Michelle Taylor

About

Michelle Taylor is a professional genealogist based in Washington D.C. who incorporates archaeology and history into her genealogical research. Her research interests include public archaeology, 3D scanning, mapping, cemetery preservation, and military history.

She earned a Master of Arts in Public Anthropology from American University in May 2024. Her graduate research project focused on the growth of descendant communities at African American Cemeteries in the Middle Atlantic. Over the years, she has worked at various historic cemeteries and archaeological sites in Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky.

Most notably, she embarked on her first archaeological excavation at James Madison’s Montpelier while she was an undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University. This experience heightened her interest in archaeology, history, and genealogy.

The scholar continues to use her archaeological training to uncover the narratives and contributions of African Americans throughout history through her work as a professional genealogist.

Education

Master of Arts, Public Anthropology. American University. 2024
Bachelor of Science, Anthropology. Virginia Commonwealth University. 2015
Minor: History. Latin American Studies.
Bachelor of Arts, Foreign Languages. Virginia Commonwealth University. 2015

Concentration: Spanish.

Certifications & Awards

  • Graduate Certificate in Public Anthropology from American University
  • Year of Completion: 2023
  • Practical Genetic Genealogy Certificate from the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP)
  • Year of Completion: 2023
  • Forensic Art: Forensic Facial Reconstruction Sculpture Workshop from the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University
  • Year of Completion: 2022
  • Genealogical Institute on Federal Records Program’s Certificate from the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records
  • Year of Completion: 2021