Kathryn Holt Springston is a lifelong resident of Cherrydale, one of the few Arlington historians with an encyclopedic knowledge of the area's history, an author of several books and numerous articles on local history, and is married with one son (who is also an author and historian). She is recognized as a preeminent expert in many fields and is internationally known and respected for her knowledge of, and identification of, Sears' Kit Homes. Kathryn is a retired Educational Specialist for Northern Virginia History and Study Tour Leader for the Smithsonian Associate Program Tours Office; past Consulting Historian for Arlington County, Cultural Affairs Office; a consulting historian for the National Park Service, and a Consulting Historian for WETA's Arlington History, Heroes and Hamburgers television program. Over the past 39 years, she has researched, developed and led numerous tours (20 separate locales, both walking and bus), as well as frequently presenting lecture programs covering all aspects of historical life in Northern Virginia, with special emphasis on Arlington, for the Smithsonian and other groups, including: American University Faculty, U.S. House of Representatives Page School, Capitol Hill Day School, church groups, civic groups, senior citizens groups, etc. In addition, she is, or has been, an Arlington County and Fairfax County Public Schools Library and classroom volunteer presenting Living History days; a Volunteer farm worker at the Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary; former docent and interpreter at Arlington House; former docent at Mount Vernon; past Chairwoman of the Arlington County Fair; Cherrydale Citizens' Association Historian; Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department Historian; and was the Curator/Director of the Arlington Historical Society Museums from 1979 to 1988, during which time she: cataloged the entire object and archival collections, developed and held many special exhibits (including: Arlington Women, Toys, Sears' Houses, Daily Life and the Civil War Era), and began an interpretive program (including designing a self-guiding tour) for the two historic sites, as well as trained volunteer docents, which included developing a training manual. In her spare time she enjoys genealogy, gardening, caning, reading, quilting and cross stitching.
AUTHORED: Numerous magazine articles published in Northern Virginia Heritage, The Arlington Historical Magazine, The Sweet and Sour News, etc.; Contributor to Virginia Dictionary of History and Biography, UVA Press, 1998 to 2002; Cherrydale, Cherries, Characters and Characteristics, Sterling Press, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2004; Contributor/assistant A Pictorial History of Arlington County, by Ross/Nan Netherton, Donning, 1987; and A History of the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department 2014