Tacoma FamilySearch Center is sponsoring the 3rd annual African American Family History Event “A Proud Heritage”, February 24th 2024 9am-2pm at 1102 S Pearl St, Tacoma WA 98465. A Proud Heritage is free. The event expects to have over 300 people from the community throughout Western Washington – and more than that over live zoom from anywhere. Many of those who attend will be new to Family History and looking for additional help and groups to join. We have free informational tables for Family History, Museums and other organizations to use to let people know what they offer. Those with tables will be listed in the program and on the webpage. Several tables are still available to reserve at 253-223-1719.
This event will feature a local community figure, Willie Stewart , the first African American Vice Principal, Principal and administrator in the Tacoma School District as keynote speaker. Willie will speak about his first experience in Family History research during the past few months and exciting stories about his ancestors.
Our main speaker this year is Thom Reed, a Chief Genealogical Officer for FamilySearch International, liaison for FamilySearch to the International African American Family History Museum and the 10 Million Names Project. Thom organizes the African American presentations for Rootstech, too. He has helped with our Event before, but this is the first time he has been able to come in person. Thom will be speaking about 10 Steps to Reclaiming Your African American Roots. He will be attending live and will teach two classes and be available for questions this year.
There will be Oral History booths available for recording a favorite family story and Story Telling as well as One-on-One FamilySearch support, and a delicious free catered lunch.
The Tacoma FamilySearch Center will be open during this event for tours to see what this FamilySearch Center offers and especially to show the Memory Lane Digitizing Equipment – which is free to reserve and use at this Center. Patrons can sign up for a day and time to use 7 different types of equipment to digitize slides, photos, books, movies (super 8, Reg 8, VHS and more), audio cassettes and reel to reel. Training and support is provided. for this free service which enhances what Tacoma FamilySearch Center has to offer patrons who visit.
New for this year as part of the African American Family History Event is “Your Proud Family”, a youth conference within a conference, planned, taught and attended by led by African American Youth from various local High Schools. Youth will be working on beginning Family History, recording a Family History Story, DNA tips, and painting a Family Tree with support from local artists. The youth event is housed in the same building and is mainly for African American youth 12 and up and their friends. There will be contests with prizes.. Advanced sign up is necessary because of the supplies involved please.
.We encourage those with African American Heritage – adults and youth as well as those who enjoy assisting in their research to sign up in advance for our free event at tacomaaafhe.com
Questions?
Mary Anderson
Tacoma FamilySearch Center Co-Director
253-564-1103
253-223-1719
WA_tacoma@familyhistorymail.org
Tacoma Family Search Center Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/153994266492384/permalink/790402896184848
or come to the Tacoma FamilySearch Center
1102 S Pearl St, Tacoma WA 98465
Open Tues, Wed, Thurs 10am – 8pm, Sat 10am – 1pm