Currently accepting clients for...

• DNA
• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting
• Writing /Publishing

I have diverse research experience in all parts of Poland (within current and historic borders).
 
I understand what documents are needed to find specific information/evidence about the ancestors and relatives. I know how to locate these documents whether they are available on-line or not and how to obtain their images for research, also if they are indexed on various sites but links to the images are not provided. Also, I can identify documents in possession.
 
I specialize in researching genealogies of immigrants to the U.S and Canada from rural communities and small towns (plus the big town of Warsaw) in Poland. I also work with the descendants of Polish immigrants to the U.K.
 
My expertise includes genealogies of Jewish, Lutheran and Greek-Catholic communities from all over Poland with more focus on the parts of Poland under the Russian and Austro-Hungarian rule.
 
I specialize in 18th through 20th century genealogy from Poland (17th century records permitting – rare but sometimes possible).
 
I specialize in proving or disproving family stories.
 
I specialize in confirming relationships between individuals, also by working with DNA test results and matches.
I also work with DNA to search for unknown parents.
 
I also provide family research which focuses on building family trees whether for general knowledge about the ancestors and relatives or for DNA research purposes.
 
I translate vital records from Polish, Russian, Latin and German into English.
 
I retrieve documents for private and legal purposes (including heir search).
 
I run searches in documents to assess if descendants of Polish ancestors qualify for Polish citizenship.
 
I am also a guide to Poland, general knowledge and ancestral travel.

Geographic Specialties

Poland: present and historic territory including parts of former Austria-Hungary and Prussia and contemporary Ukraine.

Geographic Specialities
Austria-Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Prussia

Testimonials

I am very impressed with your work and what you were able to find. I am really looking forward to visiting the suggested areas [...]. I have found your report very professional and thorough and will add the additional information to my Ancestry tree. I am very excited to visit Poland and learn more about my Polish heritage. Thank you so much. [2025]

Really enjoyed working with you again. Your very quick response was well written, easy to follow, made total sense. It's amazing that after all these years, your work in 2009 has stood the test of time as being rock solid for accuracy and completeness. [2025]

It's sometime since we have been in touch. I have my Polish passport now. I think I told you. This was a great achievement and a result of your excellent initial work. [2025]

We were surprised (in a positive way) that you found so much on the [...] side of the family. That is beyond amazing! We're so delighted! [2025]

Hello Grazyna, I couldn't be more pleased with your work since we started the first of two phases of research last summer. The two reports submitted thus far have been on-time, the material was thoroughly researched with plenty of documented facts, images and relevant proxy evidence, the findings have been clearly articulated, and the result of all your effort has been to add an enormous amount of new information to our family history going back to the 18th century. For the amateur genealogist like me, who was stuck at a certain point in time, putting you on our team was the best decision ever as you have added another generation to our family tree and added color and depth to our understanding of the conditions that led to the my grandfathers emigration from Poland. Above all that, I am most pleased to say how much I've enjoyed your cheerful and caring approach to your work, and I have great admiration for the way you have stuck to the facts and the truth to explain our roots. On behalf of all in our family who have seen and were amazed by your output, let me say that we are grateful for all that you've done for us. Best regards, Frank Brentwood, TN [U.S.]
Hi Grazyna, Just to let the world know that my Piekarski Family was found, thanks to you and your dedication, it is hard to believe you started the search with my fathers name, Adam Piekarski (deceased1972) and very little other info, after myself reaching the ripe age of 59 and believing all the PIEKARSKI family were killed during the war, one notary from the uk, and off you went, churches, archives, military, red cross, village elders, cemeteries, phone books, hours spent going through records, miles travelled, from village to village, letters sent, looking for anything linked to the Piekarski family, then i got the email saying Piekarski Family Found, god did i cry. anyway after three trips to Poland under your supervision and company we would not have had it any other way, you are now part of the Piekarski house hold, and will always hold a place in our hearts, so keep your mobile switched on as i might need a translation in a hurry ! I have read books on Poland but you most certainly cannot beat being there with a girl who puts her heart and sole into our welfare and enjoyment, the miles we travelled in your car, the things we learned, the sites we saw, all we can say is thanks so much, from all the Piekarski family including my new family in Brochow, and Warsaw. WITH OUR KINDEST REGARDS STAN & WENDY [U.K.]

Publications/Media
Books (in Polish):
Szaniawscy z Parznic Genealogia (The Szaniawskis from Parznice, a Genealogy), Warsaw 2023, available as an e-book (https://ridero.eu/pl/books/szaniawscy_z_parznic_genealogia/), Warsaw 2023
Genealogia i DNA (Genealogy and DNA), Warsaw 2019;
Data urodzenia Fryderyka Chopina, ewaluacja ?róde?, analiza informacji, konkluzja (Date of birth of Frederic Chopin, evaluation of sources, analysis of information, conclusion), Warsaw 2017;
Praktykowanie genealogii. Pieniazkowie z Jedlinska XVIII-XIX w. (practicing genealogy; Pieniazeks from Jedlinsk 18th-19th cent.), Warsaw 2015.
Articles:
Understanding Genealogical Research in Poland. The Most Popular Resources and How to Cite Them, APGQ, June 2017, Volume XXXII - Number 2; Planning a Successful Ancestral Journey to Poland, Rodziny, Winter 2009, PGSA; Genealogy in Poland Today, Polish Eaglet Summer 2011, PGSM

Lectures
2024 May through September, Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society 50th Anniversary Celebration and Conference: Finding my great-grandfather, an immigrant from Poland, and descendants of his relatives using Pittsburgh and Polish resources and DNA.
2023 Sep. 24, 10 Konferencja Genealogiczna GENEAMI 2023, Brzeg, Poland, topic of the presentation: How to convert genealogy knowledge to a book about our ancestors - printed or electronic? (presentation in Polish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1bDREIrn0A&t=1834s)
2022 Sep. 16, Virtual PGSA (Polish Genealogical Society of America, Chicago) Conference; topic of the presentation: Getting more from genealodzy.pl website; little known data bases.

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century
• 17th Century

Languages
Polish, English, Latin, Russian, German, Spanish

Certificates
Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University)

Affiliations
Polskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne (Polish Genealogical Society) www.genealodzy.pl

Degrees
MA (Economic Geography)