Cynthia S. Terwilliger

A Condensed Version of My Life

I was born and raised in DeKalb, Illinois. (You may know it as the town where the best patent of barbed wire was invented.  Or you may know it as the home of DeKalb Ag and the Winged War of Corn.  Or maybe you know it because of Northern Illinois University.

 It was a wonderful place to grow up. Our family ties going back three generations on both my mother's and father's side. I you would like to know more about that, here's some family history.

I was extremely blessed to be a "cottager" on Mackinac Island, Michigan for 35 years. I spent most every summer there since I was 19. My family used to gather at our home on Mackinac every summer from June through September. I went home as often as I could. I was also very lucky to be an "islander" on Mackinac for three years, living there year-round where I was the island's librarian.

Mackinac Island has a mystical quality found no where else in the world. For three centuries Mackinac has been a gathering place...and that tradition continues today. Thousands of tourists (known as "fudgies") come to Mackinac Island each summer to experience the uniqueness and beauty of this Jewel in the Crown of the Great Lakes.

Our house was built in 1891. It is on the East Bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac and Round Island. My parents came up every summer and my brother and his family visit for several weeks. We sold the house in the winter of 2003. What a blow ... but time goes on.

I attended Millikin University in Decatur, IL my freshman year but, got homesick and went back to DeKalb. I went to Northern Illinois University for my undergraduate work and got a Bachelors of Education majoring in social studies and minoring in English. Many years later I went to the University of Michigan and earned a Masters in Information and Library Studies from the School of Information and became a true blue Wolverine.

My first teaching job was in Ottawa, Illinois at Warren P. Shepherd Junior High. I was there from 1970-73. I taught American History and English to 8th graders.

I got an opportunity to go overseas. I taught social studies on Kwajalein at the George Seitz Jr./Sr. High School in the Marshall Islands from 1973-78. I taught geography to all of the 7th graders, 9-10 grade world cultures, and 10-11 mass media.  It was a pretty idyllic setting and a wonderful way of life. A special advantage was that I passed through Honolulu over 50 times what a great stopping off spot!  I also got the opportunity to travel throughout Micronesia (Ponape, Truk, Saipan, Guam, Palau and Yap)

Many of the students I had in the 70's are now my friend on FaceBook! How great is the Internet?

When I returned to the states I spent three winters in Santa Barbara CA ... one of the most beautiful city I've ever lived in. I worked for Manpower Temporary employment during the winters and I went to Mackinc Island, MI in the summers. It got to be too much of a drive and I lost my roommate and couldn't keep the apartment on my own, so ...

I moved to Palm Beach FL in 1981. I decided maybe I should try getting a full time job, so, I became a cashier for Quick and Reilly and was promoted to a stock broker. Palm Beach is a great place! I lived there for ten years.  I continue to go back as often as I can to visit wonderful, longtime friends.

I moved to Mackinac Island full time in the spring of 1991 and was the Mackinac Island Public Library librarian from September 1991 to August of 1994. I lived on the island year round for three years. I had to move downtown to an apartment as our house was strictly a summer cottage.


I became a full-time graduate student from 1994-95 and earned my Masters in Information and Library Studies at The University of Michigan concentrating on public library services and community information. It was terrific living in graduate housing, going to all the football games and soaking up all the big ten collegiate experiences. I loved it! I found you can teach old dogs new tricks.

My first job out of graduate school was as the Assistant Director of Lapeer County Library in Lapeer, Michigan from Dec.1995- Jun.1998. I helped develop the library website as well as the community network called Lapeer County Information Depot. I also developed the Marguerite deAngeli Collection Online Exhibit.

I moved back to Ann Arbor in the summer of 1998.  It's a top-notch community with a tremendous variety of things to do.  Saw some of the best concerts anywhere!  Still went to Mackinac every chance I got.

In 1998, I  joined the staff of Washtenaw County Library working an an assistant to the Internet Coordinator. At the same time I was awarded an internship at the School of Information at the University of Michigan where I served as Community Information Systems Coordinator for practical engagements performed by graduate students with community partners.

I started my own my own business, Terwilliger Associates, and have been doing that since the spring of 1999. I work with libraries, non-profits, local governments and other entities to help them evaluate, organize and make information accessible. That covers a wide range of things, from preparing and writing press releases to building image databases.  My fondest project was working with the Ladies Professional Golf Association as their archives consultant.

My main job the past few years is being available to my parents (both 90 plus and minus) -- which is the reason I moved here. I enjoy being near my mom and dad who are still chugging along, living in their log cabin in the woods with their horse and two dogs. My mom doesn't see very well, so I have taken over the cooking for the evening meals. I am also the yardman, chore doer and social secretary.

I've been waterfall trekking around the Blue Ridge recently. The falls are spectacular with all the rain. If you want to follow my treks, befriend me on Facebook.

So, who knows what the next chapter will bring? I've always felt that life is to be experienced and a good way to do that is to try lots of things and live lots of places. I work each day to make my world and the people in it a little better than the day before .. or minimally, do no harm. It is a good life.

What I used to do:

Evaluate, Organize and Access Community-based Information

Library Services and Community Information
Over the past 15 years, I assisted libraries, archives, non-profit organizations, local government agencies, and individuals evaluate, organize and make accessible community-based information.

...see examples of projects