Explore the methods and resources for African American genealogy through the end of the Civil War. This workshop will focus on how to find free Black ancestors in the Library of Virginia's collections using records such as “Free Negro Registers,” wills, chancery court records, deeds and tax lists. Participants will learn how to determine whether an individual was enslaved or free. Lydia Neuroth, project manager of Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative; Vince Brooks, local records program manager; and Cara Griggs, senior reference archivist, will describe records related to Black and multiracial people who were free before the Civil War and demonstrate the use of digital resources such as the Chancery Records Index and Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative project for further research.
This is a free event, but registration is required. Limited free parking is available underneath the Library at 800 East Broad Street. For more information, contact education@lva.virginia.gov.