This lecture explores the History, Origins, and Persistence of Tri-racial Isolates and Mixed-Race Peoples. Special emphasis will be placed on the question of creolization in early North Carolina and how the mixing of Africans, Native Americans, and Europeans has led to hundreds of mixed-race communities and millions of mixed-race peoples all over North Carolina and through migration, the United States. Though many of these people remain clustered in well-known communities, a large number live autonomously today without any knowledge of their mixed-race heritage.  Reflecting on a time when people struggled to survive negative changes in the world around them, from this talk, Dr. Smallwood hopes the participant will walk away with a broader appreciation for what it means to be American

 

 

Courts have always dealt with crimes and disputes, but in the past they also handled much more routine items that can be of great interest to your genealogical research.   These include many functions now performed by other government offices such as proving deeds, probate, petitions, taxes, appointment of local officials, licenses, bastardy, manumission – the list goes on.  To complicate things, the type of courts and what areas they were responsible for has changed over time. This discussion will help you know what you can find along with how and where to find it. 

 

 

Kate started her career as an investigator fighting financial crime and, in this presentation, she will share thoughts on how the same skills and methodology used to investigate fraud, money laundering, and high-net worth individuals can be applied to your genealogical research pursuits.