The following news release was received from Janis Minor Forté:
The year 2009 is a historic time in more ways than one. In addition to other historic events, 2009 is also the 30th Anniversary of the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago, Inc. To celebrate this anniversary, this organization will present at its 27th Annual Family History Conference, the nationally known Professor Spencer R. Crew of George Mason University. Professor Crew’s Keynote Address, “The Critical and Often Overlooked Role Played by African Americans in the Underground Railroad” will focus on how blacks in free states did not get enough of the credit for their roll in the abolition movement. The aggressive activitism of these free people of color likely moved the emancipation process forward.
In recent years genealogy has become the nation’s fastest growing pastime. The need for information about ancestors and family heritage continue to capture the imagination of us all and African Americans have become increasingly engrossed in the study of their history. Beginning 12:30p.m., Friday, Oct. 9th and continuing thru 6:00p.m., Saturday, October 10, 2009, a series of conference workshops will be presented.
In addition to Professor Crew’s Keynote Address on Saturday, October 10th, other local and nationally known genealogists and archivists will convene at The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, 5200 S. University, Chicago, Illinois. On Friday, October 9th workshops include: Janis Minor Forté, “Resolving Conflicting Information”, Paul D. Pugh, “ Basic Beginning”, Ken McKay, “I’m past my pedigree chart”, Ivy Dunn, “You Need to Organize”, and Carolyn Warfield, “George Warfield: Ex-Slave and Civil War Veteran” On Sat, October 10, following Professor Crew’s keynote presentation, the workshops will include, Renee Moore, “Putting it on paper: A writers workshop A & B”, Anita Boyd, “Lies, Big Lies: Balancing Oral Stories with Documentation”. Additional these two days of conferencing will provide a panel of experienced book authors, including Attorney Roma Stewart, Tony Burroughs and Eric Smith. Other workshops in “Desktop Publishing” with Dr. Ivy Dunn and “Developing Your Query” with Nettie Nesbary round out the two days of events.
The Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago, founded in 1979, is a not-for-profit organization with more than 200 members who research African-American family history.
For more information, contact the society by mail, phone, or e-mail as follows: AAGHSC, P. O. Box 37-7651, Chicago, IL 60637-7651, (312) 458-0837 or e-mail us at aaghsc@yahoo.com. You may also visit our website at www.aaghsc.org.
