The Beginning
People often ask when my interest in the Titanic began. Though it developed gradually, I credit my 4th grade teacher, Dena Call, with sparking it. After a brief lesson, I found a book at a local store about the discovery of the wreck. With the store closing, my dad bought it for me so I could continue reading at home. At 9, it was rare for a child to be interested in a historical book by an oceanologist, so my dad decided to just buy me the book since it was educational. I was captivated by Ken Marschall's paintings, which led me to seek more information on the Titanic. Within months, my hobby grew into a passion, and I joined the Titanic Historical Society and gave my first public lecture with my father’s help.
Boston & 50,000 Matchsticks
After a year of studying the Titanic, my parents recognized my passion and arranged for me to attend an international Titanic convention in Boston. Hosted by the Titanic Historical Society every five years, the event brought together survivors and enthusiasts. At the convention, I impressed the survivors with my knowledge, earning special privileges and personal conversations with them. I also met Titanic historian Walter Lord. The event concluded with an auction of a model Titanic made from 50,000 matchsticks, crafted by Clyde Witham over 8 years. My father’s bid won the model, which became a key asset in establishing my reputation as a Titanic historian, helping me gain regional recognition.
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A Titanic Explosion
With the release of the blockbuster movie "Titanic" in 1997, there was an explosion of interest in the disaster. Having already established myself locally as a Titanic expert, the number of requests for my services skyrocketed. A local movie theater hired me to be in their lobby for several days as a resident Titanic expert to speak with moviegoers, and I displayed my model and other items in the theater as well. ABC 4 news in Utah ran a story on me while at the theater, and I soon had engagements all over the state. During 1997, I averaged 4 to 6 lectures a week. While most were in classroom settings, several were in more academic and professional environments. Requests were received to assist teachers in developing Titanic-themed curriculums to teach various aspects of history related to different academic fields--including science, journalism, social history, and even geography and world politics.
Professionally Published
As an undergrad at Brigham Young University, I worked as a historical researcher for the Saints at War program. After learning of my Titanic expertise, my employer referred me to a professor tasked with writing a peer-reviewed article on the Titanic. I was hired to handle all research for the article, and Professor Richard Bennett later asked me to co-author it due to my ability to produce and communicate professional-quality research. Over nine months, I accessed primary source archives across Utah and uncovered unique perspectives on the disaster. Our article was published in a BYU journal and a modified version in The Titanic Commutator, the leading international journal on Titanic history.
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