Discover Yourself, with Discover the Story of You
Professional Research Services
Being a professional genealogist means knowing there's always more to discover on your ancestral journey! With nearly 40 years of experience in family history research, I would love to apply my in-depth sleuthing skills to work for you. Together, we can uncover your personal history and create custom genealogy packages that include a family tree full of verified documentation proving your ancestral kinship. Additionally, I'll shine a light on one of your most prominent and notable ancestors with a delightful (and hopefully insightful) historical narrative, bringing that ancestor back to life within you!
Growing Your Family Tree
I don't just build trees; I grow them! Like any tree, they take time to flourish. In genealogy, nurturing a family tree to grow strong and healthy involves an ancestral journey where we analyze history, delve into census and immigration records, military and church documents, and visit research libraries, town offices, and cemeteries. This thorough approach ensures you receive a comprehensive picture of your family's history and your place within it. As a genealogist, my intention is to provide custom genealogy packages that help fill in some of the missing pieces of your personal history, allowing you to better know and appreciate yourself!
One-on-One Interviews
To begin your ancestral journey and create your family tree, we'll need to meet (in person or via online video chat) for an intake interview. During this 1-2 hour session, I'll gather some initial information (names, dates, etc.) necessary to kick off your family history research. Additionally, I'll learn what you hope to discover most about your ancestry and explain the custom genealogy packages available to support you. I'll also be happy to answer any questions you might have about your genealogy journey!
Document Retrieval Services
You know where the record exists for your ancestral journey, but it's too far away from where you live, and you may not have the time to travel for it. But I can help you! If it's located in the Pacific Northwest, I will do the legwork for you as part of my custom genealogy packages. With a 1200dpi hand-held wand scanner, I can access records in person, from towns, churches, and town offices to libraries, museums, and other locations within the region. I will carefully scan your old records, documents, and newspapers to provide you with the clearest, crispest copies for your family history research!
Ongoing Research
Being a professional genealogist means knowing there's always more to learn about your ancestral journey. Records don't always match exactly—spellings can change, documents may be transcribed incorrectly, or online records might be too old and fuzzy to read accurately. That's why searching for as many resources as possible is essential, including talking with other genealogists, accessing more libraries, and even visiting historical sites for better clues. Then, it's all about piecing together the information and analyzing it to ensure that the ancestor added to your tree is indeed your ancestor. Mistakes in family trees are common in this field, which is why custom genealogy packages are beneficial, as new genealogy tools and resources are always emerging. Sometimes, your family history research deserves a fresh look and extra time—whether it's to confirm with greater accuracy or to delve deeper into your family's past. Send me a message when you'd like to continue your journey!
Custom Packages Available
Discover The Story of You offers a variety of custom genealogy packages to suit your needs, including the option to work with you to customize a package tailored to your specific family history research goals. Let's talk about your ancestral journey!