
Board Member Spotlight: Kate Jiggins
By LMHS Staff
Kate Jiggins holds a BA in English from George Washington University and has worked as an editor, executive assistant, and paralegal, including assistant to general counsel at the National Geographic Society. She currently works as a paralegal and volunteers her time with several organizations, including Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and Glen Foerd on the Delaware. She also serves on the board of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Kate is a member of multiple local organizations, including the Friends of Laurel Hill, Natural Lands, and Friends of the Wissahickon, and belongs to First Families of Pennsylvania and the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. She currently resides in Haverford, PA, with her husband, two sons, and myriad pets.
What is your favorite Lower Merion/Narberth memory?
I’ve only lived in Lower Merion for five years, but my time here is already filled with amazing community celebrations and I feel like I discover some new incredible historical fact or site nearly every day.
How long have you lived in Lower Merion/Narberth? In which community?
We moved to Haverford from Seattle, WA, in September 2019—so five and a half years. Although I lived in Seattle for 18 years, and DC for five years before that, I grew up not far from here in Concord Township and attended Garnet Valley High School. I was born in Drexel Hill and raised in Glen Mills, and my father’s family has roots in Montgomery, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties back through the 1700s, so I am very tied to the Philadelphia area.
Why do you want to serve on the board of the Society?
I have a deep love and appreciation for history and historical architecture. Working directly with an organization that helps preserve, maintain, and restore buildings, documents, and information for future generations is deeply satisfying and keeps me tied to my roots. I want to pass my affection for the Philadelphia area onto my children, in the hope that they can learn from our history and improve conditions here for future residents. I am especially passionate about adaptive reuse and creating opportunities for the community to engage with underrepresented histories, including those of women; African American people, including formerly enslaved people; and Indigenous communities.
Share Your Story
One of the best ways to preserve history is through the tradition of storytelling, and we want to hear from you! Whether you’ve lived in Lower Merion or Narberth all your life or recently moved here, everyone’s got a story to tell. Share a brief summary of your story for a chance to develop it further and see it featured on our site!
Please note that, while we review all submissions, we’re a small team and are unable to reply individually due to the volume received. If we are interested in developing your story further, we will contact you.
Thank you for sharing your story with us!
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