Diane Warmsley
- Family History Research
- Speaking / Presenting
- Ethnicity / Religion
- Family History Research
- Family History Research
- Methodology & Resources
- Available for in-person events
- Available for virtual events
Diane Warmsley is a professional genealogist and family historian with 30 years of experience. She enjoys researching her southern U.S. roots and West Indian lineage while launching others on their family history adventures—through classes, lectures, and private client services.
Diane holds a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University’s Center for Professional Education and an MS degree in Education. Her areas of specialization include African American genealogy, Genealogy for beginners, and English-speaking West Indian genealogy.
Diane has presented at many private organizations, genealogical societies, and national institutes, including the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, and the New York State Family History Conference. She has also presented at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Nassau, Bahamas. In 2024-25, Ms. Warmsley was invited to serve as the sole genealogist on an African American burial ground project for Stony Brook University, NY.
Diane is a member of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, the National Genealogical Society, the New York Genealogical Society, and the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage lineage society.
United States
English-speaking West Indies/Caribbean
January 27, 2025
To Whom It May Concern,
I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Diane Warmsley, who has been an invaluable partner to Stony Brook University in our efforts to honor and acknowledge the historical African American Burial site located on our campus.
In the Fall of 2021, Stony Brook University undertook a project to ensure that those interred at the burial site are given the respect and recognition they deserve, and to allow for the inclusion of their ancestors in decisions surrounding the site's future. As part of this project, we hired Diane Warmsley, a skilled genealogist, to assist in identifying additional anomalies detected during an underground radar survey of the area. Specifically, Diane was tasked with helping us identify the five additional anomalies, which were crucial to our research and eventual goal of locating and connecting with any living descendants of those buried there.
Diane has demonstrated exceptional professionalism, dedication, and expertise throughout this complex and sensitive project. Over the course of more than a year, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that we have accurate genealogical information to track and identify potential descendants. Her meticulous attention to detail, thorough research methods, and unwavering commitment to our cause have been instrumental in moving this project forward.
Diane’s work has been nothing short of exceptional, and she has proven herself to be a reliable and highly skilled genealogist. She has not only provided invaluable insight into the historical context of the burial site but also helped facilitate the respectful and inclusive process.
I wholeheartedly recommend Diane Warmsley for any future endeavors and am confident that she will continue to excel in her field. Her contributions to this project have been critical, and I have no doubt that she will continue to make a meaningful impact in the areas of genealogy and historical research.
Sincerely,
Tasheka Sutton-Young, EdD
Associate Vice President for Presidential Initiatives
Ties That Bind: African American Family History
Resources & Strategies for West Indian Family Research
Peoples of the West Indies & Their Histories
New York Municipal Archives
NYC Public Library/Milstein Division
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
- 18th Century
Professional Genealogical Research (Boston University) certificate (2012)
SLIG - 1619-2019: Four Hundred Years of African American Genealogy (2019)
SLIG - Genetic Genealogy (2021)
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
Association of Professional Genealogists
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
National Genealogical Society
Sons & Daughters of the United States Middle Passage lineage society.
B.F.A. (Performing Arts)
M.S. (Administration & Supervision in Higher Education)