Black History Month in June

Every February, we celebrate the profound impact of African Americans in the United States and around the world. But for genealogists tracing African American family history, every month is Black History Month. Each and every day is about encountering and celebrating the strength of grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, ancestors and kin whose varied experiences together form the chorus of American history.

While we lift up the stories of African Americans every February, genealogists and family historians have a unique opportunity this June to experience Black History during a week of intensive study of African Americans in the South.

African Americans in the South - TIGR

Texas State Genealogical Society hosts a week-long institute for anyone looking for a more intensive experience to improve their genealogical skills. This year, Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) is going virtual and will be held June 13–18, 2021. Last month, I wrote about all of the courses available, but I'd like to share more about a new course available this year!

This June, TIGR has its first course focused on African American research in the South. Coordinated and taught by Ari Wilkins, along with five other instructors, this course will cover records and tools for researching African Americans from the antebellum South through the 21st century.

The full course schedule is available here. According to Ari Wilkins, the "curriculum has been carefully crafted to aid in a methodical research of African American genealogy." 

Instructors

As if the course description weren't enough, the opportunity to work with these great instructors should have you searching for the registration button! Ari Wilkins is "particularly excited about TIGR’s inaugural African American course and our line up of faculty with diverse expertise" including "members with library backgrounds and academic research."

Ari Wilkins, this TIGR course Coordinator, is an experienced genealogist specializing in African American research and migration. She is the owner of Black Genesis, a genealogical consulting company, and is a Library Associate at Dallas Public Library. She's a well-known genealogical speaker and brings her passion to this awesome collaboration at TIGR.

Deborah A. Abbott, PhD specializes in African American research, manuscript collections, and genealogy methodology. She is a retired professor of Counseling, a lecturer at IGHR (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research) and SLIG (Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy), a published writer, and is active in the genealogy community in her native Ohio and around the country. 

Sharon Batiste Gillins has a 40+ year career in education including as an Associate Professor, genealogy lecturer, and adjunct faculty at IGHR. She is currently a Research Associate at the Mary Moody Northern Endowment in Galveston, Texas.

Tim Pinnick has taught at IGHR and MAAGI (Midwest African American Genealogy Institute), is the author of numerous articles and the book, "Finding and Using African American Newspapers." In addition to being a national speaker and being a member of numerous genealogy societies, he also served on the board of the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

Shamele Jordon is a professional genealogist, producer, writer, and lecturer. She is an award-winning producer and instructor, and researched for the PBS series Oprah's Roots: African American Lives I and II. She is a board member and faculty at IGHR, and is involved in societies in Philadelphia and in New Jersey. 

Franklin Carter Smith is a DNA specialist, a licensed attorney, genealogist, and is currently a Senior Library Service Specialist at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research of the Houston Public Library. In addition to several published articles, he co-authored "A Genealogists Guide to Discovering your African-American Ancestors" with Emily Anne Croom.

To read more about each faculty member, you can click here.

Juneteenth 2021

This year, Juneteenth falls on the Saturday at the end of TIGR. With Juneteenth's roots as Emancipation Day in Texas, TIGR will have a special celebration!

TIGR faculty member Sharon Gillins will be giving a special Juneteenth presentation that will be open to all institute students! Just another great reason to join this course at TIGR this year!

Registration

The course is limited to 40 participants, so register today! Registration is open now, and if you sign up before April 30, 2021, the cost is $425 for non-members of Texas State Genealogical Society. 

Registration after May 1,2021 is $475 and is open until May 31, 2021.

To register, click here.

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Black History is American History. Genealogical research in the South necessarily involves African American genealogy, along with its unique challenges. African Americans in the South, the inaugural institute course at TIGR, is your opportunity to dive deep with renowned lecturers and experienced researchers.

Have you been to an institute before? Are you ready to take the dive deeper into one of these great topics? Register today! 

If you have any questions about TIGR this year, don't hesitate to ask me; I'll do my best to help you find answers to your questions.

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!