Black History Revealed: Beginner Genealogy Workshop

About this event

Your family history research in action

In America's 250th year, uncovering African American family histories is both an act of remembrance and a meaningful contribution to understanding America's past, present and future. Join us for an interactive genealogy workshop designed to help participants actively work on their own family history. In the beginner workshop, participants will learn where to start and how to trace families back to the 1870 census.

The workshop will be facilitated by professional genealogists, with additional support available to help participants navigate records, evaluate evidence, and develop next steps. Expect to leave with a deeper understanding of how African American family histories fit within the American narrative, practice experience using core genealogy tools and historical records, and strategies for overcoming common research obstacles.

This event is free to the public, courtesy of a Virginia Humanities grant and in partnership with the Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington project.

Agenda:

10:00 am - 12:00 pm: This session introduces a clear four-step approach to genealogy and highlights 10 essential tools for tracing African American ancestry, with special attention to records created before and after emancipation.

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: The afternoon features two hands-on breakout workshops, one at the beginner level and one at the advanced level. In the advanced workshop, participants will work directly on their own family research with guidance from experienced genealogists.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop, tablet, or smartphone device for the afternoon sessions, along with any family names, dates, locations, documents or research questions they would like to explore.

About the presenters:

Andre Kearns is a nationally recognized genealogist, author, speaker, and Founder and CEO of Black Ancestries, a genealogy research and storytelling firm dedicated to helping people of African descent uncover, celebrate and preserve their family histories. He is Vice President of the National Genealogical Society.

Lisa Fanning is nationally recognized for her expertise in African American genealogy and genetic genealogy. Lisa serves on the Board of Directors of the National Genealogical Society. She was a featured guest on Season 2 of Crista Cowan's Stories that Live in Us , centered on America250. She has contributed to the DNA Doe Project, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre DNA Identification Project, and Search Squad.

Tyrone Goodwyn is the Vice President of the North Carolina Genealogy Society and is involved with the National Genealogical Society and several others. He is currently working with Colonial Williamsburg and Custis museums to identify the persons enslaved by the Custis/George Washington/Robert E. Lee family dynasty, from 1600s Eastern Shore to 1800s Mount Vernon.

Luke Alexander is a genealogist and community historian focusing on African American and Indigenous heritage in the Carolinas. He i