Ten Ways to Make Money Doing Genealogy

Ever considered turning genealogy into a lucrative profession? Through interviews with prominent and successful family historians, author Loretto Szucs illustrates ten ways a hobbiest could turn professional.

Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow. That book caught my eye a few years ago and it’s still on the list of books I want to read. The problem is I’m too busy doing the work I love to have time to read a book about it! For more than twenty years, I’ve been heavily involved in teaching genealogy, conducting workshops, lecturing, working as an archives specialist, writing and editing on subjects pertaining to genealogy, and most recently working in various management capacities for a major genealogical publishing company.

Probably all of us who are involved in professional genealogy are asked at some point: "You mean you’ve actually made a career out of genealogy? How?" Every professional I interviewed for this article says they have been drawn to the career because they love the work–and because there is a high demand.

With the surging worldwide interest in family history, opportunities abound for anyone wishing to make money in the genealogical field. In a recent USA Today survey, 79.4% of respondents indicated they are extremely interested in learning more about their family tree–and someone has to show them how.

Following are ten ways in which well-known professionals are earning a living doing what they love. If you have the right skills or are interested in obtaining them, it is likely you can make money in the family history marketplace as well.

1. Conduct Genealogical Research for Others
Since good family history research is based on original records, and it is often cost-prohibitive to travel to each location where records were created, there will always be a market for researchers who have a solid knowledge of local sources. Maybe you have already hired someone to do this sort of work, but what’s stopping you from becoming a professional researcher yourself?

Roger Joslyn, CG, FUGA, FASG, has worked full-time as a genealogist since 1978. He began by establishing a research service with a few colleagues, but now he runs his own business working out of a home office.

"You can make a living at this," he says, "but you must be a very keen business person." Joslyn can command a higher fee because of his experience and because he is a Certified Genealogist (CG), a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association (FUGA), and a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists (FASG). Like most professional genealogists, clients find Joslyn listed on the Board for Certification (BCG) roster, and in the 1990-2000 Directory of Professional Genealogists (APG, 1999). Although he is on several other lists and rosters, Roger attributes a significant number of his clients to word-of-mouth references.

Kory Meyerink, MLS, is an Accredited Genealogist (AG) with twenty years of full-time experience in the field of family history. When he decided to make it a career, the Salt Lake City resident decided to become accredited first. He feels strongly that professional genealogists should judge themselves against the standards set by the accrediting and certifying institutions.

And, of course, there are different types of researchers. "If you specialize in a locality, no matter what your credentials are, you’re always going to be a record searcher," says Patricia Law Hatcher, CG, a Texas-based researcher, writer, instructor, and professional genealogist.

Hatcher suggests there are two kinds of professional genealogists–record searchers or problem solvers. She says a problem solver "focuses on the how instead of the where. But whether you are a record searcher or a problem solver, organizational skills are essential, and a client’s work should be organized electronically with the aid of computer software so that every detail can be entered and presented in a report."

2. Research for Asset Recovery Firms and Heir Tracers
For various reasons, some individuals lose touch with family members before their deaths, and their estates go unclaimed. Asset recovery firms try to find inheritors of these unclaimed funds. These firms regularly subcontract with family history researchers to help them find living individuals all over the world. In fact, asset recovery firms tend to do a tremendous amount of subcontracting since there is a limit to the research you can do from one city.

"We prove not only that the nearest relative or relatives have been found, but that they are the only surviving relatives,"says Suzanne McVetty, CG, an asset recovery tracer working in New York City. She works primarily with twentieth century records to find individuals who are usually unaware they have inherited unclaimed funds, stocks, bonds, or real estate. Using death certificates, more recent census schedules, city directories, phone books, probates, obituaries, land records, cemetery files and any other record that may divulge biographical information and prove relationships, she locates a decedent’s nearest living relative.

McVetty uses the APG Directory to locate genealogical researchers outside the city. Ancestry Family Historian’s Address Book can also be used to locate a researcher through a genealogical or historical society if the APG Directory does not have a listing for a particular area.

3.Conduct Biographical and Historical Research
Genealogists are often called on to conduct biographical and historical research. Communities, organizations, social historians, scientific agencies, geneticists, authors, and others are often in need of researchers for major and minor projects.

