Want to find out if you’re related to George Washington, Harriet Tubman, or Mary Queen of Scots? Want to know if you have roots in Blacksburg? Want to know if Great Uncle George served in the Revolutionary War or your grandfather was a pilot in WWII? What does third cousin twice removed really mean?
The genealogy volunteers at the Alexander Black House will try and help you answer these questions and more by showing you how to research your family history. They can demonstrate how to use online tools such as Ancestry and FamilySearch to study and document your family and can help with adopted or unknown family members. They can show you how to use ancestry pedigree trees and family group sheets – the basic tools for documenting your family (see below if you’d like to start completing a form before your arrival). They may not have all the answers but can help you try and find them. Come to the Ronnie and Faye Markham Blacksburg History and Genealogy Center on Genealogy Saturdays – usually the first Saturday of the month from 1 to 4 pm. They will not only assist with your genealogy, but also show you how to use local resources such as Blacksburg High School Yearbooks, Blacksburg Church histories, books on local activities such as mining and architecture, and some local family histories. If those sources don’t have what you need, our volunteers may be able to help you find it.
Genealogy volunteers enjoy meeting new people and helping them face the challenge of family research. If you cannot make a Genealogy Saturday, contact the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation for a personal consultation.