National Archives Holds Genealogy-related Programs in May 2012
Press Release · Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Washington, DC

In May, the National Archives presents genealogy-related programs highlighting records from its holdings ranging from previously unknown Lincoln documents to State Department records. All programs are free and open to the public, and will be held in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Please note that four of the programs will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

Visitors to all programs in the National Archives Building Research Center (Room G-24) should use the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance, between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. The National Archives at College Park, MD, is located at 8601 Adelphi Road. See directions to both locations.

Wednesday, May 2, at 11 a.m., Room G-25, Research Center
Introduction to Genealogy - military records
Archives staff present a lecture on basic genealogical research in Federal records on the first Wednesday of the month. This month’s topic is military records. See more information on the extensive military records held by the National Archives.

Tuesday, May 8, at 11 a.m., Room G-25, Research Center
The Cornerstone of Genealogy: Vital Records from an Untapped Source
Susannah E. Brooks, longtime National Archives volunteer genealogy aide, presents a new source for German research—vital records kept by the U.S. Consulate Offices in Germany in the 19th and early 20th centuries—with an emphasis on marriages and marriage contracts from the 1850s. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, May 10, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, May 15, at 11 a.m., Room G-25, Research Center
Privacy Act and Personally Identifiable Information
Hannah Bergman, Assistant General Counsel, discusses the Privacy Act and how it affects public access to records with personally identifiable information. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, May 17, at 11 a.m.)

Wednesday, May 16, at 11 a.m., Room G-25, Research Center
Beyond the Basics
Archives staff teach “beyond the basics” archival research skills on the third Wednesday of the month.

Tuesday, May 22, at 11 a.m., Room G-25, Research Center
Rail splitter Revealed: The Search for Abraham Lincoln at the National Archives
David J. Gerleman, assistant editor for the Papers of Abraham Lincoln, explains the project’s mission to find previously unknown Lincoln documents. These new finds showcase the array of problems and requests that crossed Lincoln’s desk during the Civil War. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Thursday, May 24, at 11 a.m.)

Tuesday, May 29, at 11 a.m., Room G-25, Research Center
Department of State Records
David Langbart, archivist, surveys the records of the Department of State in the National Archives. The National Archives holds Department of State records dating from 1789 to 1976, including documents from Foreign Service Posts worldwide used to communicate with the Department of State. (The lecture will be repeated at the National Archives at College Park, MD, in Lecture Room B, Wednesday, May 30, at 11 a.m.)

The National Archives Building and the National Archives at College Park are fully accessible. To request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program, please email public.program@nara.gov or call 202-357-5000 prior to the event. To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call 202-357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events online.

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For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at 202-357-5300.

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