Eric Schubert, a student at Elizabethtown College who is serving as an intern this summer at the Hershey History Center, began studying genealogy at the age of 10 as a hobby. In the decade since then, Schubert has helped adoptees find their birth parents, created family trees for those interested in their ancestry and has even helped law enforcement to solve cold cases.
Schubert has started his own company, ES Genealogy, which offers family tree mapping and other services. "All in all, I probably spend 12 hours a day on my phone or computer working on (genealogy projects)," said Schubert. "I work on a dozen or two dozen cases at a time. I certainly keep myself busy."
Currently, Schubert is working on a variety of projects. "Finding parents for people who are adopted is part of it," he noted. "Another part is genealogical-type mysteries that people have, (such as) 'Where is my grandmother buried?' I also help people do their own family trees."
"I always need to be mum on my police work: the only things I can publicly say at this time are the fact that I have a solved case in Pennsylvania, and I have about a half dozen other cases on my plate right now," he added.
Not all outcomes from Schubert's work are positive. For example, he located the birth mother of one of his friends, who was adopted, but the mother did not want to communicate with her daughter. However, Schubert was able to find the same friend's half-sister, and the pair had a tearful meeting.
"There is definitely a lot of happy scenarios that occur all the time," Schubert said, explaining the results of his research. "I always say I am part PI, part detective and part therapist."
Schubert will be a junior this fall at Elizabethtown, where he has a dual major of political science and history. He utilizes his research skills as an intern at the Hershey History Center, most recently offering a free virtual program about genealogy titled "History Happy Hour With Eric."
"I'll be there working on a variety of research projects and historic preservation projects. I just started in June, so it's still a new experience," he said of the internship. "It's been a fun opportunity so far."
When asked what his plans are after college graduation, Schubert said he hopes to incorporate his genealogy business into his future. "I am just hoping my varied experiences will guide me to where I need to be," he stated.
Schubert, who was featured on the national TV news show "CBS This Morning," has received commendations from the New Jersey State Assembly and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, which included a personal phone call from the governor. "It was a surprise call commending me for my genealogy work. And what a surprise it was," Schubert said.
More information about Schubert is available at http://www.facebook.com/ESGenealogy.
The Hershey History Center, home of the Hershey - Derry Township Historical Society, is located at 40 Northeast Drive, Hershey. To learn more about programs and activities at the center, visit http://www.facebook.com/hersheyhistory.org or http://www.hersheyhistory.org.
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