Digging up an adventure: Genealogy Camp

Guest Blog Contributor: Vickie Beene, Program Division Manager, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History

Funded by the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation, the “Digging Up An Adventure: Genealogy Camp” marked the Fulton County Library’s first collaborative program for teens, aimed at showcasing the rich resources of our library system. The primary goal was to introduce teens to our electronic resources, help them develop research skills, and acquaint them with both the Auburn Avenue Research Library and Best Buy Teen Tech Center.

Our junior genealogists began their day at Auburn by using Ancestry.com to discover their ancestors and explore a 1950 Census record with the reference department staff. The Archives department curated primary resources such as a slave bill, high school yearbooks, a hard copy of a black newspaper, and our 1946 paperback edition of The Negro Motorist Green Book for the teens to peruse. Keeping with the adventure theme, the group walked to the Central Library for a lunch funded by Publix before enjoying presentations by Carole Boston and Jeffrey Weatherford, recipients of the Boston-Horn Globe Award, on July 19th, and former Georgia Senator Vincent Fort on July 20th. Each speaker shared their ongoing journey in researching their family stories—the Weatherfords conducted a poetry and art session, while Senator Fort shared anecdotes and book recommendations. Both speakers are passionate supporters of libraries and encouraged our ‘campers’ to make full use of the diverse resources offered by archival and library institutions.

The most flattering (and amusing) comments I overheard from a teen during our first day of programming was her plan to create her family tree to eventually tattoo it on her back. Although I explained that we couldn’t assist with tattoos, she was pleased to learn she could return anytime to complete her family tree using the Best Buy Teen Center’s cri-cut T-shirt machine. While not everyone was as enthusiastic as the young lady, we received excellent feedback once our program e-survey responses came in.

I enjoyed the scratch art; making the trees, I like making the t-shirts and I like the fact they let us look up our ancestors

I enjoyed the visual archives and I enjoyed the meaning and significance of the book, like why she wrote it.

I enjoyed looking at all the old archives and I enjoyed drawing on the scratch boards.

I enjoyed seeing the archives in the library and learning about the author’s family history.

One of the most impactful responses that I am most proud of is that all the participants stated they would recommend this program to their friends. This feedback is particularly meaningful coming from a group of 8th and 9th graders who had never attended a public library program before that day.

From this experience, our mission to continue developing outreach activities for teens will include some adjustments. We are also eager to experiment with program ideas that involve adults. With the latest partnership at the Central Library and support from the Foundation, we at Auburn are prepared to offer this genealogical programming adventure year-round.

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Special thanks to guest contributor Vickie Beene, Fulton County Library System

Make sure to also check out the clip of the Digging Up Adventure: Genealogy Camp featured on Fulton Government Television (FGTV).