Amy Coffin

Amy Coffin, MLIS, draws on her library experience and education in order to find the best options for research, communication, organization and storage of genealogical information. She is the author of "Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog: 52 Ideas, 52 Weeks" and the popular "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" series. When she's not doing research for clients, Amy chronicles her own genealogy adventures on her We Tree blog which was named one of Family Tree Magazine's 40 Best Genealogy Blogs.

Articles by this author

• Genealogy Resources in Texas
• Genealogy Research In Special Collections
• Genealogy Resources At The Public Library

"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage—to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness." ---Alex Haley

The integration of technology and research really piques my interest. The Internet doesn't provide all of the answers to our genealogical questions, but it can be leveraged to connect with those who do. I enjoy showing others how to use social networking tools, online media, databases and Web-searching tricks to maximize their genealogy experiences. In my work, I utilize all of these tools to research our ancestors, converse with those who may have answers to my questions and tell the stories of the past.

When my family went through the process of becoming citizens in the Chickasaw Nation, I was surprised to find out that one of my ancestral lines had an extensive history in Arkansas instead of Oklahoma as I had always been told. At the time, I had no interest in genealogy, but the new development got me curious, so I did a little research. This in turn led to more questions, which led to more answers, which led to more questions... It's the classic never-ending cycle to which all genealogists can relate.

When I moved to Texas, I thought I was the first person in my family to do so. In pursuing my own ancestors' history I've learned that they've been here since statehood.

Honestly? I find the stories of "regular" folks to be the most fascinating tales. Give me the opportunity to research and preserve the stories of our less famous ancestors and I'll show you the real historical greats of our past.