Genealogical Research
My journey into genealogy began when I was 13 years old. I was
assigned a school project to compile a four-generation family tree.
After interviewing my immigrant grandparents, I became interested in
learning more about my family history beyond what their memories
provided. I still hold that graded paper chart in my personal
archives. It wasn't until many years later that I began to practice
genealogy as a hobby. After a full decade of research experience with
Mexican records, I created, edited and maintained a blog titled Guadalajara
Dispensas, where I published a collection of thousands of
extractions from Catholic Church marriage dispensations--canonical records that
are rich in genealogical information. As a result of my publishing, I have been a
featured speaker at the Nueva Galicia Genealogical Society annual
conference. I hold a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston
University.
I crossed over to the Research space after a long career
as an independent special events producer. From planning to venue logistics, staging, catering,
and trade show booth management, I am well-versed in all aspects of
conference planning and execution. I welcome the
opportunity to support any genealogy-related special event, meeting,
or conference.
I am a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the
National
Genealogical Society.
I take on client research projects and compile comprehensive
reports that include a summary of findings, research notes with
details of the documentary evidence, complete source citations,
unsuccessful searches, recommendations for further research and
electronic images of all evidence and documents found. I adhere to
the Association of Professional Genealogists Code of Ethics and Professional Practices.
There is nothing like DNA evidence to answer your genealogical
questions. With multiple options for testing and analysis, the
scientific data and jargon can become complicated and overwhelming.
I help to analyze and interpret DNA test results, and also identify what is
relevant to your specific genealogical question. This is a powerful
option in cases of unknown parentage, adoption, or otherwise
separated parents and offspring. I apply the Genetic Genealogy Standards, crafted by
a consortium of scientists and genetic genealogists.
Translation & Transcription
I am bilingual in English and Spanish. I produce transcription and
translation products. My skills extend to paleography in
genealogical records from the 16th to the 20th centuries, in
Colonial Latin America and Spain.
Education & Specialized Skills
I hold a Certificate in Genealogical Research Studies from Boston
University. I have twenty plus years of research experience in Spanish
language records from Colonial Mexico and Spain. My geographical
specialties are the modern-day Mexican states of Aguascalientes,
Jalisco, Nayarit and Zacatecas, conjointly known as Nueva
Galicia during the Spanish Colonial period.
Actor Anthony Quinn's Case
In the field of genealogy, we often find things we are not looking for.
A hint or hunch leads to a trail of evidence that helps us reconstruct
lives from the past. Many times, the evidence conflicts with narratives
that were passed down from generation to generation. This may be such a case...
Rodriguez or Cavazos?
Joseph Rodriguez hit a brick wall when the paper trail came to a halt. In researching
his Rodriguez direct male-line from Monterrey [Nuevo Leon, Mexico], Joseph was stalled
at his fifth great-grandfather named Pedro Jose Rodriguez. He paired traditional
genealogical research with Y-chromosome testing which revealed that his closest Y-DNA
matches have the surname Cavazos. Read along and take a journey to Colonial Monterrey
and learn how this story unfolds directly from records and DNA...
Work Samples
Below are examples of my genealogical research and writing work.
Links will open in PDF format.
Phone: (310) 497-8613