Stephanie Pitcher Fishman

Stephanie Pitcher Fishman is a freelance editor, writer, and researcher. A genealogical researcher since 1998, Stephanie specializes in Midwestern and Southeastern United States family history, specifically within Ohio and Georgia. You can learn more about her research, writing, and editing services at Corn and Cotton Genealogy.

As a homeschooling wife and mother, Stephanie has been involved in the homeschool community through both her personal and professional endeavors since 2000. She writes several regular columns and contributes featured articles to homeschooling magazines and websites encouraging homeschool families to integrate family history into their children's education.

Stephanie is also a founder and Editorial Director of The In-Depth Genealogist, a digital newsletter that contributes to the advancement of all genealogists.

Articles by this author

• Family History Research in Georgia
• Twitter and Today's Genealogist
• Use Your Ancestors' Social History to Your Advantage
• Not Just Lines on a Page: Family Trees to Display and Share
• Using Your Family History to Teach Mapping Skills to Kids
• Four Ways to Interest Kids in Family History Projects
• Remembering Grandma: Sharing Stories of Your Female Ancestors
• Getting Creative: Using Genealogy to Teach Writing Skills

"You live as long as you are remembered." —Russian Proverb

As a veteran homeschool mother, I am interested in finding ways that we can use genealogy and family history to excite and educate younger generations. Having spent one half of my life in Georgia and the other half in Ohio I am specifically interested in the social history of these two states as well as the ethnic and religious groups who migrated through or settled in these two states.

I was looking for an activity that I could do with my grandmother when our very close relationship started to feel strained. Genealogy was honestly supposed to be nothing more than a hobby that would kill some time on a Saturday but became something that would not only change my life but would record stories that could have been lost. What I didn't understand at the time was that my grandmother was short in temper with me because she was in the beginning stages of dementia. Genealogy saved pieces of my grandmother that I didn't know were fading, and it has given me a way to feel connected to her years after her death. It was a gift for my mother and me, and it also gave my grandmother the gift of knowing that she was still important and valuable.

I have found in my family history a complete list of opposites that somehow intersect through me. My paternal line is rooted in the North, had a few abolitionists, and leans liberal. My maternal side is rooted in the South, had a few slave-holders, and leans conservative. Generally speaking, if one turned West I'm sure I'll find the other turned East. It is like they are polar opposites repelling each other. I've found that it has even continued into my marriage: I have some German ancestry while my husband is Jewish. I'm waiting for the day that I find a German soldier that was on active duty in World War II as his family sat in the concentration camps. In my search for some sort of common ground I settled on the idea that I am made of Corn and Cotton. Two farming families from opposite sides of the fence created who I am today.

Personally, I love learning the stories of a person's life no matter how famous - or infamous - they become. I collect the standard information, but I constantly seek after the why. I'm finding that a lot of my personal research in the state of Ohio is focused on two main areas: Highland County and Quaker history. I'm hoping to learn more about the stories of how my Quaker ancestors came to the state. I'd love to discover the details of their journey and their first years in a new state. This would excite me more than discovering something about someone considered "famous."