Meet the Historian
Meet Dr. Fiona Holter
I've been researching family histories for nearly two decades, but my approach to genealogy has been shaped by my career as a historian: by asking not only what a record says, but what it can tell us about the people who lived it.
I hold a Ph.D. in History from the University of Mississippi, and I've spent more than a decade teaching history, working with archival collections, and conducting historical research. That work has meant handling everything from delicate primary sources to complex family and organizational histories, always with the same goal: understanding what the records mean, not simply what they say.
That experience taught me to look beyond names and dates, question the evidence, understand its context, and piece together the lives behind the records. That's the approach I bring to every family I research.
Why This Work Matters to Me
Family history has always felt like more than names, dates, and branches on a tree. I'm drawn to the stories that sit behind the records: the choices people made, the places they lived, the challenges they faced, and the lives they built.
I started Written Roots because I believe every family deserves the chance to understand those stories. Your family's history deserves more than a list of names. It deserves careful research, thoughtful interpretation, and someone committed to getting the story right.
How I Work
Every project that comes through Written Roots is researched and written by me, personally. I bring the same standards I use in historical and archival research to every family I work with: primary sources, careful verification, attention to context, and a genuine curiosity about the people behind the records.
I don't just want to tell you what a record says. I want to understand what it can tell us, and where the evidence leads.