Background
Vanderstel, David Gordon was born on August 24, 1954 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Son of Gordon Eugene and Marilyn Esther (Teunis) Vanderstel.
Vanderstel, David Gordon was born on August 24, 1954 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Son of Gordon Eugene and Marilyn Esther (Teunis) Vanderstel.
Bachelor, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, 1976. Master of Arts, Kent (Ohio) State University, 1978. Doctor of Philosophy, Kent (Ohio) State University, 1983.
Graduate assistant, teaching assistant, Kent State University, 1976-1980;
university instructor, Kent State University, 1980-1981;
research historian, Conner Prairie Museum, Noblesville, Indiana, 1982-1983;
senior historian, Conner Prairie Museum, Noblesville, Indiana, 1983-1990;
adjunct assistant professor, Indiana U.-Purdue University, Indianapolis, since 1984;
assistant editor Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, POLIS Research Center, Indiana U.-Purdue University, Indianapolis, since 1990. History consultant Old N.W. Corporation, Vincennes, Indiana, 1988. Exhibit curator Conner Prairie, 1989-1990.
Board directors Freetown Village, Indianapolis, 1988-1994. Consultant Indianapolis Public Schools, 1992. Executive director National Council on Public History, since 1994.
Chair worship division Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, 1988-1994. Member American Association for State and Local History (educational services committee 1988-1991), History Society Michigan, Indiana Association Historians, Indiana History Society (Clio grantee 1997-1999), Marion County-Indianapolis History Society (president 1990-1991, 96-97), Organization American Historians, Society for Historians the Early American Republic.
Married Janet Joy Zinnen, August 2, 1976 (divorced August 1986). 1 child, Gregory David. Married Sheryl Sue Dixon, January 2, 1987.
Children: Phillip Joseph, Emilie Susanna.