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Life Lab: African American Genealogy

Slave Narratives:Telling the Story of Slavery and Families

In this 2-hour workshop on slave narratives, C. Ann Staley, CG®, CGL® introduces you to using slave narratives from the WPA Federal Writers’ Project of the late 1930s which provides us with more than 2,300 first person accounts of former slaves. Life Labs are free workshops offered by trained professionals and volunteers that focus on improving your day to day life. These programs cover a wide range of workshops from gardening to small business needs. No need to bring anything but yourself to participate! The Jacksonville Public Library offers excellent resources for genealogical research for use in the library and/or from home.

The WPA Federal Writers’ Project (FWP) of the late 1930s provides us with more than 2,300 first person accounts of former slaves. The narratives, with their autobiographical accounts, can provide insight into the institution, and rich context and clues for family research. But how can we use this rich resource? Can they be relied upon? A case study will be provided in the workshop for hands-on practice.

Life Lab content will include:

• The history of the slave narratives
• When were they taken?
• Who were the interviewers?
• What are the limitations of the narratives?
• Where can I find the narratives?
• How can they be used for research?
• Names of family members
• Names of plantations, owners, and their family members
• Birth, marriage and death information for individuals
• Context for daily life in particular places

C. Ann Staley, CG®, CGL® is an educator and consultant. She is kept busy as the Membership Chair of the Genealogical Speakers Guild; as a volunteer of the Florida State Genealogical Society; and being on the faculty of The International Institute for Genealogical Studies. She has been an associate of the Board for Certification of Genealogists since 2000. 
  
Ann is also the compiler of the Jacksonville Genealogical Society, Inc. Quarterly Full Name Index, Volumes 1 through 4, 1973 through 1976, the author of articles for the NGS Magazine, author of Researching American Court Records, and the co-author of the NGS Research in the States Series: Florida. 
  
She has studied at the National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR) in Washington, D.C.; the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama; and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has also been a faculty member of IGHR. 
  
Her specialties are Methodology, Research Sources, Computer Resources, Vital Records and their Sources, and Conference Planning. Ann is a member of the National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, Genealogical Speakers Guild, and the Florida State Genealogical Society. 

This program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Registration is required for this event, and must be completed two hours prior to the start time. A library card and PIN are required for registration. If you do not have a card, click HERE to obtain one.

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please allow 1–2 business days to process. Last-minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fulfill. Please ask for Learning Services at 255-2665 or email JPLPrograms@coj.net.

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