Directory of Members

Kate is a former professional investigator turned genealogist who specializes in Pennsylvania research. She is the owner of Family History Investigations LLC, where she helps clients uncover, document, and understand their family stories. She has held the Certified Genealogist® credential since February 2024.

Kate is a frequent national and regional speaker, presenting for genealogical societies, libraries, and conferences, including the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Family History Conference, New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, and RootsTech. She has served on the faculty and as co-course coordinator for the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh and has contributed research for the PBS television series Finding Your Roots.

Although Kate has been working on her own family history since she was sixteen, her interest in investigating and researching on a professional level was piqued when she served as an Archives Technician at the National Archives and Records Administration ("NARA") while completing her undergraduate studies. She worked as a resource for both amateur and professional genealogical researchers, assisting them in conducting archival records research.

Certified Genealogist® credential

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

Kate started her career as an investigator fighting financial crime. Learn how to apply the skills she developed investigating fraud, money laundering, and high-net-worth individuals to your genealogical research pursuits.

*A version of this presentation geared towards professionals in the forensic field of genealogy is also available.

A Guide to Pennsylvania Court Records Research

Have you researched your Pennsylvania ancestors, but have never delved into court records research? Learn how you might find anything from a probate file to the criminal records of your ancestors in the Commonwealth.

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

Whether you're a newbie or you consider yourself an old pro, there is always more to learn on Ancestry.com. Develop an understanding of how Ancestry.com works, so that you can better utilize search features, mitigate problems, and prevent yourself from crawling up the wrong branch of your family tree.

Beyond the Computer Screen: Planning for Repository Visits

If most of your genealogical research is conducted in your pajamas, it's time to venture to the repository. Learn how to prepare for this adventure.

Charting Out the Company Town: Understanding Coal Industry Communities

Many individuals who worked in coal mines lived in towns that the coal company either owned completely or partially. Learn what it was like to live in a company town, and more about them through case studies.

Court Records Research Without the Law Degree

Court records are an underutilized resource for genealogical research. Discover how to explore courthouses (no law degree required) to find records involving your ancestors.

Crossing the Pond to England and Wales

Discover how to research your English and Welsh ancestors without leaving the United States. A discussion of how to get started researching within parish, vital, census, probate, and more will help you get started!

Family Narrative Lineage Projects Demystified

Instead of being intimidated, have tools at your disposal to succeed at writing a family narrative lineage project. Learn steps, techniques, and guidance on how to systematically gather evidence, organize, and write a family narrative lineage project.

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

Get into the habit of "following the records." Often, if you find one record, it leads to something else. Learn about some common examples of how following clues in record sets can lead you to more information.

Introduction to Coal Mine Immigration Records

Much of the workforce that mined coal in the United States were immigrants. Learn who came to work in the coal mines and what records they might have left behind on their journeys to the United States and to become (or not become) United States citizens.

Italian Immigrant Ancestors: Following the Community's Migration

Just as Italians thrived through a network of friends and family in Italy, it is pretty common to see this community pervasive in aspects of their lives in the United States. Through case studies, explore how Italians may have migrated to and within the United States, utilizing the communities they established.

Lessons Learned: A Cautionary Tale of Common Genealogical Mistakes

As a beginner, Kate climbed up the wrong branch of her family tree. Learn techniques (with antidotes) to avoid the error of her (old) ways and understand the Genealogical Proof Standard.

Neighborhood Reconstruction – Using Maps to Build Mining Communities

Mining communities were often established based on the discovery of a coal seam in a region. Once the seam was exhausted, the communities died or shifted their industry. Discover the various types of maps available to help reimagine these communities during the peak of their involvement in the coal industry.

Organizing and Preserving Your Personal Archive

Do you have photographs, documents, and other family artifacts that need to be organized and properly stored? Learn some strategies for preserving these items, both physically and virtually, for future generations.

Pittsburgh Genealogy 101: A Guide to Researching in the Steel City

Have you dabbled in genealogical research for your Pittsburgh ancestors? Do you think there might be more records out there, but you don't know where or how to find them? Learn what is available both online and offline.

Planning and Organizing Research Findings for Tough Problems

Discuss how to plan and organize your research findings when encountering tough research problems or projects. Research plans, research logs, and systems to organize research findings will be discussed to assist you with difficult research pursuits.

Researching Your Steelworker Ancestors

Did your ancestor(s) work in the steel industry? Research strategies and how to identify records, including employment files, union records, photographs, and company newsletters, will be shared so that you can get started pursuing these records.

Stop the Presses! Incorporating Newspaper Records into Your Research

Newspaper records are not just useful for identifying the obituaries of your ancestors. Learn about an additional level of information that might exist, as well as where and how to find it.

Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your Genealogical Search Net

Are you utilizing search techniques to their potential? Do you know what "Boolean" means? Learn how to optimize your searches to find new genealogical treasures.

Tracking Your Ancestors Through Time: Utilizing Timelines to Enhance Your Research

Do you need a new research tool in your wheelhouse to help with a research question and/or give you a better understanding of your ancestor(s)? Discover how a timeline can provide a deeper understanding of your ancestor's life and their relationships.

Unlocking the Keystone State

Do you have ancestors who hail from the Keystone State? If so, it's time to learn about Pennsylvania's records and repositories.

United States Immigration Records: A Primer

Learn about the records that your immigration ancestors might have left on their journeys to the United States and on their journeys to become (or not) United States citizens.

Writing Clear and Concise Client Reports for Yourself and Others

Kate has written hundreds (if not thousands) of client reports as both an investigator and genealogist. Learn best practices for structure, format, and writing to write client reports that your clients will want to read.

Kate is happy to speak to your society or organization in-person or virtually.

