Every family has a story waiting to be uncovered. Family Sleuther is the nom de plume of Michael Kirk, an avid family historian dedicated to unearthing his roots. With 15 years of experience, he's mastered the art of pestering relatives for family lore, sifting through records for hidden gems, and passing the spittoon for DNA samples.
Michael’s passion for family history began in 2010 when he learned about the lives of his Italian immigrant ancestors. Despite living into the mid-twentieth century, their rich stories had faded into obscurity - a realization that inspired Michael to honor their memory and uncover his family's history.
In 2013, Michael embraced his inner Sherlock Holmes, donning the Family Sleuther persona. Armed with curiosity and determination, he digs into the past, chipping away at seemingly insurmountable genealogical brick walls to solve family mysteries. Through his blog and across social media, Family Sleuther shares research successes and blunders so other genealogists benefit from his lessons learned and good practices.
Learn more about Michael and the Family Sleuther blog in this Geneabloggers May I Introduce to You... interview (the interview follows Amy's interview, so scroll down).
Publications
In 2022, Michael published Thomas Kirk of Licking County, Ohio: A Genealogical Survey 1778-1846. This meticulously researched work draws from archival records, family lore, and DNA evidence to illuminate the life of his fifth great-grandfather, preserving his story for future generations. The Ohio Genealogical Society selected the book as the 2024 recipient of their Governor Thomas Worthington Award for best Ohio biography. The book is available at the FamilySearch library and other institutions of genealogical preservation (WorldCat).
Professional Development
- National Genealogical Society, 2014 Family History Conference. Richmond, Virginia. 7-10 May 2014.
- Institute for Genetic Genealogy, 2014 International Genetic Genealogy Conference. Washington, DC. 15-17 August 2014.
- Federation of Genealogical Societies + RootsTech, 2015 Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah. 11-14 February, 2015.
- RootsTech, 2019 Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. February 27 - March 2, 2019.
- Fairfax Genealogical Society, 2019 Spring Conference, April 6, 2019.
- Federation of Genealogical Societies, 2019 Conference. Washington, DC. 21-23 August 2019.
- Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) DNA Fundamentals for Genealogy, 2021 Institute (virtual), June 13-18, 2021.
- FamilyTreeDNA's 15th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy, 2023 Conference, Houston, Texas. November 3-6, 2023.
Join Michael on his journey to uncover the past! Follow Family Sleuther on social media for research tips, discoveries, and stories to inspire your own detective work - or connect directly at FamilySleuther@gmail.com. Grab your Inverness Cape and deerstalker cap and let's get to sleuthing!
