Michael Wells works as a local history and genealogy research specialist in the Missouri Valley Special Collections department of the Kansas City Public Library. He is a certified secondary-level social studies teacher. In 2007, he completed an archives internship at the National World War I Museum, prior to receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in U.S. history from UMKC the following year. In 2012 he earned a Master of Arts in Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction from UMKC. Presently he assists researchers visiting the Missouri Valley Room, creates materials to support social studies educators and encourage student engagement with primary sources, and contributes to the Library’s local history blog. He may be contacted at michaelwells@kclibrary.org.