Susan Elizabeth “Beth” Hunter is a Gardendale resident and an officer of the Gardendale Historical Society.

What’s your passion?

 I love researching. One of my favorite places in the world to be is the downtown Birmingham library, especially the Henley side. I like the way it smells, I like the floors, the brass on the stairwells, the old bronze sculptures. I think going to the library is a lost art; a lot of people just look up things on the Internet now. They don’t get to touch old paper or smell the acid in it. A whole generation is missing out on that.

Is there anything in particular you like to research?

It really doesn’t matter much. I do like research old houses; I’m a historical reviewer for the History Channel. They contacted me once to verify the historical authenticity of a building.

Why do you go by Beth instead of Susan?

I was born on Halloween, and everybody wanted my mother to name me Tabitha, but she refused. The first-born girl’s middle name is Elizabeth in each generation of my family. My mother’s name was Sarah Elizabeth and my niece’s name is Ann Elizabeth. There’s an “Elizabeth ring” that’s passed down through the family. It’s a gigantic diamond. My name gives me trouble whenever I go traveling. Because I go by an alias, my luggage always gets searched and I always get questioned at  airports. One time it got so bad at the Birmingham airport that I started crying; my husband had to come down and testify that I go by “Beth.”

What do you do for fun?

I love science fiction, as opposed to fantasy. I like fantasy, but I love science fiction. My favorite science fiction movie ever is “Contact.” I also really love foreign films.