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, MSc, CG, AG, QG

I adhere to:

The Association of Professional Genealogists Code of Ethics

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists Code of Ethics

The Board for

Certification of Genealogists

Code of Ethics and Standards

The National Genealogical Society’s

Genealogy Guidelines

Register of Qualified Genealogists

Professional Code

Deed books, Howard County Courthouse

St. Paul, Nebraska

2023 Minnesota Genealogical Society Ambassador Award

2023 Recipient

Minnesota Genealogy Society Ambassador Award

Professional postnominals

MSc: Master of Science (with Distinction) in Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

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

AG: Accredited Genealogist® specializing in Scotland research, issued by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists, Salt Lake City, Utah

QG: Qualified Genealogist per advanced post-graduate degree, Register of Qualified Genealogists, United Kingdom

In addition to client work

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

• Board of Directors, 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)

Additional education and training

Education Program Certificates: Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate; ProGen Study Group Certificate.

Collection-based Certificates: Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) Certificate.

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); Proving Your Pedigree with DNA (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

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

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)
Scottish Genealogy Society (UK)
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

The best way to reach me is through the form below; I'll do my best to respond the same day, or following business day.

ALL FIELDS ARE REQUIRED

The Baxter sibs: Gian, Greg, me…

…and footie pajamas. Best. Invention. Ever.

1. Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, Third Edition (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2015), sect. 1.5, p. 18-19.

Certified Genealogist and CG are registered trademarks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® (BCG), used under license by Board certificants who meet competency standards. Accredited Genealogist® and AG® are registered marks and the sole property of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen), used with permission by applicants who meet competency standards.