Naperville, Illinois resident Kate Gingold is an author, speaker, local historian, and Internet columnist. Inspired by her town's 175th anniversary, Gingold became a member of the Naperville Heritage Society, studied the town's origins and began her book-writing career.

Those Naperville studies bore fruit when her first book, "Ruth by Lake and Prairie," was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the Illinois State Historical Society.

An intense researcher, she's found long-forgotten pieces of history thanks to her skills at digging into Internet archives.

Along with her husband Don, Kate lives within walking distance of the historical downtown and both are active in their community.

Kate is a sought-after speaker on the topic of settling Illinois in the mid-1800's. Contact her for school visits or community presentations through her website at www.kategingold.com.