlighting good qualities of people I haveknown, encountered, or read about. These I call, on my SubstackInspiring History site, as Portraits of Character. These projectsrepresent a passion that I possess to help make the world a betterplace through exploring, identifying, writing, and interpreting duringmy time on this planet.Read more about this authorRead less about this author