Pamela Byers is an academically-trained historian with the following experience, skills and education: B.S. in Mass Communications with double minors in AMERICAN CULTURE & HISTORY and one year of graduate studies in PUBLIC HISTORY. She has over 35 years’ experience identifying primary and secondary documents used to prove and disprove particulars, through research at the National Archives, Library of Congress, local courthouses, archives, libraries (including state, universities and the Church of Latter Day Saints), cemeteries, historical societies, historic homes, churches, personal interviews and internet resources.
100% effective in researching the lineal descendants for 50+ Revolutionary War ancestors for clients applying for membership and supplemental ancestors to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). All applications were approved. Served on the board of directors for the Hollywood Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution holding the positions of registrar (two terms), historian and secretary.
Research to identify and locate unknown heirs for the Williamson County Chancery Court and probate/estate attorneys. Research to locate clients’ unidentified relatives leading to family reunions.
Appeared on The Learning Channel's "Breaking Amish" tv show after researching the lineage of one of the cast members.
Volunteer as a genealogy expert at the Church of Latter Day Saints Family History Center in Los Angeles, CA and at large genealogy conventions such as the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree.
Research and provide transcripts of primary legal documents to the USGENWEB Project, the leading and largest non-profit national genealogy project utilized by other researchers.
Researched, designed, installed and managed the inaugural exhibition section on Smith County’s women’s history from 1890-1930 at Smith County Historical Museum’s (Corinth, TN).
Completed intensive research for a pictorial exhibit on the history of women’s experiences in the North and South during the Civil War for Oaklands Plantation Historic Home and Museum (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) in Murfreesboro, TN.
Researched for the Heritage Foundation, in Franklin, TN, the history and legal documents to confirm the eligibility of “Swallowbarn,” an antebellum home for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Successfully disproved the regional belief the home had been built by Major Reid, aide-de-camp and biographer of President Andrew Jackson, rendering the home ineligible under Criterion A.
Researched, wrote and presented the program, "Red, White & Blue," and won lst Place in the State of California/NSDAR for "Best Cultural Events and Traditions Program" by an individual by the California State Society/NSDAR.
How it all started...
My love of history dates back to my childhood. I loved to read biographical literature on historic women. When I was twelve years old, I started to sew and made clothing on my grandmother's treadle sewing machine. As an adult I became interested in genealogy. I am not sure how or why I came to be interested in genealogy, probably because I am an army brat and never felt like I fit in, that somehow I was different. Genealogy gives me a sense of belonging that led to a desire to write a book about my family, or at least part of it, where I could expound upon their virtues, along with their sins, and tell what were their lives were really like on a day-to-day basis. So in 1985, I embarked upon an adventure called genealogy that was exciting, mysterious, challenging and, sometimes, thrilling to this day.
I started my research the old-fashioned way by going to the courthouses, cemeteries, historical and genealogical societies, etc. once every year in Pennsylvania where some of my ancestors are buried. There was no Ancestry.com then. Soon I had done enough research on my family to join the Daughters of the American Revolution through five different ancestors.
With my love of research so strong I became the Registrar of the Hollywood Chapter in 2006 where I was responsible for researching the prospective members’ family trees and documenting evidence for each generation.
Wanting to strengthen my skills in history and research, I went back to college in 2001 to finish my bachelor’s degree. I fulfilled the requirements of my Mass Communications major, but added two minors in History and American Culture which required the same amount of hours as my Mass Communications major. After graduation, I proceeded with post-graduate studies in History with an emphasis in Public History. It was then that I honed my research and writing skills to a scholarly level and began to offer my services professionally.