Founded in January 2009, Bergman Investigations is a small business located in the heart of Ballard, Washington, a historically proud neighborhood of Seattle. Founder and owner Jolie Bergman is a fully licensed and bonded Private Investigator with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Science.

Jolie has worked in a realm of historical research for the last 14 years with beginnings as a teenage volunteer at the Klein Museum in Mobridge, South Dakota. While there she literally made her mark upon the decaying antique mannequin busts by restoring them to their original beauty. You can see them on display today at 1820 W Grand Crossing, Mobridge, SD 57601. 

Her volunteer work at the Klein Museum earned her a nice picture in the local paper and funding from a gracious group of ladies looking to support aspiring youth, which Jolie promptly accepted to cover the costs of her Art History education at Seattle Central Community College.  Within days of arriving in Seattle from South Dakota, Jolie signed up as a lead volunteer for the grand reopening night of the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. While there she encountered a wonderful host of fascinating historians, then Washington state Governor Locke and his wife, and vivid views of the many bright and exciting applications of history.

Today Jolie is a regular volunteer with the Nordic Heritage Museum, member of the Seattle Art Museum, Stewards Council Member for the Center For Ethical Leadership, member of the Pacific Science Center, member of the Seattle Metaphysical Library, and soon to be member of the Museum of History and Industry and Ballard Historical Society.

The idea of becoming a Private Investigator (PI) in the history field likely came together many moons ago as a cocktail of sparkly-eyed adolescent admiration for Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes. The idea became a reality in 2008 after Jolie was officially trained and certified by one of the most prominent private investigators in the area, Linda Montgomery of Linda Montgomery Investigations. Following certification, Jolie had to take an additional series of tests before Washington State would grant her the Private Investigation business license. Jolie passed the test with flying colors and in half of the allotted time. Today Jolie is a member of the Washington Association Of Legal Investigators.

The worlds of history and private investigation really began to form together when Jolie was digging through city records for personal amusement... and then she realized most people, especially those with a PI license in their pocket, don't voluntary immerse themselves in a stranger's 100 year old diary, for hours, during a warm sunny day in Seattle.

Embracing the fact that she is an archivist by nature, the daughter of entrepreneurs, intensely curious about all that is curiouser, and with a natural talent for conducting research while also relaying history as an entertaining and enlightening story, Jolie finally, officially envisioned combining these skills as a business venture.

After discussing (over and over and over again) the possibility of opening this very unique business with her very patient friends and family, they were not only encouraging - they were ecstatic (THANK YOU). Without their support, ideas, and expertise Bergman Investigations would not exist.

Bergman Investigations believes that providing people with knowledge of their local history helps to build a stronger community, diminish stagnant and hurtful ideas, and foster a sense of pride and respect for yourself and neighbors. History also supplies the tools necessary to build a better world around us all.

And it's fun. History is fun!

Additionally, Bergman Investigations believes that being provided a more accurate portrayal of the past can help guide people and the community to a more creative, fun, and empowering future.

Ultimately, this is why Bergman Investigations is here today; for the love, the entertainment, the knowledge, and for the future.