BPL Family History Month Programs Underway Virtually



Mary Beth Newbill | Central Library 

The Birmingham Public Library's annual observance of Family History Month is under way- this time virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The highlights are two online programs - a presentation on home DNA testing by author Libby Copeland on the BPL Facebook page at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 7, and an October 30 Q & A via Zoom by genealogy expert J. Mark Lowe.

Here is a look at all of our virtual BPL Family History Month programs:

October 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. - Author Libby Copeland Presents Home DNA Testing Is Redefining Family History.
 Streaming live on the BPL Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamPublicLibrary. No registration required. 

 The presentation will illuminate the many ways in which home DNA testing is redefining family history. It will draw on Libby Copeland’s years of research for her new book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are (Abrams, 2020), which the Wall Street Journal calls “a fascinating account of lives dramatically altered by genetic sleuthing.” With more than 35 million people having been tested, home DNA testing is proving pivotal in redefining how family history is understood. 

 For more info, read our interview with Libby Copeland   https://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2020/10/libby-copeland-october-7-program-on-dna.html

October 1 - October 31, 2020 Genealogist author and lecturer J. Mark Lowe  presents four different workshops that can be streamed at any time during the month of October. 

The webinars are accessible via a password protected link. The link/password is below. https://vimeo.com/showcase/7606311
 Password: vulcan 

Defining Potential Migration Routes & Crucial Steps 

Maps, atlases, and gazetteers provide information relevant to nearly every genealogical search. We will add Emigrant Guides and Travel Manuscripts to our toolbox to make our way more clear.

Defining Potential Migration Routes & Crucial Steps 

Discover what prompted our ancestors to follow the Migration Triangle and continue westward. Learn the paths they followed and the process for finding those elusive travelers.

Finding Freedmen Marriage Records 

Locating and proving marriage connections during slavery and immediately after emancipation may be rewarding, but difficult. Learn about the records that were created, those that weren’t, and how to find what you need. 

Out on a Limb, Trapped by Bad Research 

Feeling trapped with nowhere to go? Bad, weak or missing evidence all contribute to misleading research. Review your research findings, sharpen your techniques, evaluate your sources, and map a new course. 

October 30, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Family History Month Q & A with J. Mark Lowe 

Join J. Mark Lowe for a live genealogy Q & A via Zoom. J. Mark Lowe describes himself as a lifelong genealogist. He is a professional genealogist, author, and lecturer who specializes in original records and manuscripts throughout the South. Mark enjoys opportunities to share what he has learned over the years through YouTube, webinars, and institutes. 

Use the link below to register:

In addition, be on the lookout for some short videos on the BPL Southern History Department  Facebook page as well as some tips and links to what other libraries and organizations are offering for Family History Month. 

If you're not already following us on Facebook,  go to https://www.facebook.com/SouthernHistoryBPL 

Comments