TURN STONE RESEARCH

Turn Stone Research aims to educate and engage people with place and past utilizing a variety of resources. In-depth researching takes place both on paper and in the field. Focusing a historical lens on our landscapes forges new connections that allow us to become closer to our backyards, neighbors, and ancestors.

Owner Samantha Ford has worked in municipal government and museums for almost two decades. Her experience as an Assistant Town Clerk, Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics, and Director of Historical Research & Outreach, along with a life-long passion for history and learning has allowed her to develop partnerships with public and private entities.

Sam has worked closely with families to digitize personal collections, and survey properties to determine eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Her work with non-profit and municipal organizations includes field workshops, records management, social media coordination, grant and creative writing.

SAMANTHA FORD

Sam's passion for history extends all the way back to when her parents found her watching the History Channel instead of Saturday morning cartoons.

Sam graduated with her MSc. in Historic Preservation from the University of Vermont in 2013, and headed west to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Here a burgeoning career in field teaching first took hold as the Director of Historical Research and Outreach at the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum. A staff training for local wildlife guides became a jumping off point into interpreting history for self-identified “non-historians.” In addition to the History Museum, Sam has worked for Grand Teton National Park (where she got to live at the historic White Grass Ranch!) and she currently advises the Teton County Historic Preservation Board.

Sam is currently based in Vermont, where the history is deeper and the woods are greener. In Vermont, Sam is a field trip leader with the Vermont Master Naturalist Program. She prefers to learn and teach outside, and can usually be found near old hill farms or cemeteries. Sam's happiest when others are inspired to share their own personal history with her during a walk in the woods.