The Gift of a DNA Genealogy Test Kit

This past holiday season was filled with TV commercials advertising DNA genealogy testing kits from FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA, and 23andMe. You might have received a DNA genealogy testing kit as a Christmas present, and it started you thinking about your family and their heritage. Wouldn’t it be great if there was someone to guide you on navigating DNA genealogy testing services and share about their real life experiences?

Paul Boncella of the Southern History Department will explore the offerings of the three major DNA genealogy testing services (FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA, and 23andMe) this Saturday, January 28, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., in the Arrington Auditorium. He will teach you how to make full use of their websites and make the most of your DNA test results. This is the first Beyond the Basics of Genealogy workshop of 2017 and is appropriate for anyone thinking about testing their DNA for genealogical purposes or those who have already tested their DNA using one of these three testing services.

DNA Genealogical Testing Services will be on Saturday, January 28, 2017, 10:00-11:30 a.m., in the Arrington Auditorium at the Central Library.  Registration is requested. To register, please call the Southern History Department at 205-226-3665, e-mail us at askgenlocal@bham.lib.al.us, or register online.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2017 Beyond the Basics of Genealogy workshops!

• Digital Dixie 2 – Saturday, March 4 @10:00 a.m. Do you have ancestors from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, or Texas? In this class, you will discover digital genealogy resources that you never knew existed from these Southern states and learn search strategies to find untapped information and locate your ancestor. 


• Making Your Sweet Home among Maps: How to Read and Interpret Maps of the Southeastern United States – Saturday, April 8 @10:00 a.m. Do old maps enchant or intimidate you? Do the symbols intrigue or confuse you? This hands-on workshop explores the symbols and mapping conventions used on 19th and early 20th century maps to tell the story of the development of the Southeast. Students will learn how to interpret and analyze information contained on old maps as well as look for hidden meaning behind what was mapped and what was left off the map. 


• One for the Record Books: The English Census – Saturday, June 24 @10:00 a.m. Searching for English ancestors? Genealogists know that census records are crucial to family history research, but there are some important differences between the U.S. Federal Census and its English cousin. This workshop will show you how to navigate this important information source.