ABOUT ME
Introduction
Jenifer Kahn Bakkala is a professional genealogist, writer, and author, based in Massachusetts. She is passionate about finding and telling the stories of our ancestors and allowing them to emerge beyond the names and dates.

Jenifer is the author of An American Family, Four Centuries of Labor, Love, and Reward: A Story of the Davis Family, 2018, and The Maynard, North, and DeForest Families: A Story of Immigration, Industry, and Community, 2021.
Dr. Abbott is coordinator of the African American Track at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Athens, Georgia, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). She teaches at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) in Dallas. Dr. Abbott presents lectures and workshops for national, state, and local genealogy conferences, colleges, and libraries.
She is also a reviewer for NEHGS’s quarterly journal, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Jenifer sits on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is chair of its Professional Development and Publications Advisory committees.