As an independent researcher, I worked on a variety of projects ranging anywhere from researching for the Mayo Clinic the family of a woman who was diagnosed with a rare hereditary disease to assisting a television scriptwriter document events in the life of a celebrity. I also located Native American ancestral records so an individual could qualify for minority status, and helped a landowner solve an ancient property ownership mystery. Volunteering at the National Archives in Chicago was a great opportunity to come in contact with individuals who needed any kind of research.

Brian Andersson, president of Ellis Island & Castle Garden Research, Inc. specializes in locating immigration documents. He has conducted family history research on literally hundreds of well-known personalities including Irving Berlin, Andrew Carnegie, Charlie Chaplin, Claudette Colbert, Walt Disney, Samuel Ellis (eighteenth century owner of Ellis Island), and Bela Lugosi.

4. Write Family History Articles and Books
With nearly thirty book publishing companies and four magazine publishers in the field, your chances of becoming a published writer are significant. Additionally, some general interest publishers will pay for a well-written guide or a feature article on genealogy. Vanity presses and self-publishing are other options that have worked for some genealogical writers. Writer’s Market: 4,200 Places to Sell What You Write is a good reference to use to get your work published.

"There are some tremendous new writing opportunities in writing for online publications," suggests Ancestry Daily News editor Juliana Smith. "With the explosion of data on the Internet, there is the accompanying need for articles on how to use genealogical information on the Web effectively."

The exposure authors get, particularly in magazine articles, can lead to bigger and better careers. Such was the case with former Ancestry Magazine columnist, Linda Swisher, whose work at Ancestry was the springboard for a full-time job as a newspaper journalist.

5. Enter the Publishing World
Being involved in Ancestry’s publishing department for several years has given me an interesting vantage point from which to observe the dramatic growth of interest in genealogy. I have seen the established genealogical book and magazine publishers maintain a healthy business, and I have watched new ones enter the scene. At least one new genealogy book published last year sold more than 200,000 copies in its first four months. There is no question, the demand is there.

With the expansion of genealogy in print, there will be an attendant demand for editors, copy editors, designers, marketers, and more who are necessary to publishing projects. While specific genealogical training is not required, it can be helpful in getting the job.

6. Lecture on Genealogical Topics
There are an estimated 2,000 genealogical societies in the United States, and all of them are looking for new faces with new topics to share with their membership. You can share your genealogical expertise by lecturing to these various groups.

Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, FUGA, who has been involved in family history in one way or another for the past twenty-four years, explains that her training as a presenter at Illinois Bell gave her an advantage when she began lecturing on genealogical topics. She is convinced that anyone who intends to take up genealogical lecturing ought to be sure they have taken a class in public speaking. She also recommends that you start with the "chicken dinner circuit"–various clubs such as the Lions and Rotarians, church groups, etc. "Once you have some experience in those areas," she says, "move on to speaking at local and state genealogical societies. Only after that should one submit papers for presentations at national conferences." Luebking averages seventy lectures a year, and has presented at almost every national conference.

"Good lecturing is based on thorough and well-documented research," says Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS. Mills did not become involved in genealogical lecturing by design, but rather evolved into it from tracing her husband’s Louisiana French and Spanish ancestry. In doing so she became proficient in that area which led to volunteer research opportunities. Eventually she became one of the most respected lecturers in the field.

7. Teach Genealogy Classes
There are growing numbers of people who are eager to begin their family history research but don’t know where to begin, and there are many professional researchers who are looking to sharpen their skills. Decide what topics you feel comfortable teaching and what type of audience would learn from what you have to offer, and develop your lesson plan from there.

"There is a big difference in lecturing and teaching. In lecturing, you can talk in generalities, but you have to provide details in teaching. Lesson design must be production oriented, and students must be able to do something when they leave. When the course is over, you must leave them with a skill, not just information. It is up to the instructor to enable students to perform. I really love teaching more than lecturing, but it’s a lot harder," says Sandra Luebking. She currently teaches at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Samford University and is the intermediate course coordinator for the MidAmerica Genealogical Institute.