November 15, 2025 - Fairfax Genealogical Society (Fairfax, Virginia)

Immigration Ancestor Round Up

November 6, 2025 - Mary S. Biesecker Public Library (Somerset, Pennsylvania)

Lessons Learned: A Cautionary Tale of Common Genealogical Mistakes

October 28, 2025 - Glendora Genealogical Group (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

October 21, 2025 - Conejo Valley Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

September 30, 2025 - Penn Area Library (Harrison City, Pennsylvania)

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

September 20, 2025 - New Hampshire Society of Genealogists (Virtual)

United States Immigration Records: A Primer

September 15, 2025 - Mount Lebanon Genealogical Society (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

August 12, 2025 - John Heinz History Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Blue Collar Ancestry: Tracing Your Steelworker Ancestor

July 13, 2025 to July 18, 2025 - Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Lectures in Mining and Extraction: Building Skills with the Coal Industry with Cecelia McFadden, MISM, M.Ed.

July 9, 2025 - Anne Arundel Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

April 24, 2025 - Association of Professional Genealogists (Virtual)

Writing Clear and Concise Client Reports

March 29, 2025 - Polk County History Center & Genealogical Library (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

January 15, 2025 - New Jersey Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Beyond the Computer Screen: Planning for Repository Visits

January 9, 2025 - Mainline Genealogy Club (Virtual)

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

December 7, 2024 - Southern California Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Unlocking the Keystone State

December 4, 2024 - Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc. (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

June 21, 2024 to June 22, 2024 - WPGS 50th Anniversary Celebration (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

A Guide to Western Pennsylvania Court Records Research

Pittsburgh Genealogy 101: A Guide to Researching in the Steel City

May 13, 2024 - Central Georgia Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

April 27, 2024 - Midwest Genealogy Center (Virtual)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

March 11, 2024 - Ashtabula Public Library (Virtual)

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

March 7, 2024 - Loutit District Library (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

February 29, 2024 to March 2, 2024 - RootsTech (Salt Lake City, Utah)

A Beginner's Guide to Family History Books

February 26, 2024 - Mount Lebanon Genealogical Society (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

February 21, 2024 - Southern California Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

January 29, 2024 - Encore on the Lake (Canonsburg, Pennsylvania)

So, You Want to Know More About Your Family History?

November 28, 2023 - Glendora Genealogical Group (Virtual)

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

November 2, 2023 - Avon Lake Public Library (Virtual)

Tracking Your Ancestors Using Timelines to Enhance Your Research

October 28, 2023 - Cleveland Public Library (Cleveland, Ohio)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

October 9, 2023 - Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

August 19, 2023 - Clark County Nevada Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

August 15, 2023 - Kentucky Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Unlocking the Keystone State

August 12, 2023 - North East Ohio Computer Assisted Genealogy Group (Virtual)

Stop the Presses! Incorporating Newspaper Records into Your Research

June 10, 2023 - American-Canadian Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

June 2, 2023, to June 3, 2023 - National Genealogical Society (NGS) Family History Conference (Richmond, Virginia)

A Beginner's Guide to Family History Books

Beyond the Computer Screen: Planning for Repository Visits

May 16, 2023 - Allen County Public Library (Virtual)

Court Records Research without the Law Degree

May 6, 2023 - New England Regional Genealogical Consortium (NERGC) (Springfield, Massachusetts)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Forensic Genealogy

April 28, 2023, to April 29, 2023 - Ohio Genealogical Society Annual Conference (Sandusky, Ohio)

Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com

Tracking Your Ancestors: Utilizing Timeline to Enhance Your Research

Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your Genealogical Search Net

April 10, 2023 - Ashtabula County Genealogy Society (Virtual)

England and Wales Vital Records Research 101

March 23, 2023 - We Are Cousins Conference (Virtual)

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

March 18, 2023 - Whittier Area Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

March 8, 2023 - 3M Genealogy Club (Virtual)

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

January 24, 2023 - Wake County Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

November 15, 2022 - Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (Virtual)

It's NOT just about your Ancestors! Preserving your Family History

November 12, 2022 - Virtual Genealogical Association (Virtual)

Tracking Your Ancestors through Time: Utilizing Timelines to Enhance Your Research

October 17, 2022 - Mt. Lebanon Genealogical Society (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Pittsburgh Genealogy 101: A Guide to Researching in the Steel City

September 25, 2022 - We Are Cousins Virtual Conference (Virtual)

Lessons Learned: A Cautionary Tale of Common Genealogical Mistakes

July 25, 2022 - Salem Public Library (Salem, Ohio)

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

June 9, 2022 - Main Line Genealogy Club (Virtual)

England and Wales Vital Records Research 101

May 16, 2022 - North Hills Genealogists (Virtual)

Pittsburgh Genealogy 101: A Guide to Researching in the Steel City

May 13, 2022 - Heartland Family History Conference (Topeka, Kansas)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

April 30, 2022 - Central New York Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

April 20, 2022 - The Genealogical Society of New Jersey (Virtual)

Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your Genealogical Search Net

March 3-5, 2022 - RootsTech Connection 2022 (Virtual)

Social Media as Family History and Bringing New Life to Old Film

February 7, 2022 - East Cuyahoga County Genealogical Society (Virtual)

Follow the Records and See Where They Go!

January 25, 2022 - Association of Professional Genealogists Forensic Special Interest Group (Virtual)

Applying Investigative Skills from the Financial Crime World to Genealogy

December 12, 2021 -"KNOWbodies: Knowledge Through Perspective" at the Lauri Ann West Community Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

So You Want to Know About Your Family History?

October 20, 2021 - Centre County Library and Historical Museum (Virtual)

Lessons Learned: A Cautionary Tale of Common Genealogical Mistakes