Findingdeeproots

01/25/2026

We Build Forests: Genealogy Beyond the Family Tree

We’re honoring roots that extend deep into history — and how building forests of connection enriches all of us.

One of the most extraordinary examples of interwoven family history in the United States is the Quander family, believed to be the oldest consistently documented African American family whose ancestry extends back to the 1680s and the Fanti people of what is now Ghana.
https://quanderquality.com/

From early ancestors like Egya Amkwandoh — brought here through the horrors of the trans-Atlantic slave trade — to generations who preserved their legacy across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., the Quanders have kept records and connections alive for centuries.

Their story includes notable contributors like Nellie Quander, a pioneering civic leader and first international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and many others who shaped community life and historical understanding.

The Quanders’ multi-century journey reminds us that genealogy isn’t just about one lineage, but about how our histories intersect and illuminate the collective past. At Finding Deep Roots, we help people uncover these connections through library genealogy workshops, guided research, and tools like the Finding Deep Roots Workbook — because when individual trees are documented and linked, we build forests.
https://findingdeeproots.com/workbook/

01/24/2026

01/21/2026

https://findingdeeproots.com/events/

12/14/2025

Wrapping Up a Year of Growth, Gratitude & Genealogy

What a year it has been for Finding Deep Roots! As we close out 2025, we’re reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve shared with our community.
https://youtu.be/6D9RDo5IEQA

This summer, we took time to dive deeper into our own family trees—traveling to places like Charlottesville, VA and Ironton, OH to walk the land of our ancestors, visit historical societies, uncover records, and reconnect with relatives. These trips of discovery reminded us why this work matters: genealogy is personal, powerful, and healing. When we strengthen our own roots, we become even better equipped to help others find theirs.
https://findingdeeproots.com/back-in-action-with-new-roots-revealed/
https://findingdeeproots.com/census-records-to-legacy-tracing-my-ancestors-in-charlottesville-virginia/
https://findingdeeproots.com/walking-in-their-footsteps-my-ironton-journey/

This year, we hosted multiple free genealogy workshops, helping families across Pittsburgh and beyond begin or deepen their research journeys. We traveled all the way to Brazil, expanding our understanding of African diaspora histories and strengthening our mission to connect families globally.
https://findingdeeproots.com/events/
https://findingdeeproots.com/bom-dia-from-rio-de-janeiro/

We also launched our new Black Tee collection, proudly defining genealogy, ancestor, and pedigree—bringing family history into everyday style with intention and power. And of course, we celebrated the 2nd anniversary of Finding Deep Roots: The Workbook, a tool that continues to help families document, organize, and preserve their stories with clarity and purpose.
https://findingdeeproots.com/genealogy-ancestry-pedigree-why-we-research/
https://findingdeeproots.com/two-years-and-were-just-getting-started/

It’s been a year of expansion, joy, and deep connection. Thank you for supporting, sharing, attending, purchasing, and believing in this work.

We can’t wait to see what 2026 will bring—more workshops, more discoveries, more stories uncovered, and more families remembering who they are.

Here’s to the past, the present, and the roots we’re still uncovering. Cheers!

12/07/2025

This Holiday Season, Choose to Make an Impact

As the holidays approach, it’s the perfect time to remember the power of community and the impact behind every purchase we make. Supporting Black-owned businesses doesn’t just uplift entrepreneurs—it preserves culture, strengthens local economies, and builds generational opportunity.

This season, consider shopping small, local, and Black-owned. From unique, handcrafted gifts to services rooted in heritage and creativity, there is so much intention and excellence waiting to be discovered. Every purchase has the potential to spark meaningful change and keep resources circulating within our communities.

Let’s be intentional with where we spend our coins. Supporting Black-owned businesses is not a trend—it’s a commitment to investing in dreams, creating opportunities, and honoring the legacy of our people.

For a curated directory of incredible Black-owned brands, explore Black Nile, a platform dedicated to connecting consumers with Black entrepreneurs across industries. It’s a beautiful way to support, shop consciously, and celebrate Black excellence all year long.
https://www.blacknile.co/

Let’s make this season one of empowerment, love, and conscious giving!

11/30/2025

Discover Your Legacy, Empower Our Communities

Finding Deep Roots was built with one mission in mind: to help families remember who they are.

From our bold Genealogy Tees to our Signature Mugs to our foundational tool The Workbook every product is crafted to bring genealogy into everyday life.
https://findingdeeproots.com/product/genealogy-tee/
https://findingdeeproots.com/product/signature-mug/
https://findingdeeproots.com/workbook/

And when you’re ready to go deeper, our Debut, Essential, and Premium Genealogy Research Packages and our Workshops/Trainings offer hands-on, personalized support in uncovering the names, stories, documents, and legacies of your ancestors.
https://findingdeeproots.com/services/
https://findingdeeproots.com/services/genealogy-workshops/

Supporting Black-owned small businesses is more than a transaction — it’s an investment in cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and community storytelling. Your support helps us continue uplifting families, educating youth, and bringing our shared histories into the light. An excellent organization, “Buyblack.org is the largest online directory of Black-owned businesses in the US with over 50,000 listings that are fully searchable by keyword, category and geolocation.”
https://www.buyblack.org/about

Together, we preserve the past — and empower the future.

