Cathy Parraga

Experience

I conduct pro bono genealogical research for friends, but approach each project with the same care and professionalism as I would with a client. After earning my Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University in 2020, I felt confident offering research support to others.

I’ve helped several adoptees identify their biological parents using DNA results, and for others, I’ve uncovered unknown paternal lines through genetic and documentary evidence.

For traditional tree research, I typically complete at least five generations, which I use to create custom posters—now a popular wedding gift among my circle. I also prepare personalized presentations that include family highlights, historical context for their ancestral countries, and, when applicable, their immigration stories to the United States.

My research experience spans both online repositories and printed resources for the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Italy, Poland, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Spain (including the Canary Islands), Scotland, Wales, and Mexico.

I trace lineages as far back as records allow—often into the 1600s, though in some countries documentation is only available from the 1800s onward. While I haven’t needed to visit courthouses or archives in person, I’ve conducted on-site church research on Elba Island, Italy, and have successfully obtained offline records by contacting courthouses, dioceses, or local researchers.

For my own family, I create YouTube videos that combine genealogical findings with historical narratives about our ancestors and the countries they came from.