Our Services
Onsite & Online Professional Research & Consultations
We provide a wide range of professional genealogy services to meet your needs.
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Southern Illinois
Schedule ConsultationI will travel to and conduct in-person research in the following counties: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, Wayne, White, Williamson.
Significant Repositories include all county courthouses, archives, and libraries in the region as well as the Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Special Collections at Southern Illinois University, Brehm Public Library in Mount Vernon, Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois Archives collection and Library, Williamson County Historical Society Genealogy Collection, Frankfort Area Historical Museum (West Frankfort), and the Metropolis Public Library.
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Western Kentucky
Schedule ConsultationI will travel to and conduct in-person research in the following counties: Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, Trigg, Union, Webster.
Significant Repositories include all county courthouses, archives, and libraries in the region as well as Forrest C. Pogue Special Collections Library and University Archives on campus of Murray State University, Glenn Martin Genealogy Research Center in Princeton, McCarroll Genealogy Collection in Hopkinsville, and the Paducah Public Library.
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Southeast Missouri
Schedule ConsultationI will travel to and conduct in-person research in the following counties: Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid, Perry, Scott, Stoddard.
Significant Repositories include all county courthouses, archives, and libraries in the region as well as Cape Girardeau County Archives Center in Jackson, the State Historical Society of Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Kent Library Special Collections and Archives on campus of Southeast Missouri State University, New Madrid Public Library Genealogy Room, Perry County Genealogical Research Library and Archive Center in Perryville, and the Keller Public Library in Dexter.
Are your ancestors Lost or Hiding? Would you simply like to know more about them? Backstory Bloodhound, LLC can help!
Per the American Kennel Association – “The world-famous 'Sleuth Hound' does one thing better than any creature on earth: find people who are lost or hiding. An off-duty Bloodhound is among the canine kingdom's most docile citizens, but he's relentless and stubborn on a scent.”*
- Source: “Bloodhound, About the Breed,” - https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bloodhound/
Backstory Bloodhound, LLC is owned by Rick Allen. Just like a bloodhound pursues its target, I promise to relentlessly pursue your backstory (your family’s ancestry). I have solved many long-standing brick wall problems because I just do not give up! As a local historian, I can also provide on-site historical research.
While the internet is often helpful, it is important to note that many tough genealogical brick walls are still solved by digging into the original records often found in courthouses, archives, and libraries. Some of these are on the internet but most are not. Each fact I uncover in my research will be fully sourced and documented.
I specialize in:
- Onsite and Online Professional Research/Consultations – Family History and Regional History in Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, Southern and Midwestern Research
- Problem-Solving and Online Genealogical Research – Midwestern and Southern United States
- Free Initial Consultations
- DNA Analysis (generally as a part of a research package)
Ready to Begin Your Family History Journey?
With over 35 years of experience, I can get you started on your family tree journey. Much information can usually be discovered on your ancestry in a minimum ten hour research session. You will leave with a solid background on your family and recommendations for next steps.
$125
5 HOUR SESSION
Beginning Backstory Bloodhound Hunt
Minimum of 5 hours online research
Reports sent via e-mail/Free Phone Consultation
$125 Payment
$330
10 HOUR SESSION
$165 required on retainer
Reports sent via e-mail
$165 Retainer Payment
$620
20 HOUR SESSION
$310 required on retainer
Reports sent via e-mail
$310 Retainer Payment
$65
Pope County, Illinois Death Records, 1877 - 1915 With Annotations
Postage paid, hardbound copy, completely indexed
$65 Payment
Basic Services
FREE
Consultation
30 MINUTE SESSION
Zoom or Phone
No Obligation
Explore the possibilities!
Need Just a Little Help?
Research Plan – Coaching/Consultations
When you select this option, I will spend a minimum of 2 hours reviewing your past research and develop a plan for where to go next to achieve your objectives. You select the number of hours you would like based upon your objectives. Upon receipt of the plan, you can elect to pursue the research on your own or I can then conduct it for you if desired.
$50 Payment
Ready to get started?
Email us at rick@backstorybloodhound.com
"Rick Allen is an historical detective who tenaciously researches the past. He takes you on an adventure that leads down paths filled with twists, turns, and surprises. My ancestors ceased to be names and dates on paper. They became people I knew." ~Alice
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