Rebecca believes discovering the stories of ancestors reveals unique and powerful insight to the characters we possess in the present day. Knowing the history of our ancestors broadens one’s sense of self and connects individuals to their past in ways that can influence and inspire their futures—even stories that ended badly contain valuable lessons. Rebecca has used the stories of her ancestors to teach genealogical principles and methodology in large group, intimate class, and private consultation settings. She encourages everyone she teaches to spend time discovering the stories of their ancestors through photographs, biographical histories, or historical evidence. She especially enjoys helping clients understand historical documents that reveal previously unknown facts about their ancestors.
Rebecca graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Family History and Genealogy. Her undergraduate studies included a specialized history of the family course that emphasized British and Continental European kinship patterns. Two internships at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC and the Woodhorn Museum and Archive in Northumberland, England provided excellent opportunities for hands on seventeenth and eighteenth-century British research. Her ongoing genealogy specialties include British, Northern U.S., and Southern U.S. research.