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Expert offers black families map to history
One of the nation's top experts will present detailed research techniques in workshops Saturday.
By SHERRI DAY
Published April 29, 2005
TAMPA - Tony Burroughs has trekked across three continents to trace the lineage of Jesus Christ. He testified before Congress in 2000 to help preserve 135-year-old records from the Freedman's Bureau. And his tips on creating a family tree appear in a self-help guide along with Donald Trump's advice on negotiating and Larry King's take on listening.
Burroughs, considered one of the nation's pre-eminent genealogists, comes to Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City campus Saturday to teach how to trace family histories.
In four one-hour lectures, Burroughs plans to discuss topics that range from starting a genealogical search to uncovering military records and studying migration.
"It's a very practical workshop," said Burroughs, 56, an adjunct professor at Chicago State University. "I strongly believe in giving people records they can search, tasks they can do right away. Anybody at any level will be able to take something practical home and use it the very same day."
Burroughs was invited here by the Tampa chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. Burroughs will pay special attention to finding information about blacks and the historical context in which they lived.
Skilled researchers, he said, should know that some public records are segregated by race. Researchers looking for black Civil War soldiers, for example, should search the registry for U.S. Colored Troops. In some instances, registries of professional organizations and vital records, such as marriage and birth certificates, also are segregated, Burroughs said.
That helped Luvenia S. Balloon, vice president of the Tampa society, trace her family history 10 generations. She started a decade ago when three senior family members died in the same year.
"I had information that I didn't get from them that I needed," she said. "I said before another relative died I would collect the information."
Betty Lopez, the society's president, hopes Burroughs' lecture will spur more people to uncover their roots.
"We're hoping that this will be the beginning of awareness and participation," Lopez said. "People shouldn't be afraid to find out who they are."
IF YOU GO
WHAT: The Afro-American Historical Genealogical Society presents Tony Burroughs featured speaker for its Genealogical Day Conference.
WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, registration is 8:30 to 9:20 a.m. The program lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City campus in the Ybor Room.
COST: $15.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (813) 846-9478
[Last modified April 29, 2005, 00:33:10]
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