Why Hire a Genealogist?

Save time.

Most people feel the time crunch of modern life.  Many family history enthusiasts wish they could devote more hours to learning about their ancestors.  Why wait for that elusive extra time to turn up?  Hire a genealogist today and we can dive into the records to discover what you want to learn!

Avoid frustration.

Have you hit a brick wall in your own research?  Turn to an experienced genealogist to break down that wall and find the answers you have been seeking.

(Pictured left: Union solider, Civil War.)

Gain access to expensive databases.

Numerous companies offer a wide array of ancestry-related records online.  However, they are often quite expensive.  There is no need for you to subscribe to these many databases.  Instead, a genealogist can absorb that cost for you.  We will search a range of databases to find the relevant records about your ancestors.

Benefit from the experience and expertise of a genealogist.

Find documents
Genealogists know where to look to find the desired data or, sometimes, to recognize that the records do not exist.

Evaluate the quality of the many possible records available
Genealogists understand what makes a record trustworthy or not.  You do not want to incorporate unreliable sources into your family tree or family story. 

Interpret the meaning of various documents
Family history records do not explain themselves.  The information can be unclear or confusing.  An experienced genealogist can cut through this fog of uncertainty to reveal what a particular record reveals about your ancestors.  In brief, you want relevant, high-quality data that, to the extent possible, tells the true tale of your ancestors’ lives.

Learn about historical context.

Each person is born at a particular time in a particular place.  What events – political, economic, cultural and more – shape that person’s life?  A thoughtful genealogist will incorporate this vital information into your ancestor’s life story so that we can better understand his/her/their path and choices.

(Pictured right: Women war workers, Daytona Beach, Florida, 1942.)

As a former college professor, I often taught courses with a significant historical component.  I have extensive knowledge of American history and so I can weave relevant historical events into your ancestors’ tales to provide a much deeper and richer understanding of their lives.

Receive personalized professional products.

Genealogists can create accurate family trees with reliable information about relationships, dates, and more.  We can answer a tough genealogical question in a research report.  We can also generate a timeline of an ancestor’s life or write an engaging story that you will be proud to share with friends and relatives.