Clayton Library is pleased to present Tim Pinnick - book author, article writer, and national speaker with more than 30 years of research experience. Since 2008 he has been an associate instructor in the biennial “Researching African American Ancestors” course at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. He is at the intersection of history and genealogy, having presented historical papers at four large conferences, and served on the boards of the Association of Professional Genealogists and Federation of Genealogical Societies.

Lectures - Saturday, February 24, 2018 | 10:30 AM – 3:15 PM

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM | The WWI Draft Card: Don't Do African American Research Without It!

WWI registration cards contain valuable imbedded pieces of information that can become leads in solving some genealogical roadblocks for researchers, including African Americans. An understanding of the history and intent of registration are key to getting the most out of this resource.

11:50 AM – 1 PM | Developing the Genealogy of an African American Community: A Case Study

Learn the details of a long-term project revolving around the collection of information on a group of African Americans in a specific community into a major database of integrated genealogical data, with the goal of constructing the genealogy of a community. Audience members will see how building such a database can be a worthwhile endeavor for any serious researcher.

1 PM – 1:55 PM | Lunch Break

2 PM – 3:15 PM | Using Newspapers as Part of the African American Research Process

Individuals conducting African American research will find newspapers, both black and mainstream, an extremely valuable part of their search strategy. Developed from years of work in this field, a compilation of 25 key tips, strategies, and resources will be shared with the audience, each designed to empower the researcher.

Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens.