Southern History Department Hosting Summer Reading Workshops on Genealogy, Life in 1916

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL)’s Southern History Department is hosting a variety of programs as part of 2016 summer reading activities, including programs on genealogy and a look back via old newspaper clippings of what life was like in Birmingham a century ago during the year 1916. The Southern History Department, located on the first floor of the Linn-Henley Research Library, has one of the world’s largest databases of genealogy records in the country. The department gets visitors from across the globe doing research.

More than 500 activities and workshops—from device training to exercising, from engineering camps for teens to knitting for adults—are being offered at 19 libraries across the city of Birmingham between now and the end of July. Registration forms are available in any of the 19 BPL locations or online at www.bplonline.org.

You can view the entire event calendar of programs taking place in June and July for adults, teens, and children at the link below:
http://www.bplonline.org/summerreading.aspx#Kids_Summer_Reading

Here is a listing of Southern History Department activities planned as part of Summer Reading, along with other programs taking place later this year:

Life in 1916
This Southern History Department program will allow library patrons to journey back to what life was like in Birmingham 100 years ago in 1916. Besides the June 6 program, other dates for this program will be:
Monday, June 20, 2:00 p.m., West End Branch Library
Monday, July 11, 2:15 p.m., Southside Branch Library
Wednesday, July 13, 2:00 p.m., Central Library, Arrington Auditorium
Monday, July 18, 2:00 p.m., North Avondale Regional Branch Library

Introduction to Genealogy
Want to learn how to do genealogical research? This introduction class will help you get started. No registration is required.
Tuesday, June 21, 11:30 a.m., Central Library, Southern History Department
Sunday, July 10, 2:30 p.m., Central Library, Southern History Department
Tuesday, July 12, 2:00 p.m., Springville Road Regional Branch Library
Tuesday, July 19, 11:30 a.m., Central Library, Southern History Department

Upcoming Beyond the Basics of Genealogy programs:

Let's Talk about It: Oral History
Saturday, July 16, 10:00 a.m., Central Library, Southern History Department
Relatives and family friends are important sources of information. Learn how to gather information from those who have difficulty remembering or are troubled by the past and are reluctant to share it.

Jump Into the Gene Pool: Genetics and Your Family History
Saturday, August 27, 10:00 a.m., Central Library, Southern History Department
Discover how genetic research can help you explore your family history. Find out what a gene sample can tell you about what parts of the world your ancestors came from and more.

Genetic Genealogy Strategies for African-American and Native American Research
Saturday, October 1, 10:00 a.m., Central Library, Southern History Department
There is no magic in genetic genealogy and no special tests for African American and Native American research, but there are choices you can make that may enable you to confirm and to go beyond the evidence of the paper trail.