It’s difficult to gather information about our complex histories involving African Diaspora families. Besides the scattered data that we collect from government and private records, asking questions of our relatives — especially the elderly ones — has been proven to be useful in legacy recording.
Here are my top “ice breaker” recommended questions for family genealogists:
What is your best childhood memory(ies?)
What do you recall about your parents or grandparents?
What family traditions did you have growing up?
What do you about our family veterans, particularly those in segregated units?
What do you remember about church, spiritual practices, and how we kept the faith in our family?
Do you know any stories about how our ancestors came to this country or even the region you grew up in?
What do you remember about family gatherings or reunions?
Please share actual family heirlooms, keepsakes, and any photos with stories we may not have seen before now.
You are joining millions of individuals around the globe who are beginning their exciting discoveries of families’ histories.
You are in good company whether you are just getting started or dabbled a bit in genealogy. Ancestry research is a popular and engaging hobby for many genealogy seekers, gaining even more momentum over the last decade as accessible online resources. Today, one of the largest ancestry research sites reports some 3 million subscribers searching for 15 million ancestors. Another genealogical network claims another 27 million ancestors in its organization.
Ancestry tracing of your family’s lineage will satisfy more than your curiosity. It is proven to offer comfort, relief, joy, pride, and many positive attributes in the uncovering of the histories of family members often never known. The discoveries also offer many somber and sober moments as our loved ones often had colorful lives. You will see mirrors of yourself and other family members. The rewards of researching family histories bring great rewards.
Let’s get started. This post will show you the way.
First: Set a goal of the essential research you wish to achieve. When I got started with my family’s research, my goal was to learn more about the maternal grandfather that I did not grow up with. I was born in Omaha, Nebraska and my grandfather, Eugene Owen, Sr., lived approximately 1,533 miles away in Los Angeles, California. I also wanted to learn everything about my paternal grandfather who fled Helena, Arkansas after the race killings in 1919. After many years — prior to the ample offerings of online ancestry research — I achieved my initial goals. Keep in mind that your research should be essential to your intended results. You may be interested in building a family tree, learning about your ethnic heritage, or perhaps delving into a specific ancestor’s life story?
Next: Invest in research time both online and offline. This website, goodgenesgenealogyservices.com, and many others offer you access to records. Your county library system, historical societies, archives, family, friends, city tours, and so many resources are available to help fill in the blanks for your ancestry research. Your online records search should yield information to confirm birth, marriage and death certificates. Consult the U.S. Census data for your initial search.
Next: On this site, you can build your family tree. Start with the basics that include your name, date of birth, and other any other relatives’ basic information. Your tree will begin to build itself. Your next steps will be to check in your tree to learn of any updates.
Finally: The exciting part begins with the family puzzle pieces coming together. On your family tree, remember to be flexible and open to unexpected discoveries.
It’s a long and winding journey, yet the results are how you will honor and preserve your family’s legacy.
The Administrative Research Assistant will be a member of a team working on a National Endowment for the Humanities grant-funded project to identify Georgia records regarding the state’s response to desegregation. The end goal for this project is to present interactive in-house and virtual classes and tours for college and university professors, and students. Responsibilities of this position include finding documents to support the goals of the project.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Identify documents regarding segregation, desegregation, and the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia in Georgia Archives collections through research and select material appropriate for higher education classes and the general public.
Research online newspapers to find articles on Georgia’s response to desegregation.
Look through Georgia’s Supreme Court cases to find related cases on segregation and desegregation.
Perform background research on documents when needed for context.
Scan records using proper equipment.
Perform data entry to record the location and description of documents in collections and note which documents need conservation work.
Scan and enhance digital records for use in PowerPoint presentations.
Support logistic activities for classroom and public presentations and exhibits.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Ability to use Microsoft Office programs.
Knowledge of the history of the state of Georgia.
Knowledge of historical methods.
Skill in scanning documents.
Skill in interpersonal communications with colleagues.
Skill in project planning, implementation, and management
QUALIFICATIONS
Educational Requirements Associates degree.
