Currently accepting clients for...

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

Honoring history with detailed and compassionate research

Mica L. Anders is passionate about uncovering the rich, often overlooked stories of our past. With a focus on African American and Midwestern U.S. genealogy, she has worked with clients and organizations in the U.S., Canada, Jamaica, and the UK, bringing underrepresented stories to light. 

As a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the first ever history fellow at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum, and recipient of the 2023 Minnesota Genealogical Society Pioneer Award, she upholds the highest standards in her research. Her dedication and expertise make her a sought-after collaborator for projects that bring forgotten histories to life.

Rediscovering Ancestors. Reviving Stories

At Anders Genealogical Services, our mission is to help folks connect to previous generations and revive family stories so they can understand who they are through the ancestors who came before them. It's all about blending rigorous research with storytelling. We dig deep into archives, pore over old documents, and piece together the puzzles of the past. 

Then we transform those findings into something special – whether that's a family history narrative that brings your ancestors to life or a museum exhibit that reshapes how we see our local history.

Geographic Specialities

Geographic Specialties: Primary focus on people of the African diaspora in the United States, with particular expertise in:

• Early African Americans in Minnesota
• Early African Americans in the Upper Midwest

While these are areas of special interest, I work with clients nationwide and internationally, including Jamaica. My research is not limited to specific regions; I assist clients in tracing their African American ancestry regardless of their current location or ancestral origins.

Testimonials

• Mica is passionate and committed to her work. This is an area she loves, and her attention to detail is incredible! - Betsy M. V.
• Mica's work is like a cross between CSI & Dr. Henry Louis Gatesls, "Finding Your Roots" !! - Richard B.
• Thanks again for the great program. The evaluations were stellar -- all attendees returned evals, and they were all 5 star! - Lead Librarian
• Beacuse of you, I now know things about my 3x grandpa that I never knew before! We even planned a road trip based on the information you shared about his Civil War military service and got to stand on the land where he was stationed. - T. Jones

Additional specialities or search keywords
African American, Black History, Jamaican Ancestry, Multiracial, Enslavement, Slavery, Enslavers

Publications/Media

Featured in various national and local media outlets, including:

• National Public Radio (NPR)
• Minnesota Public Radio (MPR)
• Sahan Journal
• KSTP-TV (Minnesota Live)
• Iowa City Press Citizen

Additional appearances in local radio, online publications, and quoted in national magazines.

Lectures

Experienced keynote speaker and presenter since 2013, offering diverse lectures through libraries, historical societies, and conferences. Provides both in-person and online presentations on a wide range of genealogy topics. Sample presentations include:

1. "Discovering African American Roots: A Beginner's Guide"
2. "Tracing Early African American Legacies in the Midwest"
3. "Ancestral Enslavers and the Enslaved"
4. "Anti-Racist Genealogy With a European-American Lens"

Additional topics cover DNA in genealogical research, census records, solving genealogical mysteries, and more.

Also offers self-paced online courses. Specializes in African American genealogy and addressing historical injustices through family history.

Research Time Periods

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

Languages
Spanish (fluent) German (some)

Certificates
ProgGen Study Group 48

Affiliations
Member of:

• Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc (AAHGS)

Degrees
Masters of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) from the University of Minnesota