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Ask a Genealogist—Live Chat

Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ET

LIVE and Free! Join our experts through our online chat feature and ask your genealogical questions now! This online chat feature is available for new and expert researchers that have questions to be answered in 15 minutes or less.  

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This unique experience is currently available online through Zoom, over the phone, or in person. Observe and learn research methodologies from the experts at American Ancestors.

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Hire an American Ancestors expert to conduct historical or genealogical research on your behalf. We specialize in all geographic areas and can help knock down those brick walls in your family history.

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Invite an American Ancestors expert to speak at your next workshop, seminar, conference, reunion, or upcoming event!

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Not able to visit our Library?  We can scan pages from books, periodicals, and manuscripts located in our American Ancestors Research Center.

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Meet Our Experts

Colleen Alm

Colleen Alm

Researcher
Areas of Expertise: Colonial New England, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Ireland.
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Christine Bachman-Sanders

Christine Bachman-Sanders

Researcher
Christine Bachman-Sanders is a researcher in the Research & Library Services Department.
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Robert Battle

Robert Battle, FASG

Editor of the Register
Robert is the editor of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, the nation’s premier genealogical journal.
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Lynn Betlock

Lynn Betlock

Managing Editor, American Ancestors Magazine
Lynn Betlock is Managing Editor of American Ancestors, a quarterly member magazine that blends popular content with high-quality scholarship.
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Keira Breitenbach

Kiera Breitenbach

Senior Researcher
Areas of Expertise: Ireland, Midwestern/Western states
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Twink Williams Burns

Twink Williams Burns

10 Million Names Researcher
Areas of Expertise: African American genealogy, Oklahoma and Freedmen of the Five Tribes, Mississippi, and generational Americans with enslaved and/or enslaver ancestors.
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Peggy Sue Carpenter

Peggy Sue Carpenter

Researcher
Peggy Carpenter Genealogist has a B.A. in Family History from Brigham Young University. 
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Zobeida Chaffee-Valdes

Zobeida Chaffee-Valdes

Database Services Volunteer Coordinator
Zobeida leads the volunteer program for Database Services and assists with creating and improving the database offerings on the American Ancestors website.
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Chris Child

Christopher C. Child

Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press, Editor of Mayflower Descendant and Associate Editor of the Register
Chris Child has worked for various departments at American Ancestors since 1997 and became a full-time employee in July 2003. He has been a member of American Ancestors since the age of eleven.
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Sarah Dery

Sarah Dery

Director of Research & Library Services
Sarah Dery has been with American Ancestors since 2017, working closely with the Chief of Research.
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Curt DiCamillo

Curt DiCamillo

Curator of Fine Art
Curt is American Ancestor’s Curator of Fine Art. As part of the Education team, he curates American Ancestors' large art collection, lectures around the world, and hosts the celebrated American Ancestors Art & Architecture webinar series.
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Sheilagh Doerfler

Sheilagh Doerfler

Genealogist
Sheilagh Doerfler joined American Ancestors in 2013 as a member of the Research and Library Services team.
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Cécile Engeln

Cécile Engeln

Editorial Director
Cécile joined American Ancestors with nearly ten years of editorial and project management experience in academic publishing.
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Cynthia Evans

Cynthia Evans

10 Million Names Research Director
Cynthia Evans is the Director of Research for 10 Million Names. She manages and performs research for 10 Million Names projects.
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Lindsay Fulton

Lindsay Fulton

Chief Research Officer
Area of Expertise: State and Federal Censuses, New England, Ireland, and New York research, with a focus on research methodology and organization. Lindsay also oversees the research team working on the 10 Million Names project.
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Zachary Garceau

Zachary Garceau

Researcher
Zack has been a member of the research services team since 2014.
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Kate Gilbert

Kate Gilbert

Researcher
Kate Gilbert has been a member of the Research Services team since 2023. She holds a BA in History from the University of New England, as well as a Master's Certificate in Museum Studies from Tufts University.
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Beck Green

Beck Green

Researcher
Areas of Expertise: Colonial-era New England, Jewish history, lineage societies in the United States, and archival standards.
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James Heffernan

James Heffernan

Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press
James writes family histories for our Newbury Street Press imprint.
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Fitch Henry

Fitch Henry

Archivist
Fitch oversees the expansion, management, and preservation of our Digital Collections within the American Ancestors Special Collections.
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Pam Guye Holland

Pam Guye Holland

Researcher
Areas of Expertise: Irish immigration, Irish records, DNA, church records, German, New York (both city and state), and New England.
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Kyle Hurst

Kyle Hurst

Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press
As a member of the Learning & Interpretation team, Kyle researches and writes family histories.
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Sharon Buzzell Inglis

Sharon Buzzell Inglis

Vice President of Publishing
Sharon leads a team of ten who write and publish our two journals—the New England Historical and Genealogical Register and Mayflower Descendant—as well as up to twenty print publications per year.
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Hallie Kirchner

