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Join Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest’s African American Advisory Group for this special talk and workshop uncovering how you can get started with your genealogy and how you can use family treasures to learn about your family history. Hosted at the Jones Memorial Library (2311 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg, VA 24501) in partnership with Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.The day starts with mingling and a light breakfast before the session begins at 10 a.m. Genealogist and community historian, Bessida Cauthorne White will present a session entitled “Recognizing and Sharing Family Treasures” which will explore how you can identify, inventory, document, and save treasures in your family’s possessions. Deb Smith, Executive Director of Jones Memorial Library will then talk about what resources are available locally and how you can get started on your journey discovering your genealogical roots in physical records. This program is free and open to the public, but registration is suggested so we can plan refreshments accordingly.
Recognizing and Sharing Family Treasures
Family treasures are highly valued possessions that may have been passed down from generation to generation or may be newly acquired or created. They hold special meaning and tell stories about family members and their experiences. They can be almost anything, including jewelry, furniture, housewares, clothing and textiles, photographs, books and documents, tools, musical instruments, artwork, medals and awards, ephemera, etc.
Session topics will include how to identify family treasures, how to inventory them, document them, and establish their provenance. Each family treasure should be photographed and its story should be documented as fully as possible. Examples will be given of the use of oral history to identify treasures as well how to glean information about items that might have been stored together and/or have a similar source. The session will provide examples of creating a narrative for each treasure, and will include tips for researching treasures about which little is known.
The discussion will include the use of family treasures to explore and communicate family history and to shed light on the broader African-American story. The speaker will share a myriad of treasures from her own family history journey. She will talk about the various ways that she uses family treasures to interest and engage others, especially young persons, in the pursuit of family history, and to make that history come alive.
A handout for the session will include resources for identifying and preserving family treasures.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Jones Memorial Library, 2311 Memorial Avenue,Lynchburg, Virginia, United States
Tickets
