Xandra O’Neill

Xandra O’Neill is a project archivist, genealogist, and writer who lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. She has been doing genealogy research intensively since 2020 and has a particular interest in the history of the Jewish communities of suburban Philadelphia and other smaller Jewish communities throughout Pennsylvania. In 2024 she completed her master’s in library science with a focus on local history and archives, and she is currently nearing completion of her certification in Judaica and Hebraica librarianship through the Association of Jewish Libraries and the Jewish Theological Seminary. She sees herself as a protector of stories, using archival work, genealogical research, and writing to help ensure that the stories of the past survive for those in the future.

Xandra has taught genealogy workshops on topics that include organizing your research including digital and physical records using genealogy software and online platforms; keeping your research safe; going beyond the basics to uncover hard-to-find information and break down brick walls; and using family photographs and artifacts to uncover untold family stories. She has also facilitated many writing and meditation retreats and workshops and weaves storytelling and mindfulness into her genealogy workshops.