Family history makes the past personal. Debunking family lore, digging through old photos, looking into census records, or finding personal papers, family research helps stitch together stories of cousins, grandparents, great-grandparents, and increasingly distant ancestors. It might uncover your distant relatives or inspire you to visit the land your family once farmed.
For decades, Stephen Hammond has researched his family lineage, including the Syphax family—his ancestors enslaved in Virginia and DC. In this virtual, one-hour introduction to genealogy, Stephen explains why he researches his family history and gives practical tips for getting started. He will include specific approaches for researching Black family histories in the records of White enslavers.
Because Americans’ histories are deeply intertwined, the approaches to genealogical research Stephen shares are useful to any researcher. With the help of the DC History Center team, Stephen will also highlight the collections he’s recently explored onsite at the Kiplinger Research Library.
We hope this orientation inspires you to research your own family histories and to visit the Kiplinger Research Library. Find out how to make an appointment online.
