There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other wings.
– Hodding Carter, Jr., journalist
Discover your past. Inspire your journey.
Roots & Wings
Research, LLC
Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. I would be delighted to be of service in your family history pursuits. Please read on to see what we might discover together! -Kristin
Martin C. and Katie (Nagle) Hornberger with their four oldest children in 1910. The youngest child sitting on his mother's lap is my Great Grandpa Albert. Discovering this family's tragic story has been immensely meaningful for me. After connecting with a fourth cousin who had this photo in his possession, I was able to show my 85-year-old grandpa the only picture he had ever seen of his grandmother. I'd be honored to help you pursue YOUR family history.
My maternal grandfather, John C. Groenendaal, with his parents Peter and Alma (Burnum) Groenendaal circa 1914. Peter made many trips between his birthplace in the Netherlands and the U.S., giving me experience with ship and immigration records. I also discovered that, contrary to family legend, he was not an only child. After I traced the descendants of his sister who had stayed in the Netherlands, my mother recently was able to communicate with and visit her Dutch second cousins in Amsterdam!
I wish I had realized that family history is a perishable commodity. It disappears with time, as memories fade, and as loved ones pass on. I wish I had known that the most important aspect of family history is preserving a record of the present for the future.
– Guy Black
Kristin R. Wenger
My great -great grandmother, Mary (Gross) Millhouse raised fourteen children while farming in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
My maternal grandmother, Lucille (Norbeck) Groenendaal as a young woman in the city of Philadelphia circa 1934.
Roots & Wings Research, LLC was founded by Kristin Wenger, a professional genealogist and educator based in Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Mission
Roots & Wings, LLC creates opportunities for individuals to experience fulfillment and inspiration through learning how to discover, preserve, and share their family histories.
Awards
Grand Prize, Ancestry ProGenealogists Scholarship Program, 2020
Education
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, December 1998
Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania
Summa cum laude
Genealogical Research Certificate, December 2017
Boston University, Center for Professional Education
A rigorous, graduate level, semester-long program taught by some of the nation's leading professional genealogists.
Course: Women and Children First!: Research Methods for the Hidden Half of the Family, July 2018
Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP)
In-depth institute course coordinated by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
Course: Advanced Genealogical Methods, January 2019
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)
In-depth institute course coordinated by Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG
ProGen 40, February 2019- February 2020
Study Group Co-Leader, mentored by Melissa A. Johnson, CG
Certification Discussion Group, January-March 2020
Facilitator, Margaret Fortier, CG
NGSQ (National Genealogical Society Quarterly) Study Group, 2020
Facilitator, Cari Taplin, CG
National Genealogical Society Conference, May 2020
Course: Mastering Genealogical Documentation, July 2020
Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP)
In-depth institute course coordinated by Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG
Study Group: DNA and the GPS: Research and Writing, Fall 2020
Led by Danal Leeds and Mary Kircher Roddy, CG
Course: The Pennsylvania German and Research in the Keystone State, January 2021
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)
In-depth institute course coordinated by Michael Lacopo
GenProof Study Group (Mastering Genealogical Proof), January-March 2021
Mentor: Jan Joyce, CG, CGL, AG
Workshop: Turning Masses of Information into Useful Case Studies, April 2021
Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Education Fund
Instructors: Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG and Harold Henderson, CG
National Genealogical Society Conference, May 2021
Speaker: Mennonite and Brethren Research: Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Beyond
Course: Advanced DNA Evidence, July 2021
Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP)
In-depth institute course coordinated by Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D.