Required Experience More than one year of experience performing clerical or administrative work.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in history with coursework in 20th Century American history or African American history.
Familiarity with Civil Rights history.
Experience performing research at an archives.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The University System Office is an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity, and affirmative action institution. It is the policy of the University System Office to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws (including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Sections 503, and 504, ADEA, ADA, E.O. 11246, and Rev. Proc. 75-50).
For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy please contact the University System Office Human Resources at 404.962.3242. Individuals requiring disability related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources.
EMPLOYER INFORMATION
Founded in 1918, the Georgia Archives identifies, collects, provides access to, and preserves Georgia’s historic records. As the state archives of Georgia, one of the original thirteen colonies, the Georgia Archives holds a rich collection of colonial and state records covering nearly three centuries. Of the 85,000 cubic feet of records in the Georgia Archives, approximately 72,000 are official state records, 6,000 are local government records, and 7,000 are non-governmental (manuscript) collections. The Georgia Archives maintains a library collection of 23,000 books, pamphlets, and periodicals. The Georgia Archives, as a unit of the Board of Regents, is not part of a specific institution of higher education. The Board of Regents is a state agency.
LOCATION
The Georgia Archives is located at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, Georgia, and is adjacent to Clayton State University and the National Archives at Atlanta. Morrow is in Clayton County and is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is about 20 minutes away.
SALARY
This temporary position pays $14.81 per hour and will end no later than the end of year 2022.
BACKGROUND CHECK
A successful background check will be required for successful candidate prior to hiring.
It’s Freebies Friday from your hosts, Good Genes Genealogy! Take a peak at our book, “Out of Sight…” published in February 2021 that puts you on the right path to locate your ancestors.
Go to https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/mark-s-owen-ms-and-dr-ann-lineve-wead/out-of-sight-an-introduction-to-unearthing-your-african-american-and-afro-caribbean-genealogy/ebook/product-k447kz.html
An excerpt from our book: There are thousands of federal, state, local and private records that offer guidance for genealogy researchers.
Archives Library Information Center (ALIC) Listing of State Archives Alabama Alabama Department of Archives & History 624 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36130 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 300100, Montgomery, AL 36130 Phone: (334) 242-4435\ Email: mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov Alaska Alaska State Archives Mailing Address: P.O. Box 110525, 141 Willoughby Avenue, Juneau, AK 99811-0525 Phone: (907) 465-2270 Fax: (907) 465-2465 E-mail: archives@alaska.gov Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records History and Archives Division Mailing Address: 1901 West Madison, Phoenix, AZ 85009 Phone: (602) 926-3720 Fax: (602) 256-7982 E-mail: See the Contact Form Arkansas Arkansas History Commission Mailing Address: One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 77201 Phone: (501) 682-6900 E-mail: state.archives@arkansas.gov
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California California State Archives Mailing Address: 1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone, Reference Desk: (916) 653-2246 Phone, General Information: (916) 653-7715 Fax: (916) 653-7363 E-mail: See the Contact Form Colorado Colorado State Archives Mailing Address: 1313 Sherman Street, Room 122, Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 866-2358 Toll-free, in state only: (800) 305-3442 Text: (303) 866-2229 E-mail: See the Contact Form Connecticut Connecticut State Archives Mailing Address: Connecticut State Library, 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 Phone, General Information: (860) 757-6500 Phone, History and Genealogy Unit: (860) 757-6500 Text: (860) CONNREF (860 266-6733) E-mail: See the Contact Form Delaware Delaware Public Archives Mailing Address: 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North, Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 744-5000 E-mail: See the Contact Form Florida State Archives of Florida Mailing Address: R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250 Phone: (850) 245-6700 TDD: (850) 245-6096 Reference Fax: (850) 488-4894 E-mail: info@dos.myflorida.com Georgia Georgia Archives Mailing Address: 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260 Phone: (678) 364-3710 E-mail: See Ask an Archivist Hawaii Hawaii State Archives Mailing Address: Kekauluohi Building, Iolani Palace Grounds, 364 S. King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
