Category Archives: Programs

July 28, 2012 Program Summary

Our speaker for the July 28th meeting was Karen Utz, Curator/Historian at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.  Mrs. Utz presentation was titled “A Sense of Place: The African-American Women of Sloss Quarters.” (Note:  Ms. Utz updated the title.)  If you missed out on a monograph of the topic at the meeting, you will be happy to know that you can read the full research paper on which the program by downloading the document here from the Sloss Furnaces website.

If you were unable to attend, you missed a great presentation.  We are still confirming the August speaker.  We will update the blog as soon as it is confirmed.

BGS Meeting — July 28, 2012 — Goin’ North, the African-American Women of Sloss Quarters

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, July 28th at 2 p.m.; Board Meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker:  Karen Utz,  Curator/Historian at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Program Topic: Goin’ North, the African-American Women of Sloss Quarters

Karen Utz is the Curator/Historian at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.    Goin’ North: The African American Women of Sloss Quarters will focus on the traditions
and customs the mothers, wives and daughters of ex-sharecroppers brought with them to the urban industrial landscape of Sloss Furnaces and its company housing, Sloss Quarters.   A 30 page monograph (plus 10 pages of citations) will be provided to those in attendance.

Birmingham Family History Center Family History Fair Saturday, July 21, 2012

The Birmingham Family History Center will have a Family History Fair on Saturday, July 21st from 9am to 3pm.   The event is free, but pre-registration is encouraged. Check-in begins at 9am.  The classes are from 10am until 3pm, changing each hour, so you can attend up to 5 classes.  Lunch will be available between 11am and 1pm.

Some presenters include Lafe Peevler, Karl Seitz, Patricia Coleman, Yvonne Crumpler, Nancy Dupree, Donald Debrow, Ann Holloman, Ken Record,  Anne Norris, Dan Tindall, James Blackston, & John Patterson.
Topic include beginning your research, technology, organizing your research, specific location research and much more.  See the website for more information and to register.  (When I checked earlier this week 3 classes were already full.)

Last Day for FGS Conference Early Bird registration … prices goes up July 1st

If you plan to register for the conference, and have not done so… you should do so today. The is the last day of Early Bird Registration and the price for Early Bird is $195.00. After today the registration fee will go up to $245.00 for the conference.

The conference is scheduled for August 29 to September 1, 2012. Take advantage of the Early Registration Discount by registering at fgs.org/2012conference/registration.

FGS conferences provides a great opportunity to associate with others who are interested not only in genealogy and family history, but those with common interests in the same geographic or ethnic groups that interest you. NETWORKING is a valuable outcome of every conference and you will want to make as many new friends as possible. Numerous meal functions will give you an added opportunity to make new acquaintances.

The nation’s genealogical vendors will bring their goods and services to an overflowing free exhibit hall and you will be able to browse, network and learn from a variety of experts in their field of specialty.

FGS 2012 Conference Discount Ends July 1st – Register Now

From our friends at the Federation of Genealogical Societies:

FGS 2012 Conference: Indians, Squatters, Settlers and Soldiers, In the ‘Old Southwest’

Don’t miss the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ 2012 annual conference, which will be making its first appearance in Birmingham, Alabama!  At FGS 2012, attendees will enjoy four terrific days of learning new tips and tricks to further their genealogy and family history. Genealogists and those interested in discovering more about their family history from across the nation are all welcome.

The Conference

The conference is scheduled for August 29 to September 1, 2012. Take advantage of the Early Registration Discount, which ends July 1, 2012, by registering at fgs.org/2012conference/.

FGS conferences provides a great opportunity to associate with others who are interested not only in genealogy and family history, but those with common interests in the same geographic or ethnic groups that interest you. NETWORKING is a valuable outcome of every conference and you will want to make as many new friends as possible. Numerous meal functions will give you an added opportunity to make new acquaintances.

The nation’s genealogical vendors will bring their goods and services to an overflowing free exhibit hall and you will be able to browse, network and learn from a variety of experts in their field of specialty.

Register Today

For more information, or to take advantage of the Early Registration Discount today, visit fgs.org/2012conference/.

See you in there!

BGS Meeting — June 23, 2012 — In Your Backyard: Secrets to Wallace State’s Famed Genealogy Collection

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, June 23rd at 2 p.m.; Board Meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker:  Robert Scott Davis, Director of the Genealogy Department at Wallace State Community College – Hanceville

Program Topic: In Your Backyard: Secrets to Wallace State’s Famed Genealogy Collection

Robert Scott Davis is the director of the Genealogy Program of Wallace State Community College, Hanceville, Alabama. His duties include organizing field trips for his classes to libraries throughout the country; helping to build one of the South’s most extensive genealogical collections; operating a microfilming facility; and teaching genealogy in one of the first colleges to offer genealogy as a college level course.

