Currently accepting clients for...

• DNA
• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting
• Other Speciality

Forensic specialization working on Probate and Heir searches
originating in Illinois or Eastern Europe. Available for any local,
state, or federal document retrieval in Cook County and Lake
County, Illinois. Expertise in Jewish heritage and record access
from Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, and other Pale of
Settlement territories. In-depth knowledge of Immigration and
Naturalization records. Personal family History Research in Cook
(with record access to restricted records) and Sangamon
Counties of Illinois; Norfolk, Suffolk, and Middlesex counties of
Massachusetts; states of Maine and Rhode Island.

Currently, Vice President of APG, Secretary of the APG Forensic
Special Interest Group, and an APG representative to the Record
Preservation and Access Coalition, as well as Secretary of the
Illinois State Genealogical Society and Chair of its Advocacy Committee.

Contact the Genealogy Maven

Dynamic Speaker on a variety of topics, not just my core research
expertise. Available for in-person and virtual presentations.

 

Geographic Specialities

Countries, States, Counties, & Cities
USA, Illinois: Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, & Sangamon
USA, Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, & Waukesha
USA, Massachusetts: Middlesex, Norfolk, & Suffolk
USA, Rhode Island
USA, Maine: Aroostook, Cumberland, Oxford, & York
Poland: Kazimierz, Krakow, & Warsaw
Lithuania: Kaunas, Kedainiai, Valkininikai, Vilnius
Belarus: Gomel, Homyel
Ukraine: Chernigov, Chernihiv, Volodymyr-Volynskyi

Testimonials
"Thank you for the great presentation yesterday. I've received
several emails thanking us for having you speak to us. It was so
entertaining."  Elgin Genealogical Society, Elgin, IL

"Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed last night's
presentation. You were terrific !!"  Attendee, Helen Plum Library,
Lombard, IL

Additional specialities or search keywords
Ashkenazi Boston Chicago Gomel Kedainiai Valkininkai

Lectures

• Mayhem on a Manifest
• Chain Migration
• Introduction to Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy
• What is Forensic Genealogy?
• Early Jewish Settlers in Illinois
• Early Settlers in Illinois
• Waterways of Illinois
• Naturalization and Immigration
• Breaking Through Brick Walls
• Fundamentals of DNA
• Understanding Endogamous DNA
• FamilySearch Update

Repositories

• Newberry Library - Chicago
• Chicago History Museum
• National Archives & Records Administration - Chicago
• Cook County Courts, Deeds, and Vital Records
• FamilySearch Center - Wilmette, IL
• University of Chicago Library & Archives
• Chicago Public Library

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century

Languages
English, French, Russian

Certificates

• Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University) OL29
• ProGen 46
• GenProof 62
• Gen-Fed Virtual 2021

Affiliations

• Association of Professional Genealogists
• National Genealogical Society
• Illinois State Genealogical Society
• New England Historic Genealogical Society
• New York Genealogical & Biographical Society
• Genealogical Society of Utah
• Society of Genealogists - London, UK
• Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston
• Jewish Genealogy Society of Illinois

Degrees

• University of Chicago - Executive Management Program
• Smith College - AB

Documents
SHoffman Genealogy Resume 2023