Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting

Kate is a former professional investigator turned genealogist who specializes in Pennsylvania genealogical research. She also has experience with Ohio, West Virginia, and New York City records and has expertise with court records, immigration, and naturalization records. Kate owns Family History Investigations LLC.

Kate has spoken at national and local genealogical societies, libraries, and conferences, including the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference, New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, and RootsTech.

Kate completed Boston University's Certificate in Genealogical Research in May 2020. Since then, she has completed continuing education at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). She is a graduate of ProGen 58. She previously served as the Chair of the National Genealogical Society Delegate Council. Kate holds the Certified Genealogist® credential as of February 2024.

Although Kate has been working on her own family history since she was sixteen, her interest in investigating and researching on a professional level was piqued when she served as an Archives Technician at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) while completing her undergraduate studies. She worked as a resource for amateur and professional genealogical researchers, alike, assisting them in conducting database and archives records research. Additionally, she gained experience with primary source documents in her first position with NARA, where she worked in the holdings maintenance department, preserving and cataloging records dating back to the 1800s.

Services

Whether you want to discover when a particular ancestor arrived in America, find evidence that your great-great-grandfather served in the Civil War, or identify your maternal great-grandmother, Kate can assist you with your genealogical research pursuits. Kate will work with you to formulate a research plan and research question(s) to accomplish your goals.

Projects typically are completed by addressing one or two research questions at a time, the findings of which are outlined in a comprehensive research report. Projects are billed hourly, and outside expenses (i.e., repository fees, travel, parking, etc.) are billed to the Client. Most projects require 15 to 25 hours of research and writing time. Kate offers the following services:

Consultations

Are you new to genealogy? Are you overwhelmed looking at websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org? Or do you need help breaking down a brick wall? Either way, Kate can help guide you in your genealogical endeavors with one-on-one research consultations.

Document Retrieval

Live in California but desperately want a record from the Pennsylvania State Archives? Kate will travel to repositories in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, to obtain copies of the records you need.

Dual Citizenship

Do you believe you might qualify for citizenship by descent in one of your ancestral homelands? Kate can help determine whether you are eligible based on her knowledge of immigration records. She can also help obtain the documentation necessary for your application in the United States.

Family History Books

Do you want a unique and sentimental gift for a loved one? Or have you been doing family history research for years and want help designing a way to commemorate it? Kate can help create and design a family history book that will be treasured for years.

Family History Research

Do you want to know more about your family but don't know where to start? Have you been doing genealogical research for a while but need help breaking down a brick wall? Do you want to know more detailed information about an ancestor’s life? Kate can help evaluate what can be done to address these research problems.

Publications/Media
From Wolverhampton, England to Allegheny City to Wolverhampton: Discovering What Happened to Harry Townsend" Published by the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society in April 2023

Lectures
Kate offers 50-minute lectures that she is happy to deliver to your society or organization. More details regarding these lectures are available via the following link: https://familyhistoryinvestigations.com/presentations.html. 

Repositories
Repositories in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Honorifics/Credentials
CG®

Certificates
Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University

Affiliations
Association of Professional Genealogists, Association of Professional Genealogists Great Lakes Chapter, National Genealogical Society, Genealogical Speakers Guild

Degrees
BA in American Studies from The George Washington University; MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from University College London