BOOKS & PROJECTS
Exploring the intersections of history, genealogy, health, and science
CURRENT BOOK
“The book fills a long-standing gap for those seeking clarity, guidance, and historical insight into Jamaica’s complex genealogical records.”
Jamaican Genealogy Research:
A Practical Guide to the Best Resources for Tracing Your Ancestry
Dr. Vilma Ruddock’s debut book is a comprehensive guide to tracing Jamaican ancestry, preserving family legacy, and delving into the island’s “Out of Many, One People” history and heritage. Published on 12/24/2024 for researchers at all levels, this book evolved from over two decades of researching her family history and her passion for learning, writing, and teaching.
The practical guide fills the gap for people of Jamaican descent worldwide who are seeking help to uncover their ancestry and expand their family tree. Vilma provides a detailed guide to the major websites, databases, digital collections, and global archives for finding Jamaican baptism, birth, marriage, death, and burial (BMD) records, wills, land patents and deeds, immigration records, and other valuable genealogical documents.
The book goes beyond records and repositories to provide historical context—illuminating Jamaica’s record-keeping, its captivating colonial history of sugar and slavery, wars and rebellions, pirates and prisoners, the origins of the island’s multiethnic ancestry, and its enduring global connections.
NEXT BOOK COMING SOON
Jamaican History for Genealogy Researchers
The next book will explore the aspects of Jamaica’s history that are important for family historians to know: the events that shaped their ancestors’ lives and the island’s multiethnic and cultural heritage.
OTHER WRITINGS
Award Winner: Writer's Digest 94th Annual Writing Competition (2025)
Out of Many, One People: The Origins of Jamaican Ancestry
The essay was a 5th-place winner in its nonfiction category. It examines the historical foundation of Jamaica’s national motto, Out of Many, One People, forged from the island’s multi-ethnic origins and shared identity and belonging. There were 3800 entries from 45 countries in the competition.
Traces Newsletter Featured Article:
Deep Rivers: A Transatlantic Conversation
Published in the 2025 Spring/Summer issue of Traces, a quarterly newsletter of the University College London’s Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery. Deep Rivers: A Transatlantic Conversation highlights Dr. Ruddock’s contributions to Jamaican genealogy and sharing the stories of Jamaica’s ancestors and their connections across continents.
Posts, Guides, and Essays
Explore Dr. Ruddock’s growing collection of published posts, guides, and essays on Jamaican genealogy and history, health and wellness, including:
- The Origins of Jamaica’s Ancestors
- Spanish Jamaica: Tracing History and Ancestry 1509 to 1655
- History of the Jews in Jamaica
- Jamaican Storytelling Traditions
UPCOMING PROJECTS
Lessons and Stories From My Grandmother
A collection of essays inspired by the love, wisdom, and quiet strength of Dr. Ruddock’s grandmother, Rose—a Jamaican midwife whose steadfast principles continue to shape her life and work. Blending memory and reflection, this forthcoming project celebrates the enduring legacies of family, community, and devotion.
Genes and Genealogy
Learn the fundamentals of how genealogy and ancestral legacy intersect with the science and magic of reproduction and how genes are inherited (Genetic Genealogy).
Health and Heritage
A work-in-progress exploring how family history, health, and genetic inheritance intertwine—offering new perspectives on how our ancestry influences both our identity and well-being.