Nathaniel Lane Taylor: professional genealogy
I hold a Ph.D. in European history from Harvard University (1995), with over fifteen years of research experience in American and European archives. I have an extensive portfolio of publication in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, The American Genealogist, and other historical and genealogical journals (see publications list). I am well versed in the history of genealogy and different sources used for research in the Colonial and pre-modern periods; I also have detailed technical experience with wills and probate law, both American and European. This depth of academic and professional experience has prepared me to take on a variety of genealogical projects on a professional basis.
Rates are ordinarily $50 per hour but may vary depending on the nature of the project; some rates can be project-based (for example, design or production of books or charts). All initial consultation and estimates are free of charge.
Types of projects
• Lineage preparation, for application for membership to a lineage society such as Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Consultation on a difficult genealogical problem (such as an unidentified ancestor), in any period or locality.
• On-site consultation and analysis of unpublished archival sources in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Central and Eastern Massachusetts.
• Transcription and translation of old documents, and documents in Latin, French, or Spanish (even documents from the Middle Ages).
• Researching and writing a formal narrative genealogy (three or more generations), either for publication or for private circulation.
• Editing a genealogical manuscript (book or article) for publication.
• Transcribing and editing a collection of letters or a diary for publication.
• Production editing (book design, professional pre-press preparation) of a genealogical book or publication.
• Design and production of high-quality genealogical charts (not generated by genealogy software), suitable for display.
Public presentations
An experienced, prize-winning teacher (especially in adult education), I am available to speak to genealogical groups and lineage societies on a variety of topics, from focused case studies to broader introductions to methods or sources, or on the history of genealogy. I present well-illustrated, lively presentations which are well matched to the interests and experiences of different audiences.
Sample topics (includes presentations already given or in development, both for academic and general audiences):
• Caleb Lane, Revolutionary Privateer POW: a case study from unpublished English documents (archival research points out a little-known resource for identifying the fates of American revolutionary mariners)
• History of Genealogy as a Discipline and an Art (why and how people have traced their family trees, from ancient times to the present)
• Wills and Probate in Europe and America (survey of the history of wills—why and how they were developed, and how to find and exploit them for genealogy)
• Heraldry in the Colonies (introduction to heraldry; how it was used in Europe and the colonies; and its value for genealogy and cultural history)
• Magna Carta, the Barons, and the Origins of Government (historical context of the Magna Carta as an early precursor to modern reactions against 'big government')
• Charlemagne and his Legacy (illustrated introduction to the 'Father of Europe', ancestor of every modern person of European descent)
• Ancestors in the Crusades (Crusades in a modern context: who were the crusaders, what did they do, and how have we — their descendants — changed our opinions of their legacy over the centuries)
Contact
e-mail: nltaylor@nltaylor.net
telephone: 401-435-6020