The Journey Back Is The Way Forward 

Origin-exploring genealogical services to help you reclaim your roots so you can walk your family's legacy, reconnect with your past, and return home to yourself.

Photo by Nicole Cavelli on Unsplash

Welcome to Roots To Return

Understanding where you come from is just as important as knowing who you are, and is the key to understanding your family's legacy. Roots To Return services are designed to help you unearth and illuminate your roots, reclaim the stories of your ancestors, and reconnect to the places they once lived and the cultures that shaped them.

Genealogical & Historical Services

A black and white photograph of an elderly man and woman standing outdoors, both looking at the camera with serious expressions. The man is tall, wearing a dark blazer over a white shirt, and has light-colored pants. The woman wears glasses, a dark jacket over a light blouse, and dark pants. There are some plants or bushes in front of them, and a woman in a hat visible in the background.

Research

Helping you to reclaim, reconnect, and return to your roots.

Wooden bookshelf filled with old, worn leather-bound books.

Story Finding & Telling

Illuminating hidden narratives that educate, inspire curiosity, spark conversation, and bring our shared history

A historical map of Cooper County, Missouri, with three black and white family photographs overlaid. The photographs include a portrait of a young man in a suit, two women in dresses standing outdoors, and a family with a man, woman, and child standing under a tree.

Ancestral Heritage Travel

Helping you reconnect with and return to your ancestral places, so you can walk in your legacy.

Roots To Return promises to unearth your roots, honor your family history, and help you return to your ancestral places. The joy is in the journey.

“I am, because you are”
— the African philosophy of Ubuntu

A Customized Experience In the Spirit of Interdependence

At the heart of my work is a compassionate commitment to honoring the unique stories of diverse family structures and experiences. I strive to understand your personal narrative and your family history goals. I help you make sense of your history in a way that reflects your identity. My approach honors the ancestors you are tethered to and braids together their stories. Exploring family history is an emotional journey. My goal is to support you throughout this process. I help you foster connections, find healing, and confidently engage with your roots. Together, we create a space for you to engage with your family history in a meaningful way and take ownership of your unfolding narrative.

Kelly McCoy, Founder, Roots To Return

A smiling woman with curly brown hair wearing a green and yellow scarf and hoop earrings against a plain light-colored background.

Let’s Get Rooted!

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