Course: Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum, Fall 2021
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)
In-depth institute course coordinated by Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
Course: African American Genealogy Methods and Strategies, January 2023
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)
In-depth institute course coordinated by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG
Professional Experience
-
Twelve years of genealogical research experience
-
Proficiency locating, evaluating, and analyzing both online and offline records
-
Training in genetic genealogy methods to incorporate DNA evidence
-
Experience correlating indirect and negative evidence to reach conclusions for difficult research questions
-
-
More than twenty years of teaching experience and a teacher's heart for sharing knowledge, teaching skills, and inspiring students
Community Leadership and Involvement
(Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)
-
Lititz Historical Foundation, in-house genealogist and tour guide
-
Lititz Public Library, Secretary of Board of Trustees
-
Lancaster Evangelical Free Church, kids' choir director, Sunday School teacher, worship team vocalist
-
Warwick School District, past member of Education Committee of the School Board
Professional Memberships
Association of Professional Genealogists
National Genealogical Society
Are you ready to work together on your family's story?
My family and I collaborated to make this video highlighting one of Lancaster County's most notable Anabaptist heritage sites. Our roots here are deep and I'd love to help you discover more about your Lancaster County ancestors.
…in all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage – to know who we are and where we have come from.
– Alex Haley, author of Roots
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we get started?
First, please fill out the contact form below. I will get in touch with you so that we can discuss the project you have in mind. I offer this as a free consultation with no obligation. I will ask questions to help me understand your goals and define the focus of your project. This initial conversation also allows me to determine if your project is within my areas of expertise. If not, I can refer you to another genealogist with the particular specialization you need.
If I decide to work with you, what would happen next?
I will need you to share any previous research that is relevant to your project. This might include a pedigree chart, copies of documents and sources, family histories, photographs, etc. Depending upon your location and preference, we can meet in person, via Zoom, or you can simply send me copies of the material via email, Dropbox, or U.S. mail. I will review your material and prepare a preliminary research plan. Then, I will contact you with a proposal and contract. Once I receive your signed contract and deposit, I will start work on your project.
How much is the deposit?
After we discuss your project, I can tell you if your question might only involve an hour or two of work or if it will take a significant amount of time. We will agree upon a number of hours that you authorize for me to conduct research and prepare your report or other work product. For significant projects, I recommend increments of ten or twenty hours. I ask for a deposit of 50% before I begin work with the remainder due upon completion. However, please be assured that if I complete the project in less than the authorized time frame, you will only pay for the actual time spent on your project. I will also provide an invoice for any research expenses (usually nominal fees for obtaining vital records, copies, parking, or postage).
What kinds of things might this research uncover?
Part of the thrill of family history research is that it is full of surprises. I have discovered an amazing array of stories that run the full gamut of human experience. Please keep in mind that I cannot guarantee a desired outcome. I will apply my skills and knowledge to your research goal and provide you with a complete, fully documented report that includes every source I have searched. Many times, that results in fascinating information about your ancestors, but sometimes a certain record simply does not exist. If that is the case, I will also make recommendations for further research if there are additional avenues to pursue.
Can I purchase your services as a gift for someone else?
Absolutely, yes! I believe that there is no greater gift you can give to a loved one than the discovery and preservation of family history as a legacy to share with future generations. I can create a gift certificate in a desired amount OR I can complete a project for you to give as a gift.
A four generation picture from January 1935 with my paternal grandmother, Doris (Millhouse) Hornberger as a baby. Left to right are my great grandmother, Grace (Kramer) Millhouse; 3x great grandmother, Emma (Kaufmann) Eitnier; and 2x great grandfather, Harry Eitnier Kramer. I had never even heard of Harry or Emma before beginning my research. What a treasure!
If you don’t know history, you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.
– Michael Crichton, author
GET IN TOUCH
Please provide your contact information below. Add a message about any questions you may have or potential projects you would like to discuss. I look forward to hearing from you and will be in touch soon!
-Kristin
Over the course of the millenia, all these ancestors in your tree, generation upon generation, have come down to this moment in time – to give birth to you. There has never been, nor will ever be, another like you. You have been given a tremendous responsibility. You carry the hopes and dreams of all those who have gone before. Hopes and dreams for a better world. What will you do with your time on this earth? How will you contribute to the ongoing story of humankind? – Laurence Overmire
The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.
– Maya Angelou