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Phone: (808) 586-0329 Fax: (808) 586-0330 E-mail: archives@hawaii.gov Idaho Idaho State Archives Mailing Address: Idaho State Archives, 2205 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712 Phone, Archives: (208) 334-2620 Fax, Public Archives: 208-334-2626 Illinois Illinois State Archives Mailing Address: Margaret Cross Norton Building, Capitol Complex, Springfield, IL 62756 Phone: (217) 782-4682 Fax: (217) 524-3930 E-mail: See the Reference Request Form (Illinois Residents Only) Indiana Indiana State Archives Mailing Address: 6440 East 30th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46219 Phone: (317) 591-5222 Fax: (317) 591-5324 E-mail: arc@icpr.in.gov or see the Contact Form Iowa State Historical Society of Iowa: State Archives and Records Program Mailing Address: State of Iowa Historical Building, 600 East Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319-0290 Phone: (515) 281-5111 E-mail: dm.library@iowa.gov Kansas Kansas Historical Society: State Archives Mailing Address: 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099 Phone: (785) 272-8681 Phone, State Archives Reference Desk: (785) 272-8681, ext. 117 E-mail: reference@kshs.org Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Mailing Address: P.O. Box 537, Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 564-8300 Fax: (502) 564-5773 E-mail: kdla.archives@ky.gov or see the Records Request Forms Louisiana Louisiana State Archives Mailing Address: Louisiana State Archives, Louisiana Secretary of State, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 Phone: (225) 922-1200 Fax: (225) 922-0433 E-mail: See the Contact Us Page
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Maine Maine State Archives Mailing Address: 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 Phone: (207) 287-5790 Fax: (207) 287-6035 Maryland Maryland State Archives Mailing Address: 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: (410) 260-6400 Toll free: (800) 235-4045 Massachusetts Massachusetts Archives Division Mailing Address: Secretary of Commonwealth, Massachusetts Archives, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125 Phone: (617) 727-2816 Fax: (617)288-8429 E-mail: archives@sec.state.ma.us Michigan Archives of Michigan Mailing Address: 702 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan 48915 Phone: (517) 335-2576 E-mail: archives@michigan.gov Minnesota Minnesota State Archives Mailing Address: Minnesota Historical Society, 345 Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 Phone: (651) 259-3260 Fax: (651) 296-9961 E-mail: See the Contact Us Page Mississippi Mississippi Department of Archives & History Mailing Address: P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205-0571 Phone: (601) 576-6876 Fax: (601) 576-6964 E-mail: refdesk@mdah.state.ms.us. Missouri Missouri State Archives Mailing Address: 600 W. Main, P.O. Box 1747, Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: (573) 751-3280 Fax: (573) 526-7333 E-mail: archref@sos.mo.gov. Please read the guidelines before sending reference requests.
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Montana Montana Historical Society Mailing Address: P.O. Box 201201, 225 North Roberts Street, Helena, MT 59620-1201 Phone, Research Center: (406) 444-2681 E-mail: mhslibrary@mt.gov or see the Online Request Form . Nebraska Library/Archives Division of the Nebraska State Historical Society Mailing Address: Library / Archives, Nebraska State Historical Society, P.O. Box 82554, 1500 “R” Street, Lincoln, NE 68501 Phone: (402) 471-4751 Fax: (402) 471-3100 E-mail: nshs.libarch@nebraska.gov Nevada Nevada State Library and Archives Mailing Address: 100 North Stewart Street, Carson City, NV 89701-4285 Phone: (775) 684-3310 Toll free, in state only: (800) 922-2880 Fax: (775) 684-3311 E-mail: See the request form New Hampshire New Hampshire Division of Archives and Records Management Mailing Address: 71 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH 03301 Phone: (603) 271-2236 Fax: (603) 271-2272 E-mail: archives@sos.nh.gov . For birth, death, and marriage records, contact the Division of Vital Records Administration at http://www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/. New Jersey New Jersey State Archives Mailing Address, State Archives: 225 West State Street, P.O. Box 307, Trenton, NJ 08625-0307 Mailing Address, State Records Center: 2300 Stuyvesant Avenue, P.O. Box 307, Trenton, NJ 08625-0307 Phone: (609) 292-6260 Fax, Reference: (609) 292-4127 E-mail, State Archives: njarchives@sos.state.nj.us New Mexico State Records Center and Archives Mailing Address: 1205 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87505 Phone, Archives and Historical Services Division: (505) 476-7948 Fax, Archives and Historical Services Division: (505) 476-7909 E-mail: archives@state.nm.us
