About me
A lifelong love …
I was raised near Washington, D.C. and adore my historic city. I love being a friend, a sister, a wife, a mom, a grandma, an aunt, a grand-aunt, a cousin, a daughter, and a granddaughter. Family (friends included) is everything to me.
I remember attending a family reunion with the descendants of my great-grandparents when I was 10 years old and visiting the living sisters of my great-grandmother. I was entranced as I met family I never knew before. They shared their memories with me.
A school teacher assigned a ROOTS project. I called my grandfather and learned amazing stories about him and typed up my first pedigree chart.
My mother took me as a young teenager to a cemetery to search for ancestors, and we visited an old home – a genealogy library that was the home of my ninth great-grandfather. I treasured every moment.
Those experiences shaped me. Now, I love to dive into all types of genealogical records, learn about the relevant history and culture, interview people, and visit archives, historical societies, churches, and cemeteries.
My Projects
Over the years, I have explored many branches of family history research. I have learned…
Digitization
… the importance of preserving documents and photos so they can be shared with family for generations.
family trees
… the thrill of building and documenting family trees, and adding in stories discovered through research.
oral histories
… that inspiration and appreciation come while listening to others tell their stories.
preservation
… our responsibility to protect community history and the need to volunteer and serve together in this effort.
Education is the secret to success.
I have been blessed to learn from great people and through exceptional organizations. There are many additional classes (including GenProof 83), genealogy websites, periodicals & books, webinar groups, libraries, societies, and mentors that have increased my genealogical knowledge – too many to name here.
Societies
Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) webinars, Crossroads articles, and Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) have been an amazing source of genealogical education.
I am grateful to have won the Jimmy B Parker scholarship, which made it possible for me to attend my first SLIG course – Advanced Genealogical Methods, taught by Paul Graham, CG®, AG®
mentors
I developed new strengths and overcame weaknesses in my study groups through ICAPGenealogy – the organization through which I earned my credentials in the US Mid-Atlantic states region.
classes
I will forever be grateful to the professors of my genealogy classes back in my BYU days (before they had a Family History degree)… and to the instructors and mentors I learned from elsewhere.
Blog (Coming Soon)
Just setting this up… please be patient