Genealogist helps families uncover their past

Tammy Mellema, the office administrator at New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore, uses her genealogical research skills to fulfill family history requests through the cemetery's website.

Mellema has conducted genealogical research for more than 20 years. To complete requests, which sometimes date back to the 1800s, she uses cemetery archival files, Baltimore County Genealogy Society records, and online databases such as Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, and Newspapers.com. Her research involves examining death certificates, census reports, obituaries, and historical newspaper articles.

Mellema reports completing 95 percent of the genealogy requests she receives. She seeks to identify not only names and dates but also the connections between family members.