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New York New York State Archives Mailing Address: New York State Education Department, Cultural Education Center, 222 Madison Avenue, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230 Phone, Research Assistance: (518) 474-8955 Phone, General Information: (518) 474-6926 E-mail, Research Assistance: archref@mail.nysed.gov North Carolina State Archives of North Carolina Mailing Address: 4614 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4614 Phone: (919) 807-7310 Fax: (919) 733-1354 E-mail: archives@ncdcr.gov North Dakota State Archives Mailing Address: 612 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505 Phone, Reference: (701) 328-2091 E-mail: archives@nd.us Ohio Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library Mailing Address: 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211 Phone: 614-297-2510 Toll free: 800-686-6124 Fax: (614) 297-2358 E-mail: reference@ohiohistory.org or see the Reference Contact Form . Oklahoma Oklahoma State Archives and Records Management Mailing Address: 200 NE 18th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Phone, Archives: (405) 522-3579 Phone, Records Center: (405) 524-4416 Fax, Archives: (405) 522-3583 Fax, Records Management: (405) 524-7567 Oregon Oregon State Archives Mailing Address: 800 Summer Street NE, Salem, OR 97310 Phone: (503) 373-0701 Fax: (503) 373-0953 E-mail: reference.archives@state.or.us Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State Archives
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Mailing Address: 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Phone: (717) 783-3281 E-mail: ra-statearchives@state.pa.us Rhode Island State Archives Mailing Address: 337 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 222-2353 Fax: (401) 222-3199 E-mail: statearchives@sos.ri.gov South Carolina Department of Archives and History Mailing Address: 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 Phone, Reference Room: (803) 896-6104 Fax, Reference Room: (803) 896-6198 E-mail: See the Genealogy Request Form South Dakota South Dakota State Archives Mailing Address: 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 773-3804 Fax: (605) 773-6041 E-mail: archref@state.sd.us Tennessee Tennessee State Library and Archives Mailing Address: 403 7th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: (615) 741-2764 E-mail: reference.tsla@tn.gov Texas Texas State Library and Archives Commission Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711-2927 Phone: (512) 463-5455 Email, Reference: reference.desk@tsl.state.tx.us Utah Utah State Archives Mailing Address, Research Center: 300 S. Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Phone, Research Center: (801) 533-3535 E-mail: See the Contact Form Vermont Vermont State Archives and Records Administration Mailing Address: Office of the Secretary of State, 1078 Route 2, Middlesex, Montpelier, VT 05633-7701 Phone, Reference Room: (802) 828-2308 E-mail: archives@sec.state.vt.us. For vital records requests use vitals@sec.state.vt.us.
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Virginia Library of Virginia Mailing Address: 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: (804) 692-3500 E-mail: See the Contact Form Washington Washington State Archives Mailing Address: P.O. Box 40238, Olympia, WA 98504-0238 Phone: (360) 586-1492 E-mail, State Archivist: archives@sos.wa.gov E-mail, Research Requests and Information on Public Records: research@sos.wa.gov West Virginia West Virginia State Archives Mailing Address: Archives and History Library, The Cultural Center, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, WV 25305-0300 Phone: (304) 558-0230 The West Virginia Archives will not answer e-mail research requests. All research requests must be submitted in writing. Wisconsin Wisconsin State Historical Society Library-Archives Mailing Address: Archives Reference, Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706 Phone: (608) 264-6460 Fax: (608) 264-6472 E-mail: See the Archives Reference Request Form Wyoming Wyoming State Archives Mailing Address: Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002 Phone: (307) 777-7826 Fax: (307) 777-7044 E-mail: See the Contact Form Source: State Archives | National Archives
Let’s begin in the beginning
