This month marks ten years since I properly launched Mr Genealogy as a professional family history research business – and what a ten years it has been.
When I began in 2015, I could never have imagined the journey ahead. Today, I have just started work with my 450th client, each one with their own unique family story to uncover. Every project has been different, but all have shared the same goal: to preserve and celebrate the lives of those who came before us.
The last decade has also seen some big changes in genealogy. The way we access records has transformed:
- The GRO (General Register Office) introduced their digital services, first with PDFs of certificates, and more recently with JPEG downloads – making it quicker and more affordable to access essential records.
- Major record releases, such as the 1939 Register and the 1921 Census, have opened up whole new avenues of research. It has been a privilege to use these to bring fresh discoveries to clients.
On my side, I’ve worked hard to improve and refine my research packages. When I first started, the focus was simply on getting the research right and presenting it in a professional book. That’s still at the heart of what I do, but today my packages include much more. I now have a library of around 300 themed articles – covering everything from occupations to social history – that can be woven into clients’ books. This means the stories of your ancestors aren’t just told through names and dates, but set against the backdrop of the world they lived in.
Perhaps the biggest change, though, has been the growth of the business itself. Ten years ago, I was taking my first tentative steps as a professional genealogist. Today, I’m fortunate to be fully booked months in advance, and to have the trust of hundreds of clients who have allowed me into their family’s history.
So I want to end by saying a heartfelt thank you to all my wonderful clients – past, present and future. Without your enthusiasm, curiosity and trust, Mr Genealogy would not be what it is today. It has been an incredible ten years, and I look forward to many more discoveries yet to come.
Here’s to the next decade of uncovering family stories.
Screen capture of home page, September 2015.