Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research

Discovering your ancestors and capturing their unique stories
I embarked on my own family history journey in 2012, which has now led me to research in the records of the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Lithuania, and Sweden and DNA analysis that identified an unknown grandparent. I discovered that knowing the people who came before me enlivened history, strengthened my sense of belonging, and invested the present with greater meaning; perhaps you will discover the same when you allow a professional genealogist to take care of the minute details of historical research and family history writing so that you can enjoy the results.

My background in education, state government, and immigration prepared me with research, analysis, and writing skills that served me well in obtaining an Advanced Skills in Genealogy Certificate from the National Genealogical Society. I enjoy applying these skills and knowledge to your family history goals, large and small.

Ancestor biographies
One of my recommended approaches to family history compiles archival research, images, artifacts, and family stories into well-designed illustrated biographies of ancestors. Writing about them with vivid descriptions - and connecting them with the historical relationships, places and events that shaped their choices - builds up dimensions of complexity around the bare, yet sturdy framework of names and dates. Here are a few examples that will enrich an ancestor biography based on historical documents:

• Childhood: understanding what your ancestor might have experienced as a young person that shaped their later life.
• Occupation: understanding through contextual research and images what tasks and industries kept our ancestors occupied.
• Education: understanding what opportunities our ancestors had to develop skills and abilities.
• Military service: reconstructing and understanding your ancestor's frontline experience of a conflict.
• Geography: understanding what natural events, agricultural practices, and urban developments affected your ancestor.

I hope this approach will bring more excitement, joy, and interest to your exploration of your family history in addition to documenting your heritage for future generations.

Research areas
My research expertise reflects my own ancestry and my residence location. As the great-grandchild of eight immigrants to the United States, much of my work consists of thoroughly researching immigrants and connecting them with their ancestral towns. I have significant experience researching in these areas:

• ​Midwest states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Kentucky
• Northeast states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Maine
• Quebec and Prince Edward Island, Canada
• Immigrants to the United States after 1850

Knowing our ancestors can build compassion for the human condition and open opportunities for personal growth, in addition to revealing people, places, and events of historical interest. Most of human history has been and will be lived out as parents and grandparents, children and grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins encounter the joys and adversities of human life. Understanding how these people navigated their time and place in our shared world inspires me to research family history. 

Other projects that deploy my expertise:

• Researching and writing family narratives encompassing several generations
• Planning, executing, and reporting genealogical research that seeks to solve a specific question about a relationship or identity
• Researching the history of your house, especially with respect to former residents
• Locating and retrieving genealogical documents that are not online
  • Did any of your ancestors die in an Indiana County? There might be a probate file waiting for you at a courthouse.
  • How did your ancestors interact with the federal government? There might be unique records waiting for you at the National Archives.
• Assessing the validity of personal genealogical projects

Geographic Specialities

• Indiana
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Illinois
• Missouri
• Québec

Testimonials
"Outstanding in all regards." - Indianapolis, Ind. client
"Thrilled with the research." - Mooresville, Ind. client

Repositories

• National Archives
  • Washington DC
    • Civil War Pension Applications
    • Bounty Land Applications
    • Land Entry Case Files
    • Postal Service Employees
    • INS Subject Files
  • College Park
    • World War II materials
  • St. Louis
    • Official Military Personnel Files
    • World War II morning reports
    • World War I Nurse Corps
  • Chicago
  • Atlanta
    • Railroad Retirement Board Pension Files
• Indiana
  • Any Indiana county courthouse
  • Indiana State Library
  • Indiana Historical Society
  • Indiana State Archives
  • Allen County Public Library
  • Archdiocese of Indianapolis
  • Indiana University
  • Lebanon Public Library Heritage Center
• Kentucky State Archives 
• Cincinnati History Library and Archives

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Languages

• English
• French
• Spanish

Certificates
Advanced Skills in Genealogy, National Genealogical Society, 15 Jan 2024

Affiliations

• National Genealogical Society
• Genealogical Society of Marion County
• Indiana Genealogical Society
• Indiana Historical Society

Degrees
B.A. Biology, Hillsdale College
M.A. Teaching, Marian University