Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research
• Writing /Publishing

Hi! I'm Jamie with Shifting Sands Genealogy. I specialize in research around the Great Lakes/Midwest, with a particular focus on Michigan and Ontario.
I've been doing family history research for about 25 years. My interest in genealogy started at a young age, as I listened to stories (some true, some not so true!) from my grandpa about his parents, who were poor immigrants from Ukraine. I interviewed my family for a family history project in third grade and went on my first genealogy research trip when I was about 12 years old. As a lover of history and culture, I was easily hooked on genealogy.
I started Shifting Sands Genealogy in October 2020 so that I could help others learn more about their own family history! Why "Shifting Sands?" I grew up near the shores of Lake Michigan, with its massive dunes, dense forests, and sprawling beaches. Just like the winds coming off of the lake can cover up or expose driftwood, shipwrecks, and other hidden treasures, I love the challenge of uncovering long-forgotten pieces of family history. Imagine what could be waiting to be discovered in your own family tree!

Geographic Specialities

• Great Lakes region and Midwest USA and Canada
• Ukraine
• England

Testimonials

• "Jamie is thorough and detail-oriented as well as friendly and approachable."
• "[Jamie] is beyond professional, handles delicate situations with grace, and I really believe has an innate ability to make connections and put pieces of family together."
• "Jamie is an excellent Genealogist that assisted me with locating ancestral homes and churches in both Ireland and England and is MUCH more affordable than most other genealogy services. I'm very impressed with the information I received from her[.]"
• "I'm looking forward to working more with Shifting Sands to fill in my family trees!

Additional specialities or search keywords
Great Lakes, Midwest, Michigan, Ontario, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Ukraine, England

Publications/Media
"The Lost Village: From Ukraine to Michigan and Back Again," Michigana (Quarterly Magazine of the Western Michigan Genealogical Society), Vol. 67: Issue 1 (No. 269), 2021.
"The Value of Social Media in Genealogical Research," Michigana, Vol. 67: Issue 2 (No. 270), 2021.

Repositories
Most in West and Central Michigan, including those in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, and rural areas in between.

Research Time Periods

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

Languages
English

Certificates

• Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy:
  • Assemblage: Preparing, Writing, and Revising Case Studies
  • Research in the Former Russian Empire & USSR
  • Evidence-Based Writing
  • Fundamentals of Forensic Genealogy
• National Institute for Genealogical Studies:
  • US Court Records
  • Nuts & Bolts of Reporting Research
  • Lives of Our Ancestors

Affiliations

• Western Michigan Genealogical Society (Board Member and Delegate to the Michigan Genealogical Council)
• Ontario Genealogical Society

Degrees
B.A. Anthropology