Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristine Lyon
Hi Kristine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It was fifteen years ago that I first experienced the passing of a grandparent. My maternal grandfather died just weeks after I’d delivered my second child. We lived several states away from my grandparents, so my grandfather and my second son never met. I remember sobbing in the shower as I bemoaned the fact that my children would never know my grandfather’s wit or pick peas from his garden. Then, the realization hit me: I was a connecting link in my family chain. I could preserve and pass on memories of my grandfather and others I had known, but my children never would.
My grandpa had been a storyteller, and regrettably, I never thought to pull out a recording device or ask him to write his stories down while he was alive. As I set off to put down his stories before they left my memory, I encountered questions about our family. For example, my grandpa had always spoken with great tenderness of his Grandma Andersen. A rich biography of photos and stories about Grandma Andersen’s mother had been written. However, certain records contradicted others. The biography named this ancestress’ father Joseph Wilhelm Petersen; her marriage record said her father was Peter Wilhelmsen; her birth record said she was illegitimate and named no father at all! Which was I to believe??
I wanted to employ best practices in documenting my family’s history, so I learned all I could about record sets, methodology, analysis, and writing. In April 2022, I earned an AAS degree in Family History Research from Brigham Young University-Idaho. That program gave me a firm foundation in the principles of good genealogy research. However, I wanted greater confidence in my level of competency. I prepared a portfolio of work samples for review by the nationally recognized certifying body, the Board for Certification of Genealogists. In December 2023, I was informed that my portfolio submission met BCG’s high standards.
I have discovered that many people want to know more about their family history. As I shared my educational goals with people close to me, some of my neighbors and childhood friends confided that they had lifelong questions about who their biological family was. Through my efforts, they connected with family members they’d never known. I also interned for a nonprofit organization, Olive Branch Connections, whose vision is to help individuals in homeless shelters know their ancestral stories and gain a greater sense of self-identity and resiliency. These experiences formed a strong desire within me to always make room for pro bono work and volunteering.
Of course, life does mean incurring costs. In January 2024, I opened my business doors. Connect the Dots Genealogy is a single-member LLC. It’s just me declaring myself available to do genealogy research and coaching for paying clients. I have tried to set my fees at a modest rate because I wish these services to be within everyone’s grasp. I have had positive feedback from individual clients and have also done freelance work for the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
In every situation, I consider it an honor to help someone connect to their past and/or present family. Nothing excites me more or has been more rewarding than touching lives in this way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Marketing is not my strong suit. I have dabbled in blogging and created a Facebook profile for my business, but I struggle with social media. My strengths lie in efficient, accurate research and coherently explaining historical and genealogical data to genealogists and non-genealogists alike.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My mission is to connect individuals to their past and present families.
I offer potential new clients a free one-hour consultation via video chat. In this chat, we discuss what the client already knows about their genealogy, research goals, budget, and desired end product. Meeting in this way helps us both gauge whether we’re a good fit. If my personality and skills do not meet the client’s needs, I will refer them to another genealogist who I think would better suit their project.
Most of my documentary research has been in the United States, particularly the Midwest, Germany and former German provinces, and Sweden and Norway. As stated previously, I have also helped people with unknown parentage identify their biological family with DNA evidence. I am fairly proficient in reading old German scripts, and also very familiar with US military records. I love mining old newspapers for stories and visiting cemeteries and courthouses.
Every individual and family is unique, so I tailor every project to their unique needs. Some clients want just hard facts, while others want stories and photos. Summary reports, pedigree charts, narratives, activities for kids and teens, and more are all in my wheelhouse.
Of course, some things are consistent across all projects. Chief among these are my commitment to accuracy and client privacy. Clients trust me with their families, relationships, and identities, and I recognize that is no small thing. I have pledged to adhere to the Genealogist’s Code of Ethics (published by the Board for Certification of Genealogists) and will keep that promise to protect my clients and the profession.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Sunday dinner in my grandparents’ home meant comfort food: pot roast with mashed potatoes or homemade macaroni and cheese with Grandma’s bread to sop up the rich milky sauce. And always, a sweet ending of pie.
Sunday dinner also meant cousins becoming reacquainted at the Kids’ Table while aunts and uncles discussed politics at the Adults’ Table. In the after-meal time, most of the kids scattered to play games here or there, taking their volume with them. But I chewed slowly and lingered, leaning in my chair to hear the conversation at the now quieter Adults’ Table. I knew that was when my usually stoic grandpa transformed into a Storyteller.
One of his adult children prodded with a query such as, “Whatever happened to our crazy neighbor?” or “Was the quilt made by Gramma Petersen or Gramma Christensen? I can’t remember.”
Grandpa closed his eyes as he returned to the past, seeing people long gone. The answer to the first question might necessitate some background information, so one story became two. Warmed up then, he wouldn’t even need another question to prompt the telling of stories three and four. Many of the stories were funny, or Grandpa’s wry humor gave them a humorous twist.
Those moments were magical. After Sunday dinner, Grandpa’s memories became my history. He explained who I came from, and who we were as a family. Those tales of triumph and tragedy embedded strength in the very fibers of my being. Those connections to my ancestors shaped my identity.
Sunday dinner created a genealogist heart in me.
Pricing:
- $50/hour Genealogy Research Services
- $75/hour Genealogy Research Coaching
- Pricing for record Lookups and other custom services negotiated on a per-project basis
- Details regarding pro bono services can be found on my website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://connectthedotsgenealogy.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067381217396
- Other: https://bcgcertification.org/directory/lyon-kristine-hyatt
Image Credits
Personal photo by Megan Ruff Photography
