Black Roots: Tracing Your Family Tree

Are you trying to learn more about yourself by tracing your family heritage? Do you have an old picture of great-great grandparents but want to know more about who they were and how they lived?

Distinguished genealogist and historian Tony Burroughs will be available Tuesday, February 10 at Harold Washington Library Center and Tuesday, February 24 at Woodson Regional Library to guide you in family research. (And be sure to check out additional upcoming genealogy events at Harold Washington Library Center.)

His focus will be finding your African American roots, in honor of African American History Month, but you can learn tricks of the trade for any ethnicity. Be sure not to miss the Q&A session after his talk, and when you have time, check out these books on family research:

Black Roots, opens a new window: Burroughs has made this simple-to-use guide for the beginning family researcher. Learn how to use libraries, online resources and vital records to find hidden treasures in your African American family.

In Search of Our Roots, opens a new window: Join scholar and television host Henry Louis Gates as he helps unearth the family trees of several notable African Americans like comedian Chris Rock and astronaut Mae Jemison. And have you seen Gates' latest hit PBS documentary series and its companion book, Finding your Roots, opens a new window?

Slave Genealogy, opens a new window: A must-have book for finding long-lost slave ancestors—those who lived on or off the plantation. Follow the three case studies from Wayne County, Ky., for tips on overcoming your own research stumbling blocks.

And if you didn't know, we also have Genealogy Online Resources to help you get started on your family research!