Sheila Benedict
Benedict Research Services: specializing in Forensic and Family Research
Benedict Research Services
Solvang, California
United States
Currently accepting clients for...
- Family History Research
- Speaking / Presenting
- Writing /Publishing
Family History Research
- Document Retrieval / Record Agent
- Dual Citizenship
- Ethnicity / Religion
- Family History Research
- Immigration / Naturalization
DNA
- Adoption / Unknown Parentage
Speaking/Presenting
- Family History Research
- Methodology & Resources
- Writing & Publishing
- Available for virtual events
Writing/Publishing
- Author/Writer
Other Speciality
- Dual Citizenship
- Forensic Research
- Heir & Probate Search
- Oral Historian
Professional Genealogist over thirty years; lectured at all national conferences; taught beginning and intermediate genealogy and oral history at a local community college; I was a CGRS 1992-2007; retired August 2018 after over seventeen years as the archivist at one of the 21 historic California Missions.
Services
Forensic and family history researcher, specializing in California, Catholic records, methodology, oral history techniques, Irish-American, court records, migration trails, and more. My focus is on writing and lecturing.
Geographic Specialties
CA: All Counties, i.e. Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, etc. State archives and libraries in Sacramento and San Francisco, courthouses statewide; Southwest, West, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and England.
Testimonials
Sheila is a knowledgeable and highly competent genealogist who can be of real help as an expert in litigation.She assisted me in a major trademark case where the issue was demonstrating how many surnames are generic and therefore cannot be asserted as valid trademarks against others with similar names. With her help we eventually won the case on appeal and set some precedents in trademark law. I highly recommend her services. - G. Gervaise (Gerry) Davis, Esq.
Sheila Benedict conducted a comprehensive genealogy study on the Stevens family. Her resourcefulness and attention to detail are extraordinary. She also brings insight and good judgement to her work. The Stevens family was fortunate to have Sheila Benedict doing the survey of our family. -George Stevens Jr.
Sheila is a knowledgeable and highly competent genealogist who can be of real help as an expert in litigation.She assisted me in a major trademark case where the issue was demonstrating how many surnames are generic and therefore cannot be asserted as valid trademarks against others with similar names. With her help we eventually won the case on appeal and set some precedents in trademark law. I highly recommend her services. - G. Gervaise (Gerry) Davis, Esq.
Sheila Benedict conducted a comprehensive genealogy study on the Stevens family. Her resourcefulness and attention to detail are extraordinary. She also brings insight and good judgement to her work. The Stevens family was fortunate to have Sheila Benedict doing the survey of our family. -George Stevens Jr.
Publications/Media
Wrote the NGS "Research in the States - California" Released at the NGS 2015 Conference in St. Charles, MO. Articles on forensic genealogy, methodology, Irish who came to the western USA, ground penetrating radar & forensic canines, etc. in the NGS Magazine, APGQ Magazine, CGS Magazine, TIARA Magazine, CAFG newsletter. Wrote a monthly genealogy column in the SYV Star newspaper for several years.
Wrote the NGS "Research in the States - California" Released at the NGS 2015 Conference in St. Charles, MO. Articles on forensic genealogy, methodology, Irish who came to the western USA, ground penetrating radar & forensic canines, etc. in the NGS Magazine, APGQ Magazine, CGS Magazine, TIARA Magazine, CAFG newsletter. Wrote a monthly genealogy column in the SYV Star newspaper for several years.
Lectures
Beginning Genealogy; Irish Resources in the USA; Forensic Genealogy; The Benefits and Pitfalls of Oral Histories: Techniques for Genealogists and Historians; Catholic Records; Death Certificates, Obituaries, and Probates: What the Dead Can Tell You; Twenty-one California Historic Missions; The Importance of Collateral Research; Learn to Love Maps, County Histories, and City Directories; Migration Trails are Paper Trails; Did Your Ancestors Take Family Papers West?; Communicating with Clients; Ground Penetrating Radar and Forensic Canines; Work Your Way to Ireland Using American Resources First Naturalizations: They could be really important!
Beginning Genealogy; Irish Resources in the USA; Forensic Genealogy; The Benefits and Pitfalls of Oral Histories: Techniques for Genealogists and Historians; Catholic Records; Death Certificates, Obituaries, and Probates: What the Dead Can Tell You; Twenty-one California Historic Missions; The Importance of Collateral Research; Learn to Love Maps, County Histories, and City Directories; Migration Trails are Paper Trails; Did Your Ancestors Take Family Papers West?; Communicating with Clients; Ground Penetrating Radar and Forensic Canines; Work Your Way to Ireland Using American Resources First Naturalizations: They could be really important!
Repositories
National Archives, DC & Regional; CA State Archives & Library; local, state, and university libraries and archives; online databases: USA, Ireland, and UK.
National Archives, DC & Regional; CA State Archives & Library; local, state, and university libraries and archives; online databases: USA, Ireland, and UK.
Research Time Periods
- 21st Century
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
Languages
English, some Spanish, some French, Read only
English, some Spanish, some French, Read only
Certificates
The Basics of Archives Training Course - American Association for State and Local History; took class at the California State Archive and was a volunteer at the National Archives, California where I worked with archivists there. Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) - completed three institute courses in beginning and advanced forensic genealogy.
The Basics of Archives Training Course - American Association for State and Local History; took class at the California State Archive and was a volunteer at the National Archives, California where I worked with archivists there. Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) - completed three institute courses in beginning and advanced forensic genealogy.
Affiliations
Association of Professional Genealogists; President, APG Virtual Chapter, 2019-2020; President, APG Writer's SIG 2021-2023, Member of the APG Forensic SIG; Board member, Genealogical Speakers Guild: Life Member, National Genealogical Society; Life Member, Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society. Other memberships include the San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society, Southern California Genealogical Society, California Genealogical Society, Santa Barbara Paralegal Association and more.
Association of Professional Genealogists; President, APG Virtual Chapter, 2019-2020; President, APG Writer's SIG 2021-2023, Member of the APG Forensic SIG; Board member, Genealogical Speakers Guild: Life Member, National Genealogical Society; Life Member, Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society. Other memberships include the San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society, Southern California Genealogical Society, California Genealogical Society, Santa Barbara Paralegal Association and more.
Degrees
BA (Political Science), AA (History and English); certificated archivist
BA (Political Science), AA (History and English); certificated archivist