8. Become a Genealogy Supplies Vendor
Beyond the big-name producers and distributors of genealogical software and books, there is a number of small "mom and pop" genealogical vending companies, as well as individuals who work on a sales commission basis. By the looks of it, genealogical vendors are doing a brisk business. My mailbox is always filled with genealogical catalogs and new book announcements–many of which come from relatively small companies. While a few genealogical vendors, such as Ancestry.com, have online stores where a full-range of genealogical products are offered, many continue in the traditional manner of selling books at conferences and through mail order catalogs.

Karen Green, who started Frontier Press when she wrote her first book in 1982, attributes most of her success to the fact that, while carrying many genealogical guidebooks, she also carries a large number of social histories. Green recognizes the need to carry information that detail both family history research and an ancestor’s environment.

The Family History Discovery Shoppe, located in downtown Salt Lake City, is a newcomer in this field. In addition to selling a traditional line of genealogy books and supplies, the owners have added appeal by providing a lounge area–much like other bookstores are doing these days–as well as meeting rooms and genealogy classes.

The multicultural appeal of genealogy and family history is most apparent, however, at national genealogical conferences where it isn’t uncommon to have two hundred vendors selling remarkably diverse materials that family historians need to conduct research efficiently.

9. Work as an Archivist, Librarian, or Society Administrator
Most archivists, librarians, and society administrators did not enter their chosen career tracks with the intention of serving genealogists. There are, however, unique opportunities in these areas for those with genealogical skills.

Constance Potter, whose official title at the National Archives and Records Administration is "Genealogy Expert," worked for several years out of the National Archives in Washington as freelance researcher and writer. She specialized in military searches, and placed an ad in the Genealogical Helper to generate business. Later she took a part time job with the National Archives, writing and editing catalogs. Those experiences prepared her for her full-time job that came when she "was in the right place, at the right time, with the right credentials."

"The best archivists and genealogical reference librarians are those who are interested in research, in history, in solving problems, and who work well with people," says John Scroggins, who recently retired from thirty-five years of management at the National Archives.

He adds, "While most archivists, whether at NARA or at the state or local level, would not admit to it, many depend on the genealogy traffic to justify their existence." Because ninety percent of those who use the Archives are family historians, the National Archives has enjoyed a great deal of publicity with the recent media focus on genealogy.

Scroggins also notes that many of the volunteers in archives are professional genealogists. Some do research for others as an outgrowth of their volunteer work, while others begin to volunteer both as a way of learning more about the resources available and as a way of becoming better known.

Rhonda Frevert, recently named Curator of Local and Family History at the Newberry Library in Chicago, says it was her volunteer work with genealogists in historical societies that led her to pursue a career in librarianship.

A number of state, local, and even specialized genealogical societies have paid management positions. For example, the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania is currently seeking "a self-motivated individual of vision to lead the Society as executive director."

10. Contribute to Database Compilation Projects
"Anyone who wishes to be successful in the genealogical business arena should immerse themselves in as many aspects of the field as possible," says Jake Gehring, a professional genealogist, lecturer, and writer. Computers and the Internet continue to expand the opportunities for family historians. Gehring says the greatest need genealogists have is access to databases–and there is money to be earned in compiling them. He suggests Ancestry.com’s Partner program as a viable means to accomplish that.

Dick Eastman, whose Online Genealogy Newsletter goes out weekly to thousands of readers, is perhaps one of the best-known computer genealogists. He agrees that the real growth will be in developing mega-databases.

"Of course it will be tough for anyone to go up against the already-established sites," Eastman warns, "but a company that can partner with archives, and libraries, and organizations will probably do pretty well. Also, there is need for biographical databases online, where individuals could add on. The ability to collectively build biographies online would be great."

Matthew Helm, co-author of Genealogy Online for Dummies, and co-editor of Genealogical Computing agrees. He says, "The greatest area of growth will be in digitization of sources. Databases are great, but there’s nothing like getting to see the actual document. People want to be able to see a real census page, a passenger list, military record, old newspaper, and parish register. Just think of what’s in the U.S. National Archives alone, then think beyond that to records around the globe that could be digitized. That’s where the real growth is going to be."

"There’s always a new technology around the corner," concludes Matthew Helm, "and that means someone is going to make some money on it."

With some creative thinking, you might discover the next big revolution for family historians. Ultimately, how much money can be made seems to depend on where you live, what kind of skills you have, and how you market those skills. But the money is out there, if you want to go for it.