Jennifer Patterson Dondero — Professional Genealogist
U.S. Genealogy Research
Ready to hand off your family history research? You're in the right place.
Professional genealogy research — bring what you know, I'll take it from there.
You know what you want. Answers to your family history mysteries.
Now you're ready to find a professional with the experience to handle them.
You're not just hiring a researcher.
You're hiring 30 years of knowing where to look.
Professional genealogy requires more than time and an online subscription. It requires knowing which records exist, where they're held, how to read them, and how to reason through conflicting evidence — skills that take decades to develop.
I'm Jennifer Patterson Dondero — a genealogist for 30+ years, professional since 2008. I specialize in two things: Southern research, where I know these records the way you only can when your own family is in them, and complex multi-location projects, where managing the research strategically is as important as the research itself.
Answers grounded in evidence —
not guesses dressed up as facts.
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A clearly defined research question
We establish exactly what you're trying to find before work begins.
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Research in primary sources
Original records — not transcriptions of transcriptions.
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Honest reporting
You'll know what I found, what I didn't find, and what it means either way.
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A written research report
Full source citations, analysis of conflicting evidence, and recommendations for next steps.
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Monthly progress updates
You're kept informed throughout — without being asked to do anything.
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Findings that are yours to keep
You hand over what you know. I take it from there. The findings are yours to keep, build on, and share.
Professional genealogy research is an investment.
Here's what that looks like.
One of the most common reasons people don't reach out is not knowing what professional research costs. A full-research project starts at $3,000.
Enter your email for more details. When the confirmation appears, click the button to learn more, including a short form where you can tell me about your project so I can let you know if I'm the right fit.
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