A new virtual workshop series led by nationally recognized genealogist and storyteller Nicka Sewell Smith will guide participants through the powerful journey of African American family history research, with a focus on centering Black voices, narratives and ancestral legacies.
Hosted by Weeksville Heritage Center, in collaboration with arts and cultural strategist Robyne Walker Murphy, the free series will begin May 7 and run through July 23, offering tools and techniques for tracing African American ancestry through historical records, oral traditions, and DNA testing, according to a press release.
The four-part series includes the following sessions:
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May 7: Beginning African American Genealogy
Through this session, attendees will learn how to trace ancestors through the basics of genealogy research. -
May 21: The Trifecta – The Secret Sauce of Researching the Formerly Enslaved
Discover how Civil War records, Freedmen’s Bureau documents, and probate files can help identify slaveholders and uncover key family history. -
June 25: Through This Soil – Finding and Tracing the Family Land
Explore how formerly enslaved people pursued land ownership and how to track ancestral property through land records. -
July 23: Introduction to DNA and Genealogy
Understand the basics of DNA testing, what to expect from results, and how to manage family DNA projects with care and privacy.
For more information, click here.
