A lifelong lover of history and research, Amy Hesseldahl has always been drawn to unanswered questions.

Before genealogy, she built a career as a professional opera singer, earning a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall. Her path into genealogy began with a search for her father’s biological parents, which unlocked half of her family tree and revealed a profession she didn’t know she was seeking.

A background in graphic design, along with a certificate in instructional design from NYU, informs how she structures and communicates her findings. An avid Canva user, Amy has built training programs to show genealogists how they can harness the power of Canva and the principles of good design.

Born and raised in Virginia, Amy now lives in the Hudson Valley of New York. Primary research is conducted in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and New York.

Repositories
State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC
University of North Carolina, Southern Historical Collection (Wilson Library), Chapel Hill, NC
New York State Archives, Albany NY
 

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Languages
Elementary German

Honorifics/Credentials

 

Certificates
SLIG Advanced Methodolgies - 2026
Research Like a Pro - RLP11
Research Like a Pro - RLP DNA-8

Affiliations
Association of Professional Genealogists, National Genealogical Society, North Carolina Genealogical Society, New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, Durham-Orange Genealogical Society (NC)

Degrees
Manhattan School of Music M.M.
​NYU Certificate in Instructional Design