11/23/2025

Walking in Their Footsteps: My Ironton Journey

Over the past four years, I’ve been spending time in Ironton, Ohio—the place where my grandmother was born, where generations of my family lived, loved, worked, and built their lives.

Even though I’ve never lived there myself… every visit feels like coming home. There’s a kind of magic in walking the very ground my ancestors walked. In standing in the yard where my great-great-grandfather once built a church with his own hands. In sharing laughter with cousins and relatives I’ve only recently come to know.

Connecting with Ironton—and the family who still calls it home—has been one of the greatest joys of my adult life. These moments remind me why genealogy matters: because visiting family, asking questions, listening to stories, and reconnecting to our roots can break through roadblocks that records alone cannot.

This has been Shawna Ferguson, sharing my Ironton journey. And if you’re ready to begin—or continue—your own journey, Finding Deep Roots is here to help you every step of the way.
https://findingdeeproots.com/

11/16/2025

Two years — and we’re just getting started!

Since launching Finding Deep Roots: The Workbook, we’ve seen families use it to begin powerful conversations, document forgotten names, and bring generations together through the shared experience of research. The Workbook is more than just pages — it’s a tool for healing, understanding, and reclaiming what time tried to bury. With structured prompts, a three-generation pedigree chart, and space to organize your findings, it helps families turn oral history into written legacy.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGC5J7Y7

And now, we’re building on that foundation — developing new resources, expanding our research support, and offering hands-on workshops to take your genealogy journey even further.
https://findingdeeproots.com/events/

Thank you for growing with us.
Let’s keep digging — because your family story is far from finished.

11/09/2025

Why The Workbook Is Key

Genealogy can feel overwhelming — especially when you don’t know where to begin. You may have handwritten notes scattered across notebooks, half-remembered family stories, names without dates, and documents buried in drawers or lost online. There are gaps, conflicting details, and moments when you feel stuck — like you’re reading a book with missing chapters.

That’s exactly why we created Finding Deep Roots: The Workbook — to take the frustration out of the process.
https://findingdeeproots.com/workbook/

It helps you start with what you do know — yourself — and build from there.
With structured pages to interview elders, track down historical records, and map your family tree, it turns chaos into clarity. All your findings, all in one place.

Because our ancestors didn’t just leave memories — they left a legacy we’re still learning. And now, you have the tool to help uncover it.

11/02/2025

The Beginning of The Workbook

Two years ago, we launched Finding Deep Roots: The Workbook — a tool designed to help families organize, document, and preserve their history. Since then, it’s helped people across the country trace their roots, start conversations with elders, and bring generations together.
https://findingdeeproots.com/workbook/

We hear it all the time: “If I only had this tool when I first started…”
That’s why we created it — to make your journey easier, more focused, and more fulfilling from the very beginning.

If you haven’t started your journey yet, this is your sign. Your legacy begins here!

10/26/2025

Pedigree: Make the Connections

Pedigree charts don’t always connect perfectly. Some branches end abruptly; others have missing names or uncertain links — gaps that can feel discouraging. But don’t allow those spaces to impede your forward progress.
https://findingdeeproots.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-Generation-Pedigree-Chart_Workbook.pdf

Genealogy is not about perfection — it’s about persistence. Every record you uncover, every interview you conduct, and every clue you document moves your family story closer to completion. Over time, those missing pieces may surface through newly released public records, DNA matches, or forgotten family documents tucked away in an attic.

Continue to research, collect data, and record what you find — even the smallest detail can make a difference. Your pedigree is a living document, one that grows as you grow in knowledge.

At Finding Deep Roots, we believe every generation adds another layer to the story. Don’t let the gaps discourage you — let them inspire you to dig deeper. The reward isn’t just in the answers you find, but in the journey of discovery itself.

10/19/2025

Pedigree: Caution, Roadblocks Ahead

Pedigree is your ancestral line — your lineage, your legacy. It’s the path that connects you to those who came before, generation by generation.
https://findingdeeproots.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-Generation-Pedigree-Chart_Workbook.pdf

But tracing that path isn’t always simple. Every researcher encounters roadblocks — missing records, name changes, or documents lost to time. Some challenges take days to overcome, while others may take years until information becomes public or newly digitized.

That’s why persistence matters. Sometimes, you have to go beyond the screen — visiting courthouses, archives, or the very towns your ancestors once called home. Standing where they stood often brings breakthroughs that no online record ever could.

At Finding Deep Roots, we know the journey of building your pedigree takes patience, dedication, and heart. Each discovery, big or small, brings you one step closer to reclaiming your family’s story — and that’s a legacy worth fighting for.