Genealogical Research
Family lineage tracing, record analysis, and research support grounded in source comparison, documented findings, and careful evaluation of conflicting evidence.
Heritage-rich research, built on evidence
Stories rooted in records, not guesswork.
Blanding Historical Stories provides genealogy and archival research services with a focus on accuracy, careful documentation, and respect for the historical record. From lineage tracing to community archive support, the work is methodical, evidence-driven, and designed to preserve stories that deserve better than internet folklore in a waistcoat.
Services
Genealogy and archival support
Services can be adapted for individual families, legacy projects, church archives, cemetery work, and local history efforts.
Archival Organization
Support for organizing historical collections, private papers, church records, and community materials so they are usable, searchable, and easier to preserve.
Digitization & Indexing
Digitization planning, file naming systems, metadata structures, and custom indexes that improve discoverability and long-term access.
Historical Records Review
Analysis of census records, death certificates, probate records, military records, church documentation, cemetery records, and other source materials used to reconstruct family and community history.
Transcription Projects
Transcription and cleanup of handwritten, fragile, or difficult records to improve accessibility, accuracy, and historical usability.
Custom Heritage Projects
Placeholder for family history books, lineage packets, cemetery indexing, or society-specific projects. Swap this out for the work most worth selling.
About
Research shaped by patience, rigor, and respect for the record
This site is built around the work of a researcher who has spent decades tracing family history, organizing records, and helping preserve stories that might otherwise vanish into dusty boxes and half-remembered lore.
Blanding Historical Stories reflects years of genealogical and historical research focused on documented lineage, archival order, and accessible preservation. The work includes family research, community archive support, indexing, digitization, and careful source evaluation.
- 15+ years in genealogical and historical records research
- Archival support for churches, historical societies, and community collections
- Strong emphasis on evidence review, documentation, and record integrity
“The best family history is not the version that sounds nicest. It is the version that survives the records.”
Replace this quote with a real line from your relative later, if desired. For now it does the job without sounding like a haunted brochure.
Approach
How the work is done
Every project is different, but the method stays consistent: gather, compare, verify, document, and preserve.
Evidence first
Research begins with the record, not the assumption. Sources are compared carefully, contradictions are noted, and conclusions are built from evidence instead of wishful family mythology.
- Clarify the research question and project scope
- Identify relevant repositories, databases, and record groups
- Cross-check evidence before forming conclusions
Organize for long-term use
Historical work matters more when it can be found, understood, and maintained later. Organization, indexing, and documentation are treated as part of the research itself, not decorative afterthoughts.
- Digitize and organize records with consistent naming conventions
- Build indexes or metadata structures where useful
- Deliver findings in a format clients can actually use
Credentials
Experience and professional grounding
Built from the resume material we already shaped, with a few placeholders left open so you can swap in specifics without a melodrama spiral.
Professional Affiliations
Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
National Genealogical Society (NGS)
Selected Contributions
Volunteer transcription work, published research support, and cemetery indexing/transcription projects. Replace this with named examples if you want the site to flex harder.
Technical Discipline
Additional background in documentation-heavy, accuracy-critical systems work. Useful because historical research also punishes sloppiness, just with older paperwork.
Contact
Start the conversation
For genealogy inquiries, archival support, community history projects, or records organization work, reach out by email. A short note about the project, region, family line, or type of collection is enough to get started.
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
Placeholder note
Some other kind of eye-catching note or mission statement can go here.