About Deborah Harvey, CG

An engineer and defense intelligence analyst by training and career paths, Ms. Harvey applies the same logical analytical approaches used throughout her career to successfully address genealogical challenges and ‘brick wall’ problems. Her research projects have spanned most of the United States with particular emphasis on Virginia and surrounding states.  She has conducted research on families with origins in Scotland, Ireland, and Canada and consulted with The Learning Channel's (TLC) "Who Do You Think You Are?"  Her true joy comes in not only Identifying a family's lineage, but uncovering the family's history as documented in deeds, chancery court records, court records, order books, manuscripts, newspapers and other resources and providing clients with an appreciation and understanding of their family's roots.

Education and Training

• Genealogical Research Institute Pittsburgh (GRIP)

  • Fundamentals of Forensic Genealogy, 2016.

  • From Confusion to Conclusion: How to Write Proof Argument, 2017.

  • Practical Genetic Genealogy, 2017.

  • Mastering Documentation, 2018.

  • Advanced Genetic Genealogy, 2018.

  • Advanced DNA Evidence, 2019.

  • Digging Deeper, 2020

• Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR)

  • Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis, 2019.

  • Virginia’s Land and Military Conflicts and their Effect on Migration, 2012.

  • Scottish Genealogy, 2020

• Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)

  • Advanced Genealogy Practicum, 2016.

  • The Coaching Lab: Forensic Genealogy from Inquiry to Affidavit, 2017.

  • Virtual All-DNA Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum, 2019.

• Genealogical Institute on Federal Records, 2016.

• Mastering Genealogical Proof Study Group, 2015.

• Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research

  • Understanding Autosomal DNA, 2015.

  • Genetic Genealogy for Professionals, 2015.

  • Preparing the Field (Agricultural Census Records), 2014.

• National Genealogy Society

  • Home Study course (now American Genealogical Studies), 2013.

  • Researching Your World War I Ancestor, 2016.

• ProGen Study Group, 2013.

• Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research, 2010.

Memberships

• Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)

• National Genealogical Society (NGS)

• Utah Genealogical Society (UGA)

• Virginia Genealogical Society (VGS)

• Central Virginia Genealogical Society

• New England Historical and Genealogical Society (NEHGS)

• Nelson County Historical Society

• The Jamestowne Society

• National Society Daughters of 1812

• Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

• National Huguenot Society

Publications

• Harvey, Deborah R. and Gary E. Wood, "As the Angus Roam", Pegasus - Journal of the Dallas Genealogical Society, Vol 3, No. 1.

  1st Place,  2014 Dallas Genealogical Society's Writing Competition

• Harvey, Deborah, transcriber, "A List of Free Negroes and Mulattos Residing in Nelson County, 1818," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol 54, No. 3, August 2016.

Presentations

• “Genetic Genealogy Basics”

• "Genealogy and Land Titles"

• "Online Genealogy Resources"

• "Introduction to Women's Genealogy" 

• "Breaking Through Brickwalls"

• “Scottish Genealogy 101”

Volunteer

• Editor, The VGS Newsletter - recognized as

• Governor-at-Large, Virginia Genealogical Society 2017-2021

• President, Nelson County Historical Society

• Publications Advisory Committee, Association of Professional Genealogist

• Researcher, Purple Hearts Reunited