Led by Angela Bass-Brenner, Top Notch Genealogy and Research Services is a family business based in Evansville, Indiana, dedicated to producing heirloom-quality books that preserve and illuminate family history. Each project is shaped by the company’s core values: factual in research, focused in approach, and fascinating in storytelling.

Top Notch Genealogy offers far more than lineage charts—it’s about uncovering the stories that give ancestors dimension and meaning. “Family is about their stories,” Angela explains. “Why did they do what they did? What was important in their lives? I love to dig up the details others might overlook and help families connect with their past on a personal level.”

For Angela Bass-Brenner, genealogy began with an unexpected spark. As a high school freshman, she spent two weeks with her grandmother during a teacher strike. Her grandmother had a passion for tracing family roots, and together they explored historical records at the Pike County Library. Angela had always enjoyed history, but that experience deepened her interest in family history specifically. Life moved forward—she earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and a master’s in elementary education, raised her children, and navigated the everyday demands of family life.

In 2022, Angela’s world shifted dramatically when she went through a divorce. Living with cerebral palsy and facing the reality of fluctuating energy levels, she knew she needed a path forward that could balance her health and her desire for meaningful work. That turning point came through a class at the Evansville Christian Life Center called Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World (GAIN). During that class, she built a plan to transform her lifelong passion for genealogy into a business. The seed for Top Notch Genealogy and Research Services was planted.

The class instructor, Stephen Ralph, recommended that Angela contact SCORE, a national business mentoring program. She was paired with a mentor from Zionsville who shared her interest in family history. He introduced her to the Small Business Librarian for the Indianapolis Public Library system, who offered guidance as she prepared to launch. Angela officially incorporated her business in June 2024 and soon realized she would need a microloan to get started. Her mentor then connected her with the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which helped her explore funding options and develop a formal business plan.

Angela was paired with her Southwest Indiana SBDC business advisor, Kim Spence, who helped her begin shaping a formal business plan. She used LivePlan business planning software and worked with Jeff Bone, Old National Bank’s liaison to the University of Evansville Microloan Program, to prepare for funding. Through that program, which is part of a banking practicum course, Angela secured a microloan. “I give the students updates every couple of months,” she explains. “They’re incredibly supportive and even follow my Facebook page. I love being part of something that helps them gain real-world experience—I think it’s a valuable program.”

Top Notch Genealogy offers packages ranging from single family line reports to multi-volume histories, as well as specialized topical books and gift certificates. Each project is tailored to capture not just who ancestors were, but the legacies they left behind.

Angela researches extensively, drawing from Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, newspapers, census data, and library archives. Every detail is verified through historical records before publication. Most packages culminate in a coffee table–style book filled with profiles, photos, and narratives—one volume included over 500 sources.

Top Notch is also a family affair. Angela leads the research and writing, her father, Steve Bass, designs the books, and her son, Maddox Brenner, contributes accounting and website support. Together, they bring to life stories ranging from Oregon Trail pioneers to Catholic immigrants who helped shape Indiana communities. Clients are often amazed by what she uncovers—neighbors of Thomas Lincoln, train robbers, and even forgotten community leaders.

For Angela, genealogy isn’t just research—it’s a way to connect families. “I’ve had families sitting around at Thanksgiving, flipping through their book and realizing they’re related to people they never knew about. That’s what makes it all worth it.” Often, clients come to her with a story that’s been passed down, wanting to know if it’s true or where it came from. “I start with what they know,” she says. “I listen carefully to what they want to learn and the kind of tone they want the book to have.”

For Angela, the business is also a passion project. “It’s hard to put into words how excited I get when I find a nugget of interesting information,” she exclaims. As her business grows, she is expanding her skills, even studying German genealogy to better serve the many clients in Evansville with German roots. Her vision is to grow Top Notch into a nationally recognized business while staying rooted in the storytelling that makes her work special.

Her advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs: “If you’ve got an idea and a dream, there are so many resources here in Evansville. They may be hard to find, but if you lean on your community and stay persistent, you can achieve it.”

Visit the website, https://topnotchgenealogy.com/, to read examples of the stories she shares and for package details.