In 2006, this program that he built received the Award for Outstanding Leadership in History from the American Association for State and Local History. Professor Davis also teaches survey courses in geography and history. In Alabama and Georgia, Bob has worked to raise public awareness on saving local government records and has been a member of the Alabama governor’s historical records commission. He has been the guest speaker at hundreds of meetings of civic, genealogical, and historical organizations.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference August 29 – September 1, 2012 in Birmingham, Alabama

The next Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference for the Nation’s Genealogists takes place in Birmingham, Alabama from August 29 – September 1, 2012. Indians, Squatters, Settlers and Soldiers in the ‘Old Southwest‘ is the conference theme and it is hosted by the Alabama Genealogical Society (AGS).

This year’s FGS conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in researching their family history. Over 175 educational sessions and 13 luncheons are designed to balance the needs of genealogists at all levels, exploring a variety of records, strategies, and other tools available to those interested in researching their family history. Special sessions include a wide variety targeting members and leaders of genealogical and historical societies. In addition, special events, such as the Alabama Genealogical Society Opening Social at the Alabama Theater, the FGS Evening Social at the historic Sloss Furnaces, Spotlight on Societies, and daily sponsored lectures provide an excellent environment to meet and network with others interested in family history and genealogy.

Registration for the FGS Conference is open.  If one registers prior to July 2, 2012 the registration fee is $195.00 for the full conference.   For registrations July 2, 2012 and later, the registration fee will be $245.00 for the full conference. People can register for one or two days if they wish to do so.  See http://www.algensoc.org/fgs/FGS-AGS.html for more information.   You can also stay “up to date” on conference news at the FGS conference blog:  http://www.fgsconferenceblog.org/.

AGS is still looking for volunteers to help with registration, technology troubleshooting, room monitors, exhibit hall and other conference activities.  Volunteering may also save you money on your registration.  You can find out more information here or sign up here.

Upcoming BPL Program — “Getting the Most Out of the Census: Finding Ancestry Clues in Census Records, 1790 – 1940″

From our friends at the BPL Southern History Department:

Getting the Most Out of the Census: Finding Ancestry Clues in Census Records, 1790 – 1940

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) Southern History Department is hosting a workshop presented by Frazine Taylor on digging deeper into the information found in the censuses that even seasoned researchers overlook.

Ms. Taylor is the retired Head of Reference for the Alabama Department of Archives and History with over twenty years of experience as a librarian, archivist, lecturer, and writer. She is the author of “Researching Your African American Ancestor: A Resource Guide.” One among Taylor’s many honors is working on Tom Joyner’s and Linda Johnson Rice’s segments in the PBS series, “African American Lives 2.”

This workshop does not require registration. Contact the Southern History Department of BPL at 205-226-3665 for more information.

Event:  “Getting the Most Out of the Census: Finding Ancestry Clues in Census Records, 1790 – 1940”
Presenter:  Frazine Taylor
Date:  Saturday, June 30, 2012
Time:  9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Place:  Central Library, Arrington Auditorium
Cost:  Free
Registration:  Not required

BGS Meeting — May 26, 2012 — The Era of Patent Medicines

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, May 26th at 2 p.m.; Board Meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker:  Michael A. Flannery, Associate Director of Historical Collections at UAB

Program Topic: The Era of Patent Medicines

It is hard for most of us to imagine a world without the Food & Drug Administration, no knowledge of bacteria and germs, and lack of qualified medical practitioners, but that was the case 100-150 years ago.  Mr. Flannery will discuss both the myths and the facts of the era of patent medicines in the United States.

Michael Flannery is the author of 8 books, most recently Alfred Russel Wallace: A Rediscovered Life (2011). Most of his research and published work has been in the history of pharmacy. In 2007 he edited and reissued Nicholas Culpeper’s English Physician, which he published with the University of Alabama Press. He is professor and Associate Director for Historical Collections at UAB. Although a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, since 1999 he has been happy to call Alabama his home, where he lives with his wife and three mischievous cats in Shelby County.

April 28, 2012 – BGS Walking Tour & Introduction to Genealogy Class – Tannehill Iron & Steel Museum

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (excluding Nov. & Dec.) in the Arrington Auditorium at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are encouraged to attend!

Next meeting: Saturday, April 28th @ 1pm

Location: Tannehill Iron & Steel Museum

Program Topic: Introduction to Genealogy Class  at 1pm and Walking Tour of the Tannehill Iron & Steel Museum at 2:30pm

Details: Contact us via email

Pre – registration is required for the Introduction to Genealogy class. Ann Gilbert & Jason Kirby will be the instructors.  To register please email your name, address, and phone number to tannehillmuseum@bellsouth.net or call 205-477-5711 to register by phone.

The Walking Tour will begin following the Introduction to Genealogy Class.

Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park is 12 miles southwest of Bessemer. Off I-59/20 take exit 100 or off of I-459 take exit 1 and follow the signs to the park.