Genealogist and Family History Researcher Business Cards

Genealogists and family history researchers trace the ancestry and family connections of individuals, families, and communities — documenting lineage, uncovering historical records, identifying biological relatives through DNA analysis, proving descent from notable ancestors, and helping adoptees find biological families. Professional genealogy is a credential-recognized discipline with its own certification programs and rigorous standards of evidence and citation.

What Genealogist Cards Include

Your Credentials and Certifications

• CG (Certified Genealogist) — BCG (Board for Certification of Genealogists); the most rigorous genealogy certification; requires submission of a portfolio demonstrating competency in research, reasoning, problem analysis, and evidence evaluation; the gold standard in the US
• CGL (Certified Genealogical Lecturer) — BCG credential for those who lecture on genealogical topics
• AG (Accredited Genealogist) — ICAPGen (International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists); accreditation in specific geographic or ethnic research specialties (e.g., AG for Ireland, AG for Germany, AG for LDS/Utah, AG for African American research)
• PLCGS (Preparatory Lecture Certificate in Genealogical Studies) — BCG preparatory credential
• Genealogical Research Certificate — various university continuing education programs (BYU, NIGS, IGHR)
• APG member (Association of Professional Genealogists) — the primary professional association for professional genealogists; "APG member"
• NGS member (National Genealogical Society) — the primary US genealogical society
• FGS member (Federation of Genealogical Societies) — umbrella organization of genealogical societies
• NEHGS member (New England Historic Genealogical Society) — the oldest genealogical society in the US; prestigious membership

DNA specialization:

• DNA Genealogy certification — International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) community
• Blaine Bettinger methodology (Shared Centi-Morgans project)
• Family Tree DNA specialist / 23andMe / AncestryDNA analysis

Your Research Specialties

Geographic and ethnic specialties:

• American (colonial, Revolutionary War, Civil War period)
• African American genealogy (enslaved ancestors, freedmen's records, DNA)
• Irish genealogy
• German genealogy
• Scandinavian genealogy (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland)
• Italian genealogy
• Polish and Eastern European genealogy
• Jewish genealogy
• Mexican and Latin American genealogy
• British and English genealogy (GENUKI, Parish registers, Chancery records)
• Scottish genealogy
• Welsh genealogy
• Caribbean genealogy
• Native American genealogy (tribal enrollment, BIA records, census)
• Australian genealogy

Record types:

• US Federal Census (1790–1950, plus 1890 mortality schedules)
• Vital records (birth, marriage, death)
• Church records (baptism, marriage, burial)
• Military records (pension, compiled service, draft registration)
• Immigration and naturalization (ship manifests, naturalization papers, passports)
• Land records (deed books, homestead)
• Probate records (wills, inventories)
• City directories and newspapers
• DNA analysis (autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA)
• Newspaper digitization (Chronicling America, GenealogyBank, Newspapers.com)

Specialty services:

• Adoption search (biological parent/sibling identification through DNA)
• Unknown parentage cases (NPE — Not Parent Expected)
• DNA kinship analysis
• Lineage society application assistance (DAR, SAR, Mayflower Society, Colonial Dames)
• Heir search / probate genealogy (legal heir location for estates)
• Heir property research
• One-name study

Your Services

• Hourly research (most professional genealogists bill hourly; typically $60–$150/hour)
• Project-based research
• Compiled family history book or report
• Record retrieval
• Courthouse and archive searches
• Speaking and lecturing on genealogy topics
• Genealogy teaching

Design for Genealogists

Historic, Scholarly, Document-Connected

Genealogist card design:

• Scholarly and credentialed — this is a research profession
• Heritage and history aesthetic
• Document or family tree imagery (subtle)

Color palette:

• Warm cream + brown: heritage, historic documents
• Deep navy + white: scholarly authority
• Forest green + white: connection to past
• Warm gold + sepia: antique, genealogical research aesthetic

Back of Card

1. "Genealogist | CG (BCG) | AG (ICAPGen) | APG | NGS | NEHGS"
2. "[Geographic specialty: Irish | German | African American | Colonial American | DNA genealogy]"
3. "Census | Vital records | Military | Immigration | Church | Land | Probate | DNA analysis"
4. "Adoption search | NPE | Lineage society (DAR/SAR) | Heir search | Family history books"
5. "[email] | [website] | [phone] | [Location: archives + remote research available]"

Checklist

• [ ] CG (BCG Certified Genealogist)
• [ ] AG (ICAPGen Accredited Genealogist — list specialty)
• [ ] APG membership
• [ ] NGS membership
• [ ] NEHGS membership (if applicable)
• [ ] Geographic specialty (Irish, German, African American, etc.)
• [ ] DNA genealogy specialty (autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA)
• [ ] Adoption / NPE search (if offered)
• [ ] Lineage society assistance (DAR, SAR, Mayflower)
• [ ] Heir search / probate genealogy (if offered)
• [ ] Record types (census, vital, military, immigration, church)
• [ ] Family history book / compiled report
• [ ] Hourly rate or project-based (optional)
• [ ] On-site archive research capability
• [ ] Remote / online research (if offered)