Currently accepting clients for...

• DNA
• Family History Research
• Writing /Publishing

My love of history, my genealogical research skills, and my 27 years as an English teacher meld together to allow you to “meet” your ancestors, learn about their lives, and see yourself reflected in their experiences. I take on the cost and time of genealogical research, add a heaping dose of passion, and discover the lives of your ancestors so that their stories can be retold for you, your family, and future generations. 

Once the genealogical research is complete, it is time to transform the facts and figures of each direct ancestor into the chronological narrative of their life. Each of your direct ancestors’ lives is reconstructed in either an ancestral portfolio or a family history book. Historical contexts, on a local and national scale, provide depth to your ancestors’ experiences. Pictures of their home, newspaper articles, a map of their village’s location, a reproduced letter your family member wrote, their signature on a document, or the Census record of the family - these are just some of the items that help turn facts and dates into a complete picture of what your ancestors’ experienced. 

Ancestral portfolios provide a chronological review of the names, dates, and facts about your ancestors with select documents and images reproduced. The professionally printed and soft-cover bound portfolio offers an overview of your ancestors' lives.    

A family history book family history is a well-crafted narrative that provides historical context and includes full-color images of records, maps, places, and people.  A professionally published hardcover book, this is a treasure to be passed down for generations to come.          
 

Geographic Specialities
Great Lakes region, New England, Nova Scotia, Osage Nation, United Kingdom

Testimonials
"Kiersten, it was a pleasure to work with you at AncestryProGenealogists. Your passion, kindness, and gratitude were uplifting and appreciated. Your future clients will benefit from your attention to detail and lovely writing." - Krysten Baca, former Research Manager and Genealogist at AncestryProGenealogists. 



 

Publications/Media
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: Our Gregg Family History (pending)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: Our Stantus Family History (pending)
- Research and author of Travels Through Time: Our Eaton Family History (pending)
- Research and author of Travels Through Time: Our Lindsay Family History (pending)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: Our McHugh Family History (2024)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: Our Marshall Family History (2024) 
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: Our Rennie Family History (2024)
- Research and author of Our Wilkins Family History: An Ancestral Portfolio (2024)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: Our Murphey Family History (2023)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: Our Pakenas Family History (2023)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: A Trobough Family History (2022)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: A Nowland Family History (2022)
- Researcher and author of Travels Through Time: A Torpey Family History (2022)
- Researcher and author of Stepping Back in Time: A Rusbridge Family History (2021)
- Researcher and author of Purdy Family History (2020)
- Researcher and author of Kay Family History (2016)
- Editor, The Axis of Evil World Tour (2006) by Scott Fisher





​
-

Lectures
- "Putting the Pieces Together: An Introduction to Genealogy"
- "Genealogy with Ancestry Library Edition"
- "Genealogy and Newspapers in the United States"
- "Genealogy and Newspapers: Beyond the U.S.

Repositories
Michigan State Library, Michigan State Archives, Allen County Public Library (Fort Wayne, IN)

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century
• 17th Century

Languages
English and tourist-level French!

Honorifics/Credentials
January 2023 - Present: Owner, Portal to the Past
July 2022 - January 2023: Associate Researcher, Ancestry
January 2015 - July 2022: Owner, Portal to the Past
January 1999 - August 2020: High School English Teacher

Certificates
- Michigan Teacher Certification, English, 7-12
- Texas Teacher Certification, English, 7-12

Affiliations
December 2021 - Present: Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy
April 2021 - Present: Cornish American Heritage Society
January 2020 - Present: National Genealogical Society
January 2020 - Present: Association for Professional Genealogists
January 2017 - Present: Washtenaw County Genealogical Society
 

Degrees
Bachelor's Degree: Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan
Master's Degree: Siena Heights University, Adrian, Michigan