Scandinavian Family Research Services
What clients say
Every family history project begins with different questions. Here are some of the experiences clients have shared after working with me on Scandinavian research, transcription, and translation projects.
“After receiving more than two dozen letters handwritten in Norwegian about 1950, I turned to her for translation services. She provided me with a typed version of the documents, with the translated text side by side with typed copy of the original Norwegian. … She communicated with me throughout the project and provided her help at a very reasonable price.
I simply cannot thank her enough for her help with my research, and through her services I have a more full understanding of my Norwegian ancestors.”
Lauren Rogers
“I hit a roadblock with my Norwegian great-grandfather, as I had no knowledge of how to research Norwegian records, no understanding of the naming conventions, and no understanding of the language.
I turned to Torhild for help, and she was able to obtain a birth record and confirmation record for me and also provide the translation of the documents so that it could become an official part of my membership packet! I am very excited to say that I am now a member of the DAR, which has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I could not have done it without Torhild’s help!”
Debbi Wilfong
“Torhild Shirley has given me much kind, knowledgeable support as I have researched my Norwegian roots. She has suggested resources unknown to me and then helped me translate and interpret the clues available in these records.
At one point I found the correct names in northern Norway, but could not determine if they were in my line. She went to census records and to records of the previous generation to determine that this couple could not be on my line in spite of the similarities. She is an organized thinker able to understand my dilemmas and to recognize a way to proceed to solve. I appreciate her professionalism.”
Joan Justis
“In the bible, there was a handwritten document in Norwegian that I believed to be a Patriarchal Blessing. I knew that Torhild Shirley was a native Norwegian and so I took the document to her to see if she could translate it for me. In short order, she returned the original document with a typed English translation.
It was indeed a Patriarchal blessing. … The blessing is a treasure for our family, remarkable in its content and the blessings pronounced. I am grateful for Torhild’s willingness to do the translation and for her quick response.”
Dean W. Quayle
“She has helped me with another potential problem as another cousin has made a second record of my Norwegian great grandmother in Family Search. Some of the new information conflicted with my sources. She went online, found the parish baptismal record.… She found the farm record and even sent me a Google Maps link to the farm in Norway where my people were located.
I have been very pleased with her competent help in untangling problems in my Norwegian tree. Her knowledge of how genealogy works in Norway is impressive. She understands the history and culture, which gives her an extra edge. I would whole heartily recommend her.”
Joan Elder