African American Family History Symposium in Westlake March 9

A free, full-day seminar on tracing African American heritage will be held on Saturday, March 09 from 9 am – 3:30 pm in Westlake. The African American Family History Symposium brings together nationally-acclaimed historians and genealogists from Washington DC, North Carolina, and the Cleveland area.

This event follows up on the tremendous interest shown by more than 400 attendees who flocked to last year’s African American Family History Symposium from as far away as Pittsburgh, Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Presentations and workshops will offer a variety of learning experiences for the absolute beginner, the history buff, the genealogically-curious and the advanced researcher.

This year’s keynote speaker will be LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson. Retired after 35 years as a prominent tax attorney and partner at Ernst & Young, she became a certified genealogist and certified genealogical lecturer, focusing on African American families with roots in the South. In 2017, The Sons & Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage lineage society presented her with the Phillis Wheatley Literary Award. Learn more about her at https://www.LaBGarrettgenealogy.com/.

Attendees are able to attend presentations on beginning genealogy; using popular websites for genealogy; writing your own life story; and common genealogical sources such as censuses and vital records. More specialized topics include using DNA to confirm oral history; mining records to research African American families; finding your ancestors through funeral records; U.S. Colored Troops; military records from 1775 to Vietnam; finding and using school records to trace your ancestors; using FamilySearch.org to find hidden gems, and treasures in the Cuyahoga County archives.

Expert speakers include professional genealogists Hollis Gentry, Dr. Deborah Abbott and Tim Pinnick, who have extensive and nationally-recognized expertise in African American research. Family Tree Magazine columnist and Ohio Genealogy News Editor Sunny Morton will also be presenting. Other speakers include Cuyahoga County Archivist Judy G. Cetina; Lt. Col. Eric E. Johnson, Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, and Sandra Milton.

In addition to these classes and presentations, a lunch will be provided to all pre-registered attendees. Interested persons can register online before March 2, 2019 at www.tinyurl.com/aafhs2019 or call (216) 386-1833.

This symposium is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Cleveland, Ohio Stake) in partnership with the African-American Genealogical Society, Cleveland, Ohio, The Oberlin African-American Genealogy and History Group and Benesch Friedlander, LLP. It will be held at 25000 Westwood Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145.

Event speakers and organizers are available upon request for interview. Head shots and other images are also available. Please contact Sandra Hruza, Public Affairs Representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at shruza@ldspublicaffairs.org with further questions or to arrange an interview.

About the Event Hosts:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is the sponsoring organization of FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org), the largest genealogical organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit family history organization dedicated to connecting families across generations. FamilySearch believes that families bring joy and meaning to life. The Church is the host of the free Family History Center, located at the event venue in Westlake, Ohio.

The African-American Genealogical Society, Cleveland, Ohio (AAGS, http://aagsclev.org/) is committed to assisting novice historians in beginning their family research; facilitating networking among African-American researchers who share a common heritage and culture; and promoting African-American genealogical studies among the larger community. Membership is open to anyone interested in genealogy and family history. Members share their experiences and knowledge within the society and the general public at large.

The Oberlin African-American Genealogy and History Group (http://www.oaaghg.com) was organized in 2000 and is dedicated to encouraging support for African-American genealogy and historical research. Membership in OAAGHG is open to anyone with an interest in African-American genealogy regardless of race or residency.

Benesch Friedlander is a full service law firm located in Cleveland, Ohio and other cities across the country. Benesch is proud of its commitment to diversity and the successes that commitment has generated, both historically and today. Benesch is very proud to be a sponsor of this event for a second consecutive year.