Currently accepting clients for...

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

Twenty plus years as a paralegal combined with over thirty years of genealogy research provides the perfect array of skills for professional research services.

Family research is like a puzzle, and it allows for in depth research into individuals, their families, and their unique stories. Proving or disproving family stories, finding new relatives, and building those ancestral communities, is as exciting for me as when I do my own genealogy research.

In order to learn more about my own local history, I volunteer one afternoon a week in the reference room of my local historical society. I am also a volunteer researcher for NOKfinders, an organization devoted to finding next of kin for missing and unclaimed persons.
 

My personal research is focused in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, I am able to research in a variety of archives and libraries in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Geographic Specialities
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

Testimonials
"Hope Glidden carried out genealogy research for me, giving me answers to past histories that I'd been wondering about for many years.  The research was not only thorough and insightful, but was carried out professionally and conscientiously, with regular updates, a thorough final report, and complete clarity about cost and timings.  I couldn't
be happier about the work." - B. Bacon

Additional specialities or search keywords
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Moravian

Lectures
"Next of Kin Research/DNA/Investigative Genetic Genealogy: Locating Next of Kin for the Unclaimed" - 2026 National Genealogical Society Conference - presenting on behalf of NOKfinders

Repositories
Pennsylvania State Archives
Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
LancasterHistory
Chester County Archives
Chester County Historical Society
Cumberland County Historical Society & Archives
Other locations:  Berks Co., Lebanon Co., York Co., Cecil Co., MD
Other local Pennsylvania repositories - inquiries encouraged

Research Time Periods

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

Languages
English

Affiliations

I am a member of:

• National Genealogical Society
• Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
• Tennessee Genealogical Society
• North Carolina Genealogical Society
• Virginia Genealogical Society
• LancasterHistory
• Association of Professional Genealogists - I am the past secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Area Chapter, and current president of the Southeast Chapter.

Degrees

• Old Dominion University (Virginia), B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies: Professional Writing with a minor in Psychology
• University of Strathclyde - postgraduate certificate - Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies