Shifting Sands Genealogy

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United States
Grand Rapids, MI
Shifting Sands Genealogy

Affordable family history research services, specializing in Michigan and the Great Lakes region However, it took me a long time to consider it as a career.

About Jamie, the owner and researcher at Shifting Sands Genealogy: I've been doing family history research for about 25 years. My interest in genealogy started at a young age, as I listened to stories (some true, some not so true!) from my grandpa about his parents, who were poor immigrants from Ukraine. I interviewed my family for a family history project in third grade, and went on my first genealogy research trip when I was about 12 years old. As a lover of history and culture, I was easily hooked on genealogy. Instead, I majored in anthropology and spent time traveling on and off after college, living in other countries and exploring other cultures. I became a museum professional and managed collections of historical significance. Some of my museum work involved digitizing precious artifacts for research. Some of it involved sharing my passion for history with the public as I gave historic house tours. I also dabbled in personal assisting because I love to organize and create systems to combat clutter. I learned that clutter and disorganization can overwhelm people, and that my organizational talents were valuable to create calm from the chaos for my employers. As I looked back on my wide range of experiences, I realized that genealogy could marry a lot of my passions. I love to research, organize, and preserve family history. In addition to offering research services, I have a unique skill set to help others tackle their own mountains of documents and digital files that genealogy research can generate, as well as to offer expert advice on how to best preserve their heirlooms for future generations. I started Shifting Sands Genealogy in October 2020 so that I could help others learn more about their own family history! Why "Shifting Sands?" I grew up near the shores of Lake Michigan, with its massive dunes, dense forests, and sprawling beaches. Just like the winds coming off of the lake can cover up or expose driftwood, shipwrecks, and other hidden treasures, I love the challenge of uncovering long-forgotten pieces of family history. Imagine what could be waiting to be discovered in your own family tree!

12/18/2025

A genealogy gift card is fully customizable to any budget! Send us a message to order a quick, easy last-minute gift 🎄🕎 🎁

11/07/2025

Book recommendation!
"I am writing this story without knowing its end: it begins long before I was born and will continue long after I die..."
So begins 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠, a new memoir by Ukrainian chef and cookbook author Olia Hercules. Olia weaves the stories of her ancestors, going back over a hundred years ago, with her own memories and the ongoing experience of watching from afar as yet another war decimates her homeland. She wrote this book in order to understand her own personal family history in the context of Ukraine’s broader history.
Let me tell you that I’ve been a big fan of Olia since about 2020, when I heard her give a webinar about historical Ukrainian food for a genealogy society. I was instantly drawn in by her deep knowledge on the topic, and I found copies of her cookbooks and began following her on Instagram so I could learn more. I have Ukrainian ancestry, but my grandpa and his siblings grew up in a time that valued assimilation over retaining their parents’ unique cultural identity, so I’ve always felt pretty disconnected from my Ukrainian heritage. Olia has taught me so much and brought those lessons to life with her animated videos and beautiful photos on social media.
The tone of Olia’s account changed when the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. I watched in real time as Olia experienced the trauma of having her home under attack, her fear for her family still there, her intense grief of loss after loss. It was heartbreaking to see. However, she truly became an activist in the process, initiating fundraisers for the war effort and refugees as well as using her social media to pass on boots-on-the-ground news about Ukraine in English.
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠 takes you from southern Ukraine’s warm grasslands and seaside resorts to the snowbanks of a Siberian village, from Olia’s 2025 London garden back to her great-grandmother’s 1910s kitchen to her aunt's 1980s dining table to her parents' 1960s school classroom. It’s rare to find such personal accounts of life before, during, and after the Iron Curtain in English. Olia's beautifully-written, descriptive prose recounts moments in Ukrainian history through her cast of family members. Make no mistake, this history is often not a happy one, but there is still humor, love, food (!), and most of all, resiliency in Olia's storytelling. The title of the memoir is in reference to the strength of Ukrainians to hang on to their land and their culture, in the face of centuries of attempts to destroy it. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠 and follow Olia on Instagram for more lessons in Ukrainian food, culture, and tenacity.

06/10/2025

Nothing about this 1886 marriage return would strike a genealogist as odd. However, Charles Hindle was actually Annie Hindle, a well-known male impersonator. While on tour in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Annie and her maid, Anna Ryan, were married by the pastor of Fountain Street Baptist Church. The marriage caused a stir in the city and made national headlines. Newspaper reports, such as this one from the 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 the following day, seemed to suggest that Annie must have been lying about being a woman and that her previous marriage to a man as well as her entire career as an impersonator were fraudulent. The initial uproar soon calmed down, and Annie remained a popular performer. After Anna’s death, Annie would go on to marry again—to another woman.
Happy Pride Month! 🌈🏳️‍🌈

03/16/2025

We are in the middle of Women's History Month! What stories do you love about the women in your family tree?

02/25/2025

Did you know? 🤔 In 1950, the Census Bureau used two counties in Michigan (Ingham and Livingston) to test self-enumeration forms. This means that people in those counties filled out their own full-page census forms, an example of which is seen here. The test must have been a success, because for the following federal census in 1960, all households filled out their own forms and mailed them in. 📝📬

12/12/2024

🎄☃️🌟Here's your annual reminder that family history gift certificates make a quick, easy, and wonderful holiday present! Shifting Sands Genealogy certificates can be used toward consultations or research services. Send a message below or via email (info@shiftingsandsgen.com) for more information and to order!

11/08/2024

I am supporting Camp Newaygo, an all-girls summer camp in rural Michigan, through their annual fundraising auction. Bid on a 2- hour package toward a research project/consultation or any other great auction item to help this great cause! Auction ends Nov. 9th at 6pm EST. 🤸‍♀️🌲⛺️🔥🚣‍♀️
https://givebutter.com/c/moonlight2024/auction

By TrueNorth Community Services

09/25/2024

Some people bring a spicy romance novel to the beach -- and some bring a genealogical journal 😂 ⛱️ 📚

07/02/2024

Don't give up on those old Find a Grave photo requests--We were able to fulfill this one after seven years! The memorial for this grave had been marked as having no headstone, but the stone had actually fallen over and was covered up by vegetation. Imagine how happy the requester was to finally have a photo of their ancestor's headstone after all those years! 🥳🪦

02/06/2024

Something tells me Aunt Verna would have loved taking selfies if she had owned a smartphone! 📸

12/11/2023

Only two more weeks until Christmas! 🎄🎁⭐️☃️ If you're looking for a unique holiday present, consider giving the gift of family history. A gift certificate with Shifting Sands Genealogy is an easy option for history-loving friends and family. Just send a message to this page or an email to start your order: info@shiftingsandsgen.com.
Photo courtesy of Karsten Winegeart via Unsplash.

10/21/2023

Had a great time at the Western Michigan Genealogical Society 's Got Ancestors Seminar today! 🤓📝

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Grand Rapids, MI

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http://www.shiftingsandsgenealogy.com/

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