This has probably been the biggest question I have been getting since I started taking clients. And I think it comes from the general public not knowing what a genealogist or family researcher may be. Even I immediately think of an elderly person hunched over dusty tomes and microfilm readers. Granted, I do love spending time with old books and microfilm, but I hope I’m not seen as “old”.
But I have really had to think about the services that I will offer my clients. I have seen a lot of records and situations in my time doing research, but what do I feel strongest in? How do I feel drawn to help others?
- Research. Someone will often tell me a situation and I can see in my head the steps I would take to try and solve the question. So, obviously – this is a big one. Questions I have received:
- “I want to know when my grandfather immigrated.”
- “What did my great-grandmother do?”
- “How did my family get from Vermont to Louisiana?”
- “Can you help me find out if I’m related to [insert famous person here]?”
- “I’ve heard my great-great uncle fought in the Civil War. How do I find out more?”
- DNA Analysis. Consumer DNA tests have become more popular as their price has come down in recent years. But sometimes, when the results come back, it’s hard to decipher what you are looking at. Or maybe you are hoping to find the answer to a specific question. Ways I use DNA in research:
- Find biological family (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc)
- Explain what the ethnicity estimates may mean and how they connect to paper research
- Suggest which company to test through, based on what you want to know
- Teach and Guide. Maybe you want to do the research, but you have no idea where to start! I can review what you have and give direction, as well as be a point of support as you research.
- Organization. Have you inherited a large amount of documents and/or research from a family member? It’s so overwhelming that you’re tempted to toss it all? I can review the documents, organize it into a usable format – even scan the documents and make it easy for you to share with your family.
- Photo Identification. Sometimes you have images, but have no idea who it is or where it belongs in your family. And by narrowing down the date of the photograph, you can maybe put a name to the face! I have spent a lot of time analyzing types of photography, fashion, posing, photographers and may be able to guide you!
- Lecturing. Do you need a speaker for your organization or genealogy group? We can set up online webinars and I can present on topics from “Basic Research” to “Getting Your Kids Involved”. Ask me for my latest topics and rates.
So, how does this work?
Reach out to me and give me an idea of what kind of assistance you may need. I can provide you with a quote based on my current rates and we can go from there. I can even provide references, if needed. And then the fun begins!
Can’t wait to work with you!
Melissa Grandt Genealogy 