Published: January 27, 2009 09:44 pm      

Winter lock-in planned at library

The Huntsville Public Library, in collaboration with the Walker County Genealogical Society, will host its annual Winter Genealogy Lock-In Feb. 8 from 12:30-6 p.m. at the library.

The event is open to the public and free of charge, and is geared toward giving amateur genealogists a chance to consult with and gain information from members of the genealogical society, who will be on hand throughout the event.

People attending the event will have the opportunity to research using the full resources of the library and the Johnnie Jo Sowell Dickenson Genealogy Room, which contains hundreds of books, microfilms and maps from Walker County, the State of Texas and beyond.

As a special focus for the event, each participant will received research information directed toward tracing African-American roots, and will be introduced to www.slavevoyages.org, a recently launched website geared toward researching slave trade records and slave ship voyages.

“The slave voyages site is a wonderful resource,” said Denise Tilson of the library. “While not everyone will be able to find information on their ancestors there, the historical perspective alone is staggering.”

The research handout on African-American roots will focus on possible starting points for research as well as tips on where and how to look for ancestral information.

In the middle of the event, at 3 p.m., a presentation will be given by Professor Paul Culp, Special Collections Librarian for the Newton Gresham Library at Sam Houston State University. Culp will give information on the various genealogical resources available at the Newton Gresham Library’s Thomason Room, and will be available for questions.

A light lunch will be served courtesy of the genealogical society, and members of the society will be on hand to answer questions and give advice to participants.

For more information, contact the library at (936) 291-5472.