Hello

I believe that every family has a story worth telling — and that the records exist to tell it, if you know where to look.

I'm Kaitlyn Pauley, an Accredited Genealogist® with years of experience helping individuals and families uncover their roots. Based in West Virginia, I specialize in research across the Appalachian region, West Virginia, and New York State — areas where records can be elusive but deeply rewarding to find.

My Story

Originally from Western New York and now based in West Virginia, I specialize in genealogical research throughout New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the broader Mid-Atlantic region. My passion for family history began with researching my own family, and over time that curiosity grew into a profession dedicated to helping others discover and understand their ancestors.

What I enjoy most is researching anything that ties people to the land. Whether through deeds, tax records, historical maps, migration routes, or community reconstruction, I love uncovering the connections between people and the places they called home. Some of my favorite records to work with are often the ones researchers overlook—land records, tax lists, and local sources that provide valuable context beyond names and dates.

Before becoming a professional genealogist, I spent six and a half years as a special education teacher. That background continues to shape how I approach research and client work: breaking down complex problems, thinking critically about evidence, and making information accessible and meaningful.

I am a graduate of Brigham Young University–Idaho's Family History Research Program and ProGen 66. I also hold a Master's degree in Park and Resource Management, a field that further fueled my interest in the relationship between people, place, and history.

In addition to client research, I regularly lecture at genealogy conferences and societies across the United States. I have presented for RootsTech, the New York Family History Conference, the West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference, and numerous state and local genealogical organizations. I currently serve on the boards of the Virginia Genealogical Society and the Western New York Genealogical Society and am the registrar for SLIG (the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy).

Whether you're looking to break through a brick wall, understand an ancestor's community, or discover the story hidden behind the records, I'd love to help you explore your family's past.