Directory of Members

Linda Coffin's background in graphic design and writing, combined with her love of genealogy research, has led her into a career as a personal historian. Her business, HistoryCrafters, helps people turn their research, family stories, and personal memoirs into books that can be shared with both family and the general public.

Ohio Humanities Council, Oral History Institute, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, 2008
National Genealogical Society, American Genealogy correspondence course, completed 2005

Minnesota Genealogy Ambassador Award, Minnesota Genealogical Society, October 2014
Association of Personal Historians, Executive Director 2012-2017, Education Chair 2010-2012, Publications Chair 2006-2010
International Society for Family History Writers and Editors, Excellence in Writing award for "Great-Uncle Andrew: The Murderer in the Family Closet," 2009

• Turning genealogy research charts and tables into compelling narratives
• Quaker research
• Minnesota history

• Adding Leaves and Flowers to the Branches of Your Family Tree: Ideas for adding social history and background to your research charts and tables, to capture the flavor of the times in which your ancestors lived.
• Techniques for Writing Your Family History: Ideas for turning your research charts and tables into a compelling narrative that your family will actually read.
• Book Design and Production for Family History Writers: How to design and produce a lovely book that will do justice to your research.
• Those Quirky Quakers: Interpreting Their Records Correctly: The Quakers use unique terminology and have distinct social patterns that often result in their records being misunderstood. This workshop will explain those unique patterns so that your research into your Quaker ancestors is more accurate and clear.
• Adding Social History to Your Family Stories: Make your genealogy research come alive by adding background information on the times in which your ancestors lived. This workshop will discuss social history topics and present resources for further reading and research.

My speaking topics are flexible and can be adapted to the needs of your group. Printed handouts can be made available if you wish. My workshops range from 1 hour to 1 full day in length, and can also be set up as a workshop series (one hour per week for eight weeks, for example). I have my own digital projector, but I am willing to use yours as well.

St. Cloud Area (MN) Genealogists, virtual presentation, "Adding Leaves & Flowers to the Branches of Your Family Tree," November 2022

Central New Jersey Genealogy Club, virtual presentation, "Those Wonderful (and Pesky) Quaker Records," July 2022

National Genealogical Society, presentations at national conferences 2012, 2013, and 2014
Federation of Genealogical Societies, presentations at national conference 2015
Association of Personal Historians, presentations at annual conferences 2007-2016
Minnesota Genealogical Society, presentations at annual North Star Conference 2005-2016
Hennepin County Public Library, presentations at Family History Fairs 2010-2016