About Me
Amy Butterworth Hesseldahl
Born and raised in Virginia and now based in New York’s Hudson Valley, Amy combines thorough research, careful analysis, and clear communication to help clients and readers better understand the past. A background in graphic design and instructional design shapes how she communicates research findings.
A life long learner, Amy has completed advanced genealogical studies from the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Institute of Genealogy and History Research (IGHR), and GenProof.
Volunteerism is important and Amy shares her talents with the North Carolina Genealogical Society (NCGS) and transcribes for the New York City Municipal Archives.
Before genealogy, Amy built a career as a professional opera singer, earning a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall.
My path to genealogy started with this handsome guy. →
My father was adopted, and growing up, it wasn't something the family talked about much. In 2018, I set out to find his birth origins. He agreed to take a DNA test, and about a year later I started finding answers. That search gave me the paternal half of my family tree. It also gave me the discovery that I love digging through records more than almost anything.
Butterworth: A Family Name
Butterworth's Furniture Store opened in Virginia in 1927, and my father was the third generation to own and run it. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of going to work with him, riding the elevators and working behind the counter. When he retired in 2025, I made sure the store's ledgers and records were preserved. I think about them often. Families leave their stories in records like these, and somebody has to go find them.
