Nov 20, 2008

Barbara Holz Sullivan

NEARBY NORWEGIAN



I grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, where more than half the population can trace their origins to German-speaking countries. The family names, holidays, saints’ feast days, traditions, stories, and foods are German. It was only after I left my hometown that I realized the unique advantage of my German identity and upbringing. It caused me to count all the ways it meant to be German and the first born of the fifth generation of German-Americans.

I am the oldest of five daughters and one of 46 first cousins, all except one family grew up in the same hometown. It goes without saying that family has always been a significant part of my life and I’m proud to be the family historian for my sisters, children, and grandchildren, as well as for my husband’s family.

I left home for good after high school and have lived in Rochester, MN, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis; and finally Seattle. Despite a strong urge to travel, I have never lost my affection for my hometown and state and keep in touch with family, former neighbors, and grade school, high school, and nursing classmates.


My Ancestors’ Surnames

HOLZ, GREIF, SAUBER, BIEHL, ARNOLDY, TERRE, ANDRESEN, THOMSEN, PALEN, FORMAN, PLETSCHETTE, MICHELS, ELLIGEN, SCHROEDER, FISCHER, RHOMBERG

Cook and Du Page Counties, Illinois
Dubuque, Jackson, and Clayton Counties, Iowa
Saarland, Rhineland, Schleswig-Holstein, and Bavaria, Germany
Luxembourg and Austria


My Husband’s Ancestors’ Surnames:

SULLIVAN, MURPHY, HEALY, GEARY, BERGIN, VICKERS, QUINN, KELLY, TAGGART

Connecticut and Brooklyn and Manhattan Boroughs, New York
Counties Tyrone, Cork, and Kerry


My Children’s Ancestors’ Surnames:

PETERSON, WHITEHORN, BUSBY, BARLOW, WEBB, BELLOWS, GREGERSON

England, Nova Scotia, Vermont, Ontario, Canada
Clay County, South Dakota and Monona County, Iowa
Bindslev, Hjørring, Denmark

PEYTON, ARCHER, DESSEN, DYBDAHL, KEHL, KAGY, WHIDDEN

England, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Elko, Nevada, Philippines, Thurston and Pierce Counties, Washington
Rissa, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway; Switzerland


My Grandchildren’s Ancestors’ Surnames:

AYRES, NUNES, SEDGHINASAB, TAMAYO, DODSON

Portugal, Iran, Hawaii, California, King County, Washington
Philippines, Thurston County, Washington

HADLAND, WISHER, TRUSLER, ROGERS, THOMAS, DREHER

Egersund, Rogaland, Norway; Wisconsin, Colorado, Alaska, Washington State
Germany, Arkansas, Indian Territory, Vermont

SWIFTNEY, ROBBINS, OBERMAYER, BISKE, LANG, HRABACK

Germany, Bohemia, Czech Republic, Michigan, Washington State


Education & Training

  • Seminar for Researchers & Writers * Fall 2006, Museum of History & Industry, Nearby History Program
  • Genealogy & Family History Certificate * Fall, 2004-June, 2005, University of Washington
  • ANA National Certification, Adult Nurse Practitioner, 1977
  • Nurse Clinician Certificate Program, Seattle Veterans Medical Center, 1976
  • M.S.N. St. Louis University, 1974
  • Sigma Theta Tau, Honorary Nursing Sorority, 1969
  • B.S.N., Magna Cum Laude, University of Pittsburgh, 1969
  • Diploma in Nursing St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, Rochester, Minnesota, 1962
Professional Experience
  • 1976 – present Freelance writer, specializing in nursing, history, food, and travel.
  • 1962 – 2003 Employed as a registered nurse in obstetrics, surgery, and public health; as a nurse educator in diploma and BSN programs; as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in research, adult walk-in, gynecology, arthritis, and health promotion clinics; as a learning resource center coordinator in undergraduate nursing education, and as an education specialist for the Washington State Nurses Association.

    Nearby History 2007 - Project

    “Peeling the Fruit; Preserving the Core: Becoming German American: The Lives and Legacies of Peter Holz and Katharina Greif of Prussia, Chicago, and Dubuque”
Genealogy & Family History Certificate Program, Fall 2005 - Project
“These Are The Homes That Rosanna Built: The Road from County Tyrone to Brooklyn, 1833 ~ 1918
Masters in Medical Surgical Nursing Thesis

“Investigation Into The Periodicity of Physiological Muscle Tremor”, St. Louis University, 1972
Books
  • Sullivan, Barbara Holz, Seattle Picnics: Favorite Sites, Seasonal Menus, and Recipes, Alaska Northwest Books, May, 1991.
  • Kellogg, Carolyn J. and Barbara Peterson Sullivan, Co-Editors, Current Perspectives in Oncologic Nursing, Vol. II, The C.V. Mosby Co., St., Louis, 1978.
  • Peterson, Barbara Holz and Carolyn J. Kellogg, Co-Editors, Current Practice in Oncologic Nursing, The C.V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, 1976.


Articles
Several freelance articles published between 1979 and 1992 in nursing, and food, travel, and business related journals.
Blogs
Membership
  • University of Washington Genealogy & Family History Alumni Association, Seattle
  • Museum of History and Industry, Seattle
  • Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle
  • Seattle Genealogical Society
  • Eastside Genealogical Society – German Interest Group, Bellevue, Washington
  • Fiske Genealogical Foundation, Seattle
  • Iowa State Genealogical Society
  • Dubuque County – Key City Genealogical Society
  • Clay County, South Dakota Genealogical Society
  • Clark County, Illinois Genealogical Society
  • New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society
  • Irish Genealogical Society International, Minneapolis
  • Luxembourg American Cultural Society, Inc., Wisconsin
  • Luxembourg Society of Iowa

Contact Barbara at: barbara-jerry@msn.com