About Me

Welcome to The Genealogy Grandma! I’m Renita Ford Collier, and this blog is where I share the twists, turns, and little triumphs of my genealogy journey. I write to capture my thoughts, track my discoveries, and reflect on the research process as I continue growing as a genealogist. I’m always learning, always improving, and maybe—just maybe—one day I’ll go “on the clock” and work toward becoming a Certified Genealogist. For now, I’m simply enjoying the process and documenting the adventure. 

My genealogy education has grown over the years through webinars, local societies, and lots of reading—especially National Genealogical Society Quarterly articles. I’ve taken courses through NGS and even completed Gen Proof Study Group 49, which pushed me to think more critically and sharpen my methods.

My love for family history started early. As a child, I was captivated by my grandmother’s stories, and by the 1980s I was spending long afternoons at the library scrolling through microfilm and attending society meetings whenever I could. Like most beginners, I made my share of mistakes: incomplete–or worse, no citations, cryptic research notes, and even the heartbreak of losing an entire family tree to a hard‑drive crash. Those experiences taught me lessons I still rely on today.

I started this blog back in 2015, but as life pulled me in many directions, it often went quiet for long stretches. Now that I'm retired and able to devote more time to research and writing, my goal is to breathe new life into this space and post more regularly.  

I'm excited to see how this blog grows as I continue exploring, learning, and sharing the work I love. If you'd like to reach out, you can contact me through the blog or email me at thegenealogygrandma@gmail.com.

Updated July 2026