Rita Ackerman: Research Specialist
Genealogical and Historical Research

Welcome to my Web site. Please take some time to look around and get to know me. If you have any questions just click on Contact Me to the left and leave a message. Thank you for stopping by.

I have 35 years experience as a professional genealogist and historical researcher specializing in my home state of Arizona. I have worked for private individuals, heir research companies, law firms and authors. I have taught beginning and advanced genealogy through Phoenix College, special interest courses for various cities and the Family History Society of Arizona.

I was born near Dodge City, Kansas in the early 1950s and was raised on the Old West and the television westerns that were so popular at the time. This was the beginnings of my deep interest in history and the people who made it.

I began tracing my family history in 1977 to fill in gaps from never having known my father and his family. Over the years I have learned more about him, met some of his sisters and cousins and have some pictures I never would have gotten otherwise.

My mother and I moved to Arizona in 1967 where I finished school and went on to Arizona State University to receive a Bachelor of Social Work.  I completed the National Genealogical Study Course and I've attended numerous genealogical and writing seminars and conferences.

I began taking clients for all areas of historical research in 1990. I have many on-going and repeat clients.  

My interest in the Old West led to the publication of two books: O.K. Corral Postscript: The Death of Ike Clanton (now out of print) and Tombstone: Who, What, When, Where. (Available through this Web site.) I have also written for Wild West Magazine, The Wild West History Association journal and I'm a monthly contributor to the Tombstone Times journal.

Bringing my love of genealogy and the research methods of that area to historical research gave me an advantage in tracing Wild West history. Now as I go back and forth from family research to strictly historical research I feel I have the best experience to solve many questions and problems. This advantage and my own drive to solve mysteries and love of plowing through old records make me a researcher who gets results.