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Why Choose a Professional Genealogist?

The family tree researcher needs both investigative skills and storytelling ability. As a professional genealogist, I not only help to research your family connections but also place your ancestors in historical context—highlighting their experiences during periods of religious freedom, social hardship, economic changes, and more.

A family history researcher (or genealogist) investigates and documents family lineages, histories, and relationships. Here's what they typically do:

  1. Gather and analyze historical records (birth/death certificates, census data, marriage licenses, military records, etc.)

  2. Interview family members to collect oral histories and personal accounts

  3. Organize and interpret findings to create family trees and narratives

  4. Break through "brick walls" where information is difficult to locate

  5. Provide historical context to understand ancestors' lives

A professional researcher differs from a casual hobbyist in several key ways:

Expertise and Training Professionals typically have specialized education, certification, and experience with historical research methodologies and archival systems.

Access to Resources Beyond public online databases, professionals often have:

  • Knowledge of obscure or specialized archives

  • Relationships with record keepers and institutions

  • Understanding of which records exist but aren't digitized

  • Access to subscription databases and tools

Analytical Skills Professionals excel at:

  • Evaluating source reliability

  • Resolving conflicting information

  • Understanding historical context for accurate interpretation

  • Recognizing patterns across multiple documents

  • Working around missing or incomplete records

Research Methodology Professionals approach genealogy systematically, following established standards to:

  • Properly cite sources

  • Document chains of evidence

  • Distinguish between direct and indirect evidence

  • Construct proof arguments for difficult cases

These elements allow professionals to produce more comprehensive, accurate family histories, especially when dealing with complex or challenging research situatio