Events

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Black History Revealed: Expanding the American

Story Through African American Genealogy

Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington Project in conjunction with the Center for Local History invites you to help tell a more complete American story. African American family histories—shaped by enslavement, emancipation, resilience, and community—are essential to understanding that story.

Black History Revealed: Expanding the American Story with African American Genealogy is a free, halfday interactive workshop free to the public that is designed to help participants uncover, reclaim, andpreserve African American family histories using proven research strategies and essential genealogical tools.

Morning Session (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Foundations & Tools

Getting Started with Genealogy: Four Steps to Uncovering Your Family History
10 Essential Tools for Tracing African American Ancestry

Lunch Break (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

Afternoon Breakout Workshops (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM): Your Family History Research in Action

Participants will in small breakout groups organized by experience level: Please Bring Your Device

• Beginner – Learning where to start and tracing families back to the 1870 census.

• Advanced/Brick Walls – Reconstruct the post-emancipation generation (circa 1865–1870) using census records, Freedmen’s Bureau materials, and related sources and applying targeted strategies to address complex research challenges and explore slavery era records.

Each breakout is facilitated by professional genealogists, with additional support available to helpparticipants navigate records, evaluate evidence, and develop next steps. Presenters Include Andre Kearns, Lisa Fanning, Tyrone Goodwyn, Luke Alexander from Black Ancestries, a genealogy research and storytelling firm dedicated to helping people of African descent uncover, celebrate, and preserve their family histories:

For Additional Information and to Register Here