About

nebraska_sunset_copyrightCindaBaxter_allrightsreserved

Determined to learn where the first Baxter came from, I began chasing those twitchy little leaves, like everybody else. Before long, visits to the Scottish Borders and Lowlands (then later, throughout the U.S. and England) were the norm, rooting through archives, libraries, graveyards, local history societies, courthouses, and any other place that might have even a tiny scrap of our family story. My adoration for research, complexity, and discovery found a new purpose…and it was genealogical research.

From traditional "paper trail" investigation to DNA analysis, my formal genealogical education has been built around a desire to help others who crave knowledge about their heritage, while holding myself to the highest possible standards:¹

You deserve more than shaky leaves, pie charts, and bar graphs.

• “Family history standards require a higher level of proof than does most litigation."
• “Modern standards for family history also require more precision and rigor than commonly applied in the social sciences."
• “Standards of proof for family history are more akin to standards in the hard sciences, where repeated experiments will expose errors."
• “Genealogy accepts no margin of error."

Don't be intimidated. Don't be overwhelmed. All you have to do is reach out, and ask for help from someone who knows the ropes.

I look forward to discovering your story.

Cinda Baxter, Certified Genealogist®

As a holder of the

Certified Genealogist credential,

I adhere to:

The Association of Professional Genealogists Code of Ethics

The Board for

Certification of Genealogists

Code of Ethics and Standards

The National Genealogical Society’s

Genealogy Guidelines

The Genetic Genealogy Standards

as approved by the

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Deed books, Howard County Courthouse

St. Paul, Nebraska

Professional accreditation

Board Certified Genealogist® (certificate no. 1121), issued by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, Washington, D.C.

Post-Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

In addition to client work

Assistant Director, Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed)

Director, Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)

Previous positions:

• Website Coordinator, Board for Certification of Genealogists

• Virtual Technical Coordinator, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

• Academic Professional/Module Facilitator, Boston University:

• Genealogical Research Certificate Program

• Genealogical Principles Course

• Mentor, ProGen Study Groups (ProGen 53)

Education and training

In addition to state, county, and local repositories:

• The National Archives, Washington D.C.
• Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
• DAR Research Library and Seimes Technology Center, Washington D.C.
• The Newberry Library Manuscript Collection, Chicago
• The Chicago History Museum Manuscript Collection, Chicago
• The National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh
• Regional Scotland archives in The Borders, Hawick, and Dumfrieshire
• Regional England archives in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Cumberland

Memberships

• University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland) masters program: Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies, currently in dissertation phase
• Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate
• Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) Certificate
• ProGen Study Group Certificate (ProGen 38)

Genetic Genealogy Certificates: Genealogical Genetics (Excelsior College); Genetic Genealogical Tools (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, IGHR); Chromosome Mapping (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, GRIP); All-DNA Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum (Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, SLIG).

Methodology Certificates: Practicum in Advanced Genealogical Research (Excelsior College); Mastering Genealogical Documentation (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, GRIP); Advanced Genealogical Methods (Salt Lake City Institute of Genealogy, SLIG); Advanced Research: Land Records (SLIG); Law School for Genealogists (GRIP); Fundamentals of Forensic Genealogy (SLIG Academy); Scottish Research: Fundamentals and Beyond (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, IGHR); Finding English Ancestors (IGHR); Ireland and Northern Ireland Genealogical Research (GRIP); and Women and Children First (GRIP); Virginia—Her Records and Her Laws (IGHR).

Research experience

• Association of Professional Genealogists (US)
• APG Forensic Genealogy Special Interest Group (US)
• National Genealogical Society (US)
• New England Historic and Genealogical Society (US)
• Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R., US)
• Utah Genealogical Association (US)
• Minnesota Genealogical Society (US)
• Seattle Genealogical Society (US)
• Howard County [Nebraska] Historical Society (US)
• Society of Genealogists (UK)
• Register of Qualified Genealogists (UK)
• The Borders Family History Society (Scotland)
• Dumfries and Galloway Family History Society (Scotland)
• Cumbria Family History Society (England)
• Nottinghamshire Family History Society (England)

Headstones lining the walkway to the church

St. Helen’s, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, England