A Story of Connection, Discovery, and the Complexities of Heritage

While standing on her grandfather's porch, Cindy was drawn by her ancestors to discover who she is by learning who they were and where they came from.

As she uncovered her family history using various genealogy databases, she began to piece together the puzzle of her family's story-from trans-Atlantic migrations and roots in England, the Netherlands, and Germany to the homes and lives built in Virginia, New York, Iowa, and North Carolina. Her quest became a journey across the world.

Standing where they stood, she found a connection to them, but she also found questions. Why had they left? Did they find what they hoped for in the new places? Who had they harmed along the way? And what was her role in repairing those relationships on behalf of her ancestors?

Through essays and original photography organized by lineage and location, Cindy weaves together narratives that situate her life within the particular nexus of personal and historical legacies of heartbreak and desire.

For anyone who has sought their own place in the world, Ancestral Landscapes provides a guide for genealogical research and offers grace for what may be found along the way.