SERVICES
FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH
"Turning Old Photos, Vital Records, and Family Lore into Family Stories"
Projects sometimes start with an initial consultation which can in person or on the telephone to review information they provided. The first step is to review the documents already collected by clients to avoid duplication of work completed and carefully listen to their stories history. Oral history passed along from one generation to the next can be very helpful.
Projects may also start with very little information. In this case, I will send a brief questionnaire to prospective clients asking for basic information such as:
- Names of parents and grandparents.
- Where did they live?
- Approximate dates of birth
- Photos especially group photos
- Copies of birth or marriage certificates
After the initial consultation, I prepare a proposal for services. Research, especially multi-generational, may be divided into phases. Proposals will normally be set-up in two or three phases with specific costs and a time-frame.
Work Product
Depending on the complexity, the results will be presented in a loose-leaf book with tabs for key documents found, a narrative about the family history and a family tree. Less complex research may be a letter with a few attachments. Correspondence is usually with email and telephone calls as needed.
Common Requests
- Family Trees for Family Reunions
- Multi-generational Research
- Identify Ancestors and their origins
- Find Missing Relatives
- Kinship Proof Statements
Work Standard
Research is conducted to meet the “Genealogical Proof Standard” which includes a reasonably exhaustive search for records.
Genealogy research may not always produce the desired results. There may be no available records for a variety of reasons; i.e.,
- Pennsylvania didn’t start keeping civil records until the later part of the 19th century
- Irish census records prior to 1901 were destroyed and generally not available.
- City-owned cemeteries were intentionally destroyed to make room for new housing.
Vital Record Retrieval
Document retrieval from Boston Area repositories such as vital records will incur a minimum two-hour charge. One example would be to obtain a certified marriage record from the “Registry of Vital Records and Statistics” located in the Dorchester section of Boston.
Repository Research in Boston Area
- New England Historic Genealogical Society
- NARA- Boston, National Archives and Records Administration
- City of Boston Archives, West Roxbury
- Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, Dorchester, Boston
- Quincy Historical Society Library
- Milton Historical Society Archives
- Scituate (Massachusetts) Library
- Thomas Crane Library, Quincy, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts State Archives, Dorchester, Boston
Hourly Fee
$40 per hour for services described above. Free initial 30-45 minute assessment of client supplied documents such as initial research, photos as a first step in preparing a proposal. Proposals may also be quoted in lump sum amounts setup to match defined phases with deliverables.
Retainer Fee
$80 initial retainer, payable in advance before commencing with the work outlined in the proposal.
Reimbursable Expenses
Parking, photocopies, microfilm rental, postage, travel outside of local Boston area are charged at cost.