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Combining more than 25 years of experience in family history research with an advanced
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Genealogy Research Experience — Dan Lynch
» Over 25 years primary research experience
» Association of Professional Genealogists (Member)
» Connecticut Society of Genealogists (Life Member, Former VP & Board Member)
» The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (Consultant)
» Featured on ABC's Good Morning America (June 2004)
» Vice President, Ancestry.com / MyFamily.com (1998-2001)
» Director, A&E Television Networks (Genealogy.com) (2001-2002)
» Over 20 years computer industry experience, technology expert
» Extensive contacts within genealogy field (covering many specialties)
» Have written, lectured, and appeared on television to discuss genealogy research
» Have taught genealogy courses for Adult Continuing Education programs
The following questions were among those posed during an interview with the Connecticut Post newspaper for an article which appeared in June 2004.
When did you first become interested in Genealogy?
"Before I could spell it correctly," recalls Dan with a laugh.
"I don't recall exactly, but it was during my first year or two of high school, shortly after Roots aired on television. I began asking questions about my Irish and Italian heritage - especially of my maternal grandmother who lived with us. Some things she'd talk about, others she wouldn't, but that made me want to know even more."
When and how did you begin your formal research?
"I had taken many notes by hand during high school and had them in various folders and binders, but nothing too organized and there were no personal computers at the time. Ironically, my first formal research wasn't even for my family. There were a few historical cemeteries on the rural campus grounds where I went to college [Bryant College, Smithfield RI] and I used the school's Data General MV6000 mini-computer to document the burials in the Mowry family cemetery. I was amazed at how quickly the computer could sort all those names!"
What is your own ethnic heritage?
"I'm half Irish and half Italian, but was raised in the Italian section of a very ethnically diverse city [Waterbury, Connecticut]. There were quite a few Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, French, Polish, and German names. My dad was the eighth of ten children, so there are some Irish first-cousins that I barely recall meeting. On the Italian side, there were quite a few 'cousins', but it took me years to figure out all the connections - still does sometimes. Most of our holidays were tied to Italian traditions, especially since my Italian grandmother lived with us."
Has your family been in America a long time?
"No, not really - not as far as American history is concerned. All four of my grandparents were first-generation American, their parents having come from either Ireland or Italy. On my dad's side, they came to America about 1875 and settled in Waterbury, CT. My Italian ancestors arrived between 1900-1906 and also eventually settled in Waterbury. I was pretty lucky in that regard, they all stayed put for a few generations. Parts of my wife's family arrived about 1630 and covered a lot of ground in New England and New York, so it was a bit harder to track some of her family down, but also quite interesting."
Have you always lived in Connecticut?
"No, not always, but I have always lived in New England. I was raised in Waterbury, CT, but went to college in Rhode Island and lived there briefly. I was a runner and avid cyclist, so got to know my way around that state pretty quickly. In 1984, I moved to the Boston-area and stayed there for eight years before taking a job in Norwalk, CT. Even though I'm now just 45 minutes from where I grew up, Fairfield County is quite a bit different from the Greater Waterbury area. Both our daughters were born in Stamford Hospital and we've lived in Trumbull for 10 years now, so it certainly has become familiar territory. "
Do you belong to any special groups dealing with genealogy?
"Yes, I do. The first society I joined was the New England Historic and Genealogical Society (NEHGS), located in downtown Boston. They have a great library and some helpful publications, but I've not maintained my membership since moving back to Connecticut. I've been a member of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists (CSG) for about 15 years and now serve on their Board of Governors. With more than 4,000 members, they're one of the largest societies in the country. I'm also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, as well as several other smaller societies and clubs dealing with genealogy and local history."
Tell me about your appearance on ABC's Good Morning America — How did that come about?
"The producer of GMA contacted Ellis Island about a week-long special they were planning since they wanted to film at the island. The public relations team at The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation recommended me for the on-air segment and after a brief interview with the producer, everything quickly fell into place. They filmed on the ferry ride over and for about 35 minutes once we got to the island. The segment covered the basics of getting started and also discussed the pro's and con's of using the Internet when doing genealogy research. The fun part was also connecting with a few other APG members who helped with some behind-the-scenes research for a family in Texas - they did a fantastic job."
When did you begin working in the field of genealogy on a professional level?
"Well, that's a tricky question. I accepted a position with Ancestry as Vice President of Business Development in 1998. I stayed on the east coast, but made monthly trips to Utah. I helped to secure outside funding, helped launched the MyFamily.com and FamilyHistory.com sites, we acquired RootsWeb and several other companies. A lot happened during those few years. In 2000, I was hired by A&E Television Networks following their acquisition of Genealogy.com from Broderbund. Barely a year later, A&E abandoned plans to pursue the market and sold the business unit to Ancestry. I established Mattatuck Consulting to serve a range of clients, but am glad that The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation keeps me closely connected to the community on a professional level. During this time, I've also taught genealogy, performed research for families, attorneys, libraries, and other groups."
Dan has extensive national contacts within the field of genealogy, as well as in the technology industry. He serves on the City of Waterbury Hall of Fame committee, the Town of Trumbull Economic Development Commission, and is a frequent presenter on various topics relating to genealogy.
In addition to his technology marketing consulting, Dan is working on a book, Waterbury Sources, detailing the sources of genealogical interest in his hometown and is also the publisher of the GreaterWaterbury.com web site. Waterbury will be featured in an upcoming documentary by Ken Burns which explores the impact of World War II on the American workforce.
View brief clip from a longer segment featured on Good Morning America.
Other Genealogy Articles, Press Interviews, Presentations:
Association of Professional Genealogists QUARTERLY — September 2004
Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM — Fall 2004
Family Tree Magazine — October/November 2004
The Evening Star, Auburn, IN — July 24, 2005
Cleveland Advocate, Cleveland, TX — June 22, 2005
Farm and Dairy, Salem OH — June 16, 2005
The Big Lake Gazette, Okeechobee, FL — May 24, 2005
Randolph Reporter, Randolph, NJ — May 19, 2005
Cushing Daily Citizen, Cushing OK — May 11, 2005
Internet Genealogy Magazine, May 2006
Internet Genealogy Magazine, July 2006
FGS Conference in the States, Boston MA — September 2, 2006
Canyon Lake Times Guardian, Canyon Lake TX — June 21, 2006
Avon Public Library, Avon CT, Italian Genealogy —
Gaelic-American Club, Fairfield CT —
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