Shake the Tree - Discover Your Roots

Shake the Tree - Discover Your RootsShake the Tree - Discover Your RootsShake the Tree - Discover Your Roots

(412) 488-8090

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  • Personal Instruction
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    • Home
    • Personal Instruction
    • Public Speaking

(412) 488-8090

Shake the Tree - Discover Your Roots

Shake the Tree - Discover Your RootsShake the Tree - Discover Your RootsShake the Tree - Discover Your Roots
  • Home
  • Personal Instruction
  • Public Speaking

Welcome

Welcome to Shake the Tree - Discover Your Roots

Welcome to Shake the Tree - Discover Your RootsWelcome to Shake the Tree - Discover Your RootsWelcome to Shake the Tree - Discover Your Roots

Contact Shake the Tree . . . Discover Your Roots

Make an appointment for a personal consultation!

I enjoy helping people realize what a rich heritage they have. I can get you started in your home, or you can come to mine, or we can meet on a video call, or I can speak to an interested organization, in person and/or digitally.  I can also help you determine what to keep and what not to keep and how to preserve your "stuff" for future generations, both physically and digitally.

Shake the Tree - Discover Your Roots

116 S. 19th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, U.S.

(412) 488-8090

Hours: By appointment only.

Today

By Appointment

Residential parking is enforced in my neighborhood but I have guest parking available if you call ahead. There are also a number of City lots in the neighborhood and Sundays are free.

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About Shake the Tree . . . Discover Your Roots

How I Got Started

  

My name is Rebecca Kichta Miller and I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, mostly on the South Side. The eldest of seven children, three boys, and four girls, I  have been "researching genealogy" since 1971 when my mother gave me copies of two family trees: one from a brother of hers who created it after a trip to Ireland and the other done by a distant cousin of my father who was trying to document her paternal great grandmother’s family for a DAR application, both of which proved to be totally wrong after 20 years of research. 

Gathering Family Information

In 1975, I moved away from Pittsburgh. In the days before the Internet, I spent many days scouring libraries and repositories for information to fill in the gaps in my family trees and many a vacation back in Pittsburgh collecting photos, stories, and memorabilia. Once living in Northern Virginia and working in Washington, D.C., I then discovered the wonders of the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the DAR Headquarters.  With the advent of the Internet, a trip to Ireland, many, many interviews with close family members, numerous educational seminars, webinars, and conferences, and seveal DNA tests under my belt, I now consider myself a “Not-Certified Genealogist."

Moving Forward

Upon moving back to Pittsburgh in 2006, I was then able to do hands-on research at local genealogical repositories. Having served as the President of the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society five times in the past 14 years, I’ve also served as the Editor of the Society’s award-winning newsletter, Jots from Western Pennsylvania, since 2012 and manage its online bookstore. Each September, I organize the genealogy pavilion at both the Pittsburgh Irish Festival and the Ligonier Highland Games. With a group of dedicated volunteers, we provide outreach and resources to anyone who has an interest in family history, whether they have Irish or Scottish ancestors or not. As an active member of numerous local, state, national, and international genealogical societies, I work hard to keep my skills up-to-date in order to share family history research methods. 


With three sons, three daughters-in-law, four granddaughters, two grandsons, and one great-grandson, I try to make sure that they are all very aware of their diverse heritage and who their ancestors were. 

Brochures and Order Forms

Program Presentations

There are a number of presentations that I have available for organization meetings, which are listed in the attached brochure.  In addition to presentations, I also offer personal instruction in the Getting Started, Getting Organized, and Electrifying Your Genealogy sessions   These services also make great gifts, so there are gift certificates available for instruction time.


What are your memories worth? 

Invite your family and/or friends to bring some of their family memorabilia to your house and learn hands-on how to gather, organize, and preserve your family history.   Topics covered include: 1. What to keep and what not to keep. 2. Techniques - organizing, scanning, preserving, storing, and sharing photos, documents, objects, and printed materials. 3. Organizing digital files.  4. Restoration - what NOT to do.


Personal Instruction, Not Research

If you would like help with deciding what to keep and what not to keep, learning how to organize what's left, and how to make all your research at the tip of your fingers, I can help you with that. I can come to you with discovering  Topics covered include: 1. What to keep and what not to keep. 2. Techniques - organizing, scanning, preserving, storing, and sharing photos, documents, objects, and printed materials. 3. Organizing digital files.  4. Restoration - what NOT to do.   

Private Organizing Services (jpg)Download
Genealogy Party Flier (pdf)Download
2023_Genealogy Speaker Services_Brochure (pdf)Download



October 18, 2023

What Your DNA Test Will NOT Tell You

6:00 PM

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7:30 PM

Adams Memorial Library, 1112 Ligonier Street, Latrobe, PA 15650

Event Details

October 18, 2023

What Your DNA Test Will NOT Tell You

You’ve spent the money, spit in a tube, or scrapped your cheek with a very long Q-Tip, and sent it off for analysis.  The results are back. ...

Event Details

6:00 PM

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7:30 PM

Adams Memorial Library, 1112 Ligonier Street, Latrobe, PA 15650

October 3, 2023

Genealogy - Where to Begin?

6:00 PM

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7:30 PM

Murrysville Community Library, 4130 Sardis Road, Murrysville, PA 15668

Event Details

October 3, 2023

Genealogy - Where to Begin?

Begin with yourself. Work through your family, gathering resources along the way. Learn how to carefully record your findings in a permanent...

Event Details

6:00 PM

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7:30 PM

Murrysville Community Library, 4130 Sardis Road, Murrysville, PA 15668

September 16, 2023

2023 Ligonier Highland Games Genealogy Pavilion

10:00 AM

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5:00 PM

Idlewild Park, Ligonier, PA

Event Details

September 16, 2023

2023 Ligonier Highland Games Genealogy Pavilion

Find out about Scottish names, history, geography, ancestors, and where to get more information in The Genealogy Pavilion. 

Details and ticke...

Event Details

10:00 AM

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5:00 PM

Idlewild Park, Ligonier, PA

September 8, 9, 10, 2023

2023 Pittsburgh Irish Festival Genealogy Pavilion

Carrie Blast Furnace National Historic Landmark, Swissvale/Rankin, PA.

Event Details

September 8, 9, 10, 2023

2023 Pittsburgh Irish Festival Genealogy Pavilion

Find out about Irish names, history, geography, ancestors, and where to get more information in The Genealogy Pavilion. Weekend Schedule: 

Fr...

Event Details

Carrie Blast Furnace National Historic Landmark, Swissvale/Rankin, PA.

May 17, 2023

Let's Get Started in Genealogy

12:00pm

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3:00 pm

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - Greentree500 Mansfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Event Details

May 17, 2023

Let's Get Started in Genealogy

Private ACRA Luncheon.  Contact: Pamela Long, 412-854-0356. Reservations are required to assure adequate space and food. Reservations and mo...

Event Details

12:00pm

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3:00 pm

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - Greentree500 Mansfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15205

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