The Gift of Family

The holidays are a nostalgic time of year. This is the time when we surround ourselves with family and friends, immerse ourselves in family traditions and cultural celebrations, and give gifts to show our love and appreciation. So, what better time could there be to share the gift of family, family history that is? Maybe you were decorating your Christmas tree and found some old handmade ornaments. Or perhaps you dug out your grandma’s recipe book to make a special treat for a holiday gathering. Whatever the reason, we all feel a little more connected to our families this time of year.

Image by: Anastasiia Nurullina

It is a wonderful thing to research your family history and learn about your ancestors. However, what do you do with that information once you have it? Sometimes the results of all the hard work that goes into researching your ancestry can be lost on your relatives. As technology replaces more and more of our personal connections, oral histories and family stories are becoming a thing of the past. There are many great ways to make those discoveries more tangible and turn them into a gift that can be passed down for generations to come. At Ancestry & Genealogy Services, LLC. we would be honored to help you preserve your family history this holiday season.

Pedigree charts can be designed with as many generations as you would like to include. Lineage posters can be a fantastic way to illustrate a specific line of the family, perhaps going back to a famous ancestor. Old family photos, newspaper clippings, and records can be digitized and turned into custom books. Another great option is to have all your family history data compiled into a digital family tree, including images of photos and records. This becomes a digital file in a special format (GEDCOM) that can be uploaded into your family tree software or online database.

Image by: DKrue

You may be thinking, “What if I haven’t done any genealogy research?”. Don’t worry. We can definitely help with that, too. It is what we do. There is not a lot of time to get much research completed between now and Christmas but don’t be discouraged. It is never too late to start your family history journey, and it is never too early to get started on next year’s gift list! Contact us to schedule a free consultation today if you want to learn more about our research services. If you are interested in a printed chart or digital family tree, simply email us at andrea@ancestrygs.com or use the contact form on our website to see what we can create for you.

Wishing you and yours the very best holiday season and a happy new year!

~Andrea LaVallee-Maggs, Genealogist

Why Hire A Professional Genealogist?

Genealogy is a universal subject. No matter their cultural, political, economic, or religious backgrounds, people from all over tend to have an innate curiosity about their ancestors. Whether it is a desire to learn more about one particular ancestor with a fascinating story, or a deep sense of connection to their family’s unique past, people want to know where they come from. Some people embark on their own family history research and begin putting together the pieces of their family tree. Some people, on the other hand, cannot find the time or feel overwhelmed at the thought of taking on such a labor-intensive project. A professional genealogist can help in either situation.

For those who have already started their research, they often find themselves stuck on a particular person or event. We call this “hitting a wall”. There are countless resources and records online and available to the family historian. However, there is so much more to completing a thorough and exhaustive research of the records that exist, both online and in physical repositories. A professional genealogist will review the information you have already collected and analyze it for accuracy and reliable sources. Then they will look at your “wall” and use their expertise to look in places you may not have known to look for answers.

For the latter group of people who are looking for someone to take on their family history project, a professional genealogist is the logical place to start. By hiring a professional, you can be confident that they will use their skills and resources to fully research your project. Genealogy research projects can cover a wide range of products and a varied scope of research. The genealogist will discuss with you what you already know about your family and what you are looking to learn. You may be looking to trace a particular line of your ancestry to a specific place or period in time, or you may want to create a family tree that covers all of your ancestors within a certain number of generations. Perhaps you grew up hearing your family tell stories of a famous ancestor or someone who did something extraordinary and you want to know more about them.

No matter your reasons for seeking help, contacting a professional genealogist will set you on the path to discovering your family’s past and the stories of your ancestors. Visit our website to learn about the services we offer and schedule a free consultation today!

~Andrea, Owner – Ancestry & Genealogy Services, LLC.