Learn how to use county records to trace your genealogy! Joyce Dixon-Lawson will present African American Genealogy Workshop: County Records at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, at the William F. Winter Archives & History Building. This workshop will demonstrate how to trace African American genealogy using county records such as wills (probate and estate records), deeds, and marriage records. Space is limited for this program.
This event is full. Please save the date for our next genealogy workshop on August 12, with Joyce Dixon-Lawson.
For more information, call 601-576-6850, or email info@mdah.ms.gov.
Curious about tracing your roots in Mississippi but could use some guidance in interpreting complex records? Come to the Advanced African American Research workshop presented by Joyce Dixon-Lawson at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23. Centered around local and state records related to property, this workshop will guide you through the web of genealogical records, showcasing examples of wills, deeds, educable children records, and cemetery records.
Learn how to preserve your family photos for future generations to enjoy at our Community Curation Day: Preserving Family Photographs workshop. MDAH’s professional archivists will demonstrate sleeving and storing techniques. Archival supplies will be provided for guests to use while supplies last. This program is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Register at https://tickets.mdah.ms.gov/Info.aspx?EventID=12.
UPDATE: Introduction to African American Research is now full. If you would like to learn about upcoming genealogy workshops, sign up for our Weekly Update.
A brick wall is not the end of the line for family research. Join professional genealogist Kim Richardson on Saturday, April 30, at 10 a.m. for Break through Brick Walls, a Zoom presentation about the most common oversights in genealogy research and how to overcome the supposed dead-end search for a particularly hard to find ancestor. Registration is free and space is limited. Click here to register online.
Learn how to trace your military family tree with resources available at MDAH on Saturday, February 19, from 10 to 11 a.m. Jeff Giambrone, a historic resource specialist at MDAH, will lead the Finding Your Family: Intro to Military Research workshop at the William F. Winter Archives & History building.
“For anyone doing research into a Mississippi relative's military history, a trip to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History is vital,” said Giambrone.
MDAH staff will teach participants how to use military records of Mississippi soldiers from the American Revolution to World War II such as service records, pensions, grave registration cards, World War I draft registration forms, statement of service cards, and World War II discharge records that are available in the MDAH archival collections.
Giambrone is currently employed as a historian at MDAH. He earned his BA in history from Mississippi State University and an MA in history from Mississippi College. He has led numerous introductory genealogy workshops and enjoys helping curious participants research their family roots.
Registration is free and space is limited. Register online here. For more information call 601-576-6800.
Are you interested in learning more about the military service of your family members? Join us for Finding Your Family: Intro to Military Research at the William F. Winter Archives & History Building on Saturday, February 19, 10–11 a.m. MDAH staff will teach participants how to use military records of Mississippi soldiers from the American Revolution to World War II such as service records, pensions, grave registration cards, World War I draft registration forms, statement of service cards, and World War II discharge records that are available in the MDAH archival collections.
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) will award fellowships of up to $2,000 to support individuals hoping to locate information related to their family history using resources available at MDAH. The fellowships are a part of a year-long initiative in 2022 to expand understanding of the Great Migration and its impact on Mississippi and the nation.
“The Great Migration is the largest internal migration of people in U.S. history. Many families who left Mississippi still feel a close connection to our state. We’re glad to be able to help them come back to Mississippi and research their roots,” said MDAH director Katie Blount.
Ten research stipends of up to $2,000 will be awarded to ten researchers to travel to Jackson, MS, and conduct three consecutive days of research at MDAH. Selected applicants may schedule their fellowships during the months of February, April, May, June, and July 2022. The stipend may be used to cover travel, accommodations, and other expenses accrued during the researcher’s time at MDAH such as the cost of copies. For more information or to apply, click here.
The Great Migration Initiative is a partnership between MDAH and the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA). Additional programs and events include the exhibitions A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration at MMA, The Negro Motorist Green Book Guide at MDAH, joint teacher workshop, and other programs related to art and history. For more information on the Great Migration Initiative, email info@mdah.ms.gov.
Curious about tracing your lost family history, but don’t know how or where to start? Join us for our virtual Beginning Genealogy workshop with MDAH director of library services Ally Mellon on Saturday, August 28, at 10 a.m. Participants will learn how to begin genealogical research and use public resources available in the MDAH archival collections. *UPDATE: Registration for this event is now full.