About Discovery Bay Genealogy Research

Background
I am a writer by trade and a family detective by choice. I'm a fourth-generation Californian but have lived in Boston; New Haven; Washington, DC; Des Moines; West Yellowstone; and the Seattle area, as well as Wellington, New Zealand; Damascus, Syria; and Islamabad, Pakistan. I served in the US Navy for three years as an Intelligence Specialist. I'm mostly Irish (father's mother and mother's father!), but also Scottish, English, German, French, and a few other bits. I am not taking clients right now.
Education
Genealogy education:
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Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research, Course OL24
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Professional Genealogy (ProGen) Course 38
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Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, 2019, 2021
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Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), 2018, 2020
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Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, 2020
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Personal research and continuing education, 30 years
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"On the clock" at BCG
Formal education:
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Stanford University, BA in Journalism and Political Science
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Harvard University, Masters of Education


Specialties
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Western United States
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Immigration and naturalization
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Early colonial America
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Revolutionary War
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Civil War
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California Gold Rush
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Irish Americans
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German Americans
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Early pioneers
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Military
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National Archives records
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Lineage society applications