Erica Cousins Curtis transitioned from a career in education to work as a full-time professional genealogist in 2022. She founded First Cousins Genealogy and specializes in forensic genealogy, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio research, pre-1850 brick walls, and using DNA to determine kinship. She earned Boston University’s Certificate in Genealogical Research, and has completed ProGen 66 and GenProof 77. She is a former board member of the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society and is the editor of its Quarterly journal. Her published work has appeared in the Utah Genealogical Association's Crossroads journal and the WPGS Quarterly journal.

Erica also has experience in forensic genealogy, including heirship research, locating missing heirs, determining land and mineral rights, and drafting affidavits.

Publications:

• “Resolving the Merged Identities of John Minor of Fayette County, Pennsylvania and Marshall County, West Virginia” WPGS Quarterly, June 2024

• “In Search of Lost Marriages: Marriage Laws and Elopement Destinations” UGA Crossroads, Fall 2023

• “Outbreak: Using Conventional Record Sets and Special Collections to Fully Understand the Role of Epidemics in Our Ancestors’ Lives” UGA Crossroads, Fall 2022

Education:

• ProGen 66

• Certificate in Genealogical Research - Boston University

• MAT- Social Studies Education, Brown University

• MA- French Studies, Columbia University

• BA - History, Pennsylvania State University

• Gen Proof 77

• Women and Children First (GRIP)

• Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum (SLIG)

• Advanced Genealogical Methods (SLIG)

• Walking in Penn's Woods (GRIP)

Memberships:

• Association of Professional Genealogists

• National Genealogical Society

• Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society

• Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

• The Erie Society for Genealogical Research

• Cornerstone Genealogical Society- Greene County, PA

• New York Genealogical and Biographical Society

• New England Historic Genealogical Society