The GenMentor Assistance Program

Our Mission: to support genealogists with personal, hands-on research assistance

So you’re interested in genealogy and have found a few ancestors. Maybe you’ve taken some classes. But now what do you do? Feel stuck? Up against a brick wall? Make an appointment to consult with an experienced PPGS volunteer. E-mail one of the GenMentors listed below to arrange an appointment time at Special Collections, Penrose Library, or a branch library of your mutual choosing. Bring your information, and let’s take a look at where your ancestors may be hiding.

GenMentors don't promise to solve problems, but we can suggest other places to look. After all, two heads are better than one! Please note that GenMentors will not do research for you but will help you learn how to do the research for yourself. If you're needing someone to do local research for you see the Research Help page.

If you’d like to be a GenMentor, let us know. We’re always looking for experienced genealogists to help others know the joy of discovering their ancestry.

Point of Contact for GenMentors: Nancy Wehner

 

PPGS GenMentor Volunteers
 
 Elaine Fraser
 
  Experience: Italy, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Massachusetts, Volga Germans who settled in Kansas, Find-a-Grave.
 
  Interests: I enjoy researching the history of the places my ancestors came from and settled into as well as the timeframe
that they lived in, to get a better historical perspective of their lives. I belong to the Italian Research Group (IRG) in Denver and the Italian Interest Group (IIG) of the Eastside Genealogical Society.
 
Heritage: One third Italian, one third English/Irish/Scottish, with a little French and Greek thrown in. All my ancestors were rather recent immigrants to Massachusetts (between 1880-1910).
 
Notes: I know enough French and Italian to translate most birth, marriage, and death records, even though I am not fluent in either language. On the Italian side, I have given a presentation on “Researching Italian Records,” "How to Use the Il Portale Antenati," and "Call to Colors: A Brief History of Italians in America During World War I." I have been presenting a three-hour class on how to use Find-a-Grave since 2021. 
 
Genealogy Software Used: Excel spreadsheets. I like the versatility of the format, which allows me to customize forms that would otherwise be standardized. I have created pedigree charts, family group sheets, a source documents tracking sheet, and a Find-a-Grave edit sheet, which I am more than willing to share with anyone who is interested.
 
 
 
Linda Pearce

Experience: Morayshire, Scotland.

Interests: Ancestry.com and any other online database available at Special Collections.

Notes: Restoring old photographs; interested in helping beginners and/or people with limited computer skills start their tree.

Genealogy Software Used: Family History Tree (LDS genealogy), Ancestry.com, Family Tree Maker.

Email: Linda Pearce

 

John Putnam

John's GenMentor PowerPoint, March 2022

Experience: Massachusetts, New England, Virginia, Missouri, Oklahoma, California, Illinois, Ohio; English genealogy, Eastern European Jewish genealogy, German genealogy, and Scandinavian genealogy.

Interests: Besides interests in genealogy, he is fascinated with the corresponding history in which his ancestors lved, e.g.  John is a 12th-generation American who was born and raised in Massachusetts as were the preceding 11 generations. Besides interests in genealogy, he is fascinated with the corresponding history in which his ancestors lived, e.g., the Salem Witchcraft Trials, the Revolutionary War, and the various other life experiences of New Englanders from its founding until 1970 when John first moved to Colorado.

Nativity: Greater Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

Heritage: Virtually of all my ancestors immigrated from England.  According to his Ancestry DNA ethnicity test results, his English ancestry is overpowered by Western European and Scandinavian roots.  Probably validates his Norman heritage prior to 1066 and likely Viking heritage from the middle ages.

Notes: John is a 12th Generation American who was born and raised in Massachusetts as were the preceeding 11 Generations.  John looks forward to discovering more about your ancestry and any common connections that he may have to you.  John also has done some autosomal DNA testing and has found amazing ancestral connections using that tool.

Genealogy Software Used: Family Tree Maker

Email: John Putnam

 

Linda Vixie

Experience: More than 30 years' experience in American, Colorado, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and German genealogy. I'm a member of the PPGS DNA SIG and manage many tests at Ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and GEDmatch.  

Interests: American sources, online research, obituaries, finding info on living people, adoption/NPE searches, DNA.

Heritage: Danish, Finnish, German, English, Dutch, French Huguenot, Colonial America, Quaker.

Notes: I have an Ancestry.com subscription and a Publishers Extra Newspapers.com subscription and can check old newspapers for obituaries, etc. NGS member.

Genealogy Software Used: The Master Genealogist, Family Tree Maker.

Email: Linda Vixie

 
 
Nancy Niles Wehner, PhD, CG
  
Experience:  I have 35 years of experience in American genealogy concentrated heavily in IA, MO, VT, OH, and MA, but which has touched at least lightly on almost every state and some Canadian provinces. For the last seven years, I have been using DNA testing (Y-DNA, mtDNA, and atDNA) to help confirm family lines and break down brick walls.
 
Interests: I am particularly interested in document analysis to get the most out of everything I find, writing solid proof arguments, and family stories, old diaries (I transcribe and research the families even when they aren’t mine), and teaching.
 
Nativity: ​Iowa
 
Heritage: English, German, Danish, Welsh
 
Notes: Board for Certification of Genealogists: No. 1068, 5 March 2016; Family Search indexer; four genealogy publications (NGSQ, MGS Magazine, MO State Gen. Assoc., NYG&BR).
 
Genealogy Software Used: ​RootsMagic
 
​Email: ​Nancy Wehner
 
 
Melody Gladen Wilson
Experience: I have used DNA to discover information about unknown parentage for many people in the United States for several years. I am patient and nonjudgmental. I have given presentations about genetic genealogy to PILLAR Institute, the PPGS DNA SIG, and the Valusia County Genealogical Society in Florida.
 
Interests: I enjoy using technology to grow family trees. I volunteer as a Search Angel. It is very rewarding to help others find relatives using their DNA.
 
Heritage: My ancestors immigrated from Germany in the 1800s and settled in Michigan and Ohio. 
 
Notes: I have taken the AncestryDNA and 23andMe tests and uploaded the results to other sites. I can help configure Ancestry ThruLines.
 
Genealogy Software Used: Ancestry.com, 23andMe, GEDmatch, DNA Painter, Family Tree Maker, MyHeritage,  Geneanet, Excel spreadsheets. I also use TruthFinder and Facebook information to add DNA matches to family trees.
 
Email: mwilson414@aol.com