Currently accepting clients for...

• DNA
• Family History Research
• Writing /Publishing

About Me
I’m passionate about helping people connect with their past—whether that means identifying unknown parents through DNA, tracing immigrant ancestors, or uncovering the meaning of handwritten letters saved for generations. My goal is to make family history both accurate and accessible, offering clear answers along with the context that brings stories to life.

DNA for Unknown Parentage
I specialize in guiding clients through the challenges of unknown parentage. Using autosomal DNA, mtDNA, Y-DNA, WATO, and Banyan, I’ve successfully identified parents, grandparents, and extended relatives, helping individuals gain clarity about their biological roots.

Genealogical Research
I work with families to bring their histories into focus. My research areas include Essex County, Massachusetts—especially Newbury, Newburyport, and surrounding towns—along with immigrant ancestors and U.S. military records. I provide thorough, clearly documented results that honor your family’s story.

German Translations
I also help clients unlock the stories hidden in German-language documents. From letters and postcards to official records and photographs, I translate both printed and handwritten texts, including old Kurrent and Sütterlin scripts. In addition to accurate translations, I provide cultural and historical context to help you fully appreciate the lives behind these documents.

If you’re curious about your family’s past or have documents you’d like help understanding, I’d be happy to talk. Feel free to reach out anytime—I enjoy hearing people’s stories and would love to help you with your own family history journey.

Testimonials
It is difficult to convey the extent that I would recommend Kristen to anyone with a genetic or ancestral mystery to explore or solve.  Kristen is a super sleuth, highly credentialed detective who can take a few clues and use them to unearth information with true expertise.  When I first approached Kristen for help finding my biological father, I had no idea how lucky I was to find her.  I did not have strong DNA matches and I had truly felt that with the available information the search was a lost cause. Additional factors were that I am donor-conceived and that DNA showed that my donor was 100% Ashkenazi Jewish. 

Kristen took the scarce information I had and quickly found avenues to explore that I could never have thought of myself.  She was methodical and patient in her research, with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.  She was also creative and persistent with finding alternative pathways at apparent dead-ends, and her own curiosity and genuine interest in my situation and family history was always so evident.  

Kristen consistently went above and beyond, for example, consulting with other professionals and traveling to libraries to look at records.  Throughout, Kristen worked collaboratively with me and was always professional, empathic and reassuring at difficult moments in the search. Not only was Kristen's research approach impressive, it was also entirely effective.  Within a short time, the mystery of my paternal heritage was a mystery no longer - Kristen was able to identify my biological father and had also gathered a lot of meaningful information about my ancestors.  As a final touch Kristen presented these results in a thorough, beautifully presented and simple to follow report.   

I really cannot express how grateful I am to Kristen.  Everything  about the way she carried out this search on my behalf was incredible and has resulted in a gift so fundamental to my identity.  

- RD
 

Lectures
Using DNA for Genealogy (two-part class), Museum of Old Newbury, April 2024
Using DNA for Genealogy, Georgetown Peabody Library, May 2025

Repositories
NARA Boston
Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum
MA State Archives
MA Vital Records
 

Research Time Periods

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

Languages
English, German 

Certificates
Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University (Spring, 2021)

Affiliations
Vice President, New England Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists
Association of Professional Genealogists
Massachusetts Society of Genealogists

Degrees
Stanford University (B.S. Geology)
Harvard University (Certificate Program in Non-Profit Management)