Hallie Kirchner

Genealogist
Areas of Expertise: 19th-century America, Germany, New York, New York City, Norway, Italy, westward migration, immigration history, and descendancy research.
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David Allen Lambert

David Allen Lambert

Chief Genealogist
Areas of expertise: New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; American and international military records; DNA research; and Native American and African American genealogical research in New England. 
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Judith Lucey

Judith Lucey

Senior Archivist
Areas of Expertise: Irish genealogy, the Atlantic Canadian Provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and New England.
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Kimberly Mannisto

Kimberly Mannisto

Senior Researcher
Kimberly Mannisto joined American Ancestors as a researcher on the Research & Library Services team in 2021.
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Shalley Marshall

Shalley Marshall

Archivist
Shalley Marshall received a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Russian from Tulane University, and a M.S. in Library and Information Science, with an Archival Management focus, from Simmons University.
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Rhonda R. McClure

Rhonda R. McClure

Senior Genealogist
Areas of expertise: Immigration and naturalization, late 19th and early 20th century urban research, missionaries.
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Melanie McComb

Melanie McComb

Senior Genealogist
Areas of expertise: Irish genealogy, DNA, Atlantic Canada, Jewish genealogy, and military records.
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Ginevra Morse

Ginevra Morse

Chief Learning & Interpretation Officer
Ginevra Morse joined the American Ancestors staff in 2010 as Publications Coordinator, transitioning to the Education team as Online Education Coordinator in 2013.
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Angela Napolitano

Angela Napolitano

Researcher
Areas of Expertise: American genealogy, Ireland, Italy, and DNA.
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Jared Nathan

Jared Nathan

Researcher
Areas of Expertise: Lineage societies, pre-colonial/colonial New England, English immigrant origins, medieval ancestry
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Anjelica Oswald

Anjelica Oswald

10 Million Names Senior Researcher
Anjelica is a senior researcher on the 10 Million Names team.
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Todd Pattison

Todd Pattison

Conservator
Todd Pattison, Conservator, works to preserve and care for the collection of books, manuscripts, and fine art.
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Elizabeth Peay

Elizabeth Peay

Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press
Elizabeth studied at the University of Connecticut and Smith College, earning a dual B.A. in History and Classical Studies. Before joining the American Ancestors team she worked as a Lead Guide at Roseland Cottage for Historic New England.
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Eileen Curley Pironti

Eileen Curley Pironti

Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press
Eileen writes family histories as part of the Learning & Interpretation team. She has authored several books, written articles for American Ancestors magazine, and contributes to the Vita Brevis blog.
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Peggy Polodoros

Peggy Polydoros

Researcher
Peggy Polydoros is a Researcher in the Research & Library Services Department.
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Jean Powers

Jean Powers

Senior Editor
As Senior Editor for American Ancestors magazine and the Weekly Genealogist enewsletter, Jean writes and edits articles, strategizes content, and provides illustrations.
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Danielle Rose

Danielle Rose

10 Million Names Volunteer Manager
Danielle Rose oversees the many dedicated volunteers who assist with creating database content for the 10 Million Names Project.
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Gabrielle Roth

Gabrielle Roth

Collections Management Archivist
Gabrielle is responsible for overseeing the preservation, capture, access, control and promotion of the Center’s archival collections. She is an ACA Certified Archivist. She earned an MS in Information Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
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Paul Sanborn

Paul Sanborn

Researcher
Paul is part of our Research Services team working on research cases as well as lineage cases for lineage society applications.
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Jen Shakshober

Jen Shakshober

Senior Researcher
Areas of Expertise: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.
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Meaghan Siekman

Meaghan E.H. Siekman, Ph.D.

Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press
Meaghan joined the American Ancestors staff in 2013 as a Researcher before moving to the Publications team in 2018 where she is currently a Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press.
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Brenton Simons

D. Brenton Simons OBE

Chief Stewardship Officer
Author of the award-winning Witches, Rakes, and Rogues, and other books, Brenton Simons has served as President and CEO of American Ancestors - New England Historic Genealogical Society, the nation’s flagship genealogical institution, since 2005.
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Aidan Walsh

Aidan Walsh

Library Services Coordinator
Areas of Expertise: DNA, New England, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Italy
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Alicia Crane Williams

Alicia Crane Williams, FASG

ENEF Genealogist
Prior to joining the American Ancestors staff as Lead Genealogist of the Early New England Families Study Project, Alicia compiled and edited numerous important genealogical publications.
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Julia Williams

Julia Williams

Researcher
Areas of Expertise: African Americans, Enslaved Africans, Colonial America, Revolutionary War, and New England
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Ryan Woods

Ryan J. Woods

President & CEO
An educator and historian, Ryan Woods is President & CEO of American Ancestors. For nearly two decades, he has led the development of award-winning experiences for exploring family history, heritage, & culture.
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