Dr. Juanita Gaston
- Family History Research
- Document Retrieval / Record Agent
- Ethnicity / Religion
- Family History Research
- Family History Research
- Methodology & Resources
- Available for in-person events
About Me
http://www.jgrootsfinders.com
Alex Haley's book "Roots" inspired my genealogical journey. This led me to begin researching my maternal and paternal lineages in the 1970s. However, my research was inconsistent until 2009 when I started considering retirement. In 2010, the television program "Who Do You Think You Are" prompted me to deepen my research and explore the family histories of colleagues and friends as well.
In 2014, upon retiring from Florida A & M University, I embarked on an exciting new journey by launching my genealogical business, J. G. RootsFinders, LLC. My mission is to empower individuals--especially within the African American community-- to uncover their roots, gain a deeper understanding of identity, bridge generational gaps, honor forgotten ancestors, and celebrate the rich legacies of those who came before.
Education
I earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration in 1970 from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Geography in 1973 and 1977, respectively, from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. I retired from Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Florida, where I was involved in teaching and research for 24 years. From 2000 to 2014, I served as the Director of the Florida A&M University Census Information Center, and from 2013 until my retirement, I taught genealogy workshops.
Services
Founding member of the Tallahassee African American Genealogical Society; President, Tallahassee African American Genealogical Society, Inc. in 2018, 2022, 2025; Secretary-Treasurer, 2024; Digital Volunteer: Florida State Archives; FamilySearch 1950 U. S. Census Community Project; and Frederick Douglass Day, 2025.
Geographic Specialties
AL, FL, GA, Southeast
Georgia, Florida, and Alabama
"I have always desired to have a book comprised of my family's ancestral history. I desired a genealogist who would provide the highest quality research at a reasonable price. Therefore, I contacted JG RootsFinders for assistance. After working with Dr. Juanita Gaston, I was extremely impressed with her genuine interest in completing my goals and desires. It was remarkable how she discovered so much information so quickly. Dr. Gaston is extremely professional, thorough, patient, and kind. She even spent some weekends researching and outlining strategies to complete my family's ancestral book. Before the extensive research Dr. Gaston provided for the book, I had very little knowledge of my father's family history. She connected me with relatives that I did not know existed, and because of this, I have developed a personal relationship with these relatives, which is certainly a priceless gift. " -- C. Irvine
"This is a tenacious, thorough, persistent skilled researcher! She comfortably pursued every detail of my family tree. I appreciate how prodigious and extensive her work was. Congenial and patient, she was a pleasure to confer with as I increased my goals for the research. I highly recommend her as an expert in this field who will be highly skillful, timely, and effective in meeting your goals for genealogy research records retrievals, etc." AET
Specialities: African American Research; Southeastern U.S., Especially Georgia, Florida & Alabama
Selected Presentations: "Researching Your Enslaved African American Ancestors," 19 February 2022; "Why Family History Matters," 20 December 2020; "Reclaiming Kin: Resources to Bridge the Gap Between Emancipation and the 1870 U.S. Census, 4 May 2019. All Shakespeares are not from England: Researching an African American Family from Leon County, Florida on June 20, 2023.
Florida State Archives, Tallahassee, Florida
- 21st Century
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
2015, Institute of /Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama (The Five Civilized Tribes)
2021 Selective Certificates: -Nov. 12, 2021 - "Court Records for People of Color Family History Research" by Nicka Smith -Oct. 8, 2021 - "Context: A Powerful Tool for problem Solving" by Elizabeth Shown Mills -Oct. 13, 2021 - "Navigating your Way Through Family Search" by Cyndi Ingle -Oct. 8, 2021 - "What am I Missing? Recognizing Research Holes in Available Sources" by Patti Lee Hobbs Oct. 1, 2021 - "Born a Slave: Rediscovering Arthur Jackson's African American Heritage" by David W. Jackson -August 6, 2021 - "Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts" by Bernice Alexander Bennett -Feb. 16, 2021 - "A Family for Suzanne" by Ruth Randall
Alabama Genealogical Society, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, American Ancestors, Association of Professional Genealogists, Florida Genealogical Society, Georgia Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Tallahassee Genealogical Society, and Tallahassee African American Genealogical Society (Founding Member).
PhD (Geography)
M.A. ( Geography)
B.S. (Business Administration)