Augusta Public Library Local History and Genealogy

Tuesday, October 25 @ 10:30 am
Photography History and Preservation: Views from the Augusta Museum of History
Third Floor Computer Lab-Headquarters Library
In honor of the Augusta Photography Festival which runs October 21-30, 2016 the Georgia Room will host a program on the history of photography, and the techniques one should use when preserving early photographs such as daguerreotypes, tintypes, and carte-de-visite. Ms. Lauren Virgo, Registrar of the Augusta Museum of History is our presenter, and will have examples on hand from the Museum’s collection. This event is free and open tothe public. Please call 706-826-1511 for details.

Tuesday, October 18 @ 2:00 pm
Putting Your Ancestors Lives in Historical Context
Augusta Public Library Auditorium (A)
Genealogical documents can give us a great deal of information on our ancestor’s lives but may not contain much information about how they fit into the larger picture of their community or even their country. In “Putting Your Ancestors Lives in Historical Context” local historian and park ranger Elizabeth Laney will present strategies and resources for figuring out how your ancestors were impacted by the historical events happening around them, as well as how you can broaden your understanding of their day-to-day lives.

Tuesday, September 20 @ 10:30 am
Legal Speak: Navigating the Augusta-Richmond County Law Library
3rd Floor Computer Lab
Richmond County Law Librarian, Catherine Balducci will be joining us for an informational session on the resources and materials available to the public at the Augusta-Richmond County Law Library. Located on the second floor of the John H. Ruffin Judicial Center on James Brown Boulevard, the Library contains general civil and criminal case sources, and information for those who wish to represent themselves in domestic legal matters or educate themselves about domestic issues. If you have questions about paternity establishment, custody, visitation, child support, annulment or divorce please come to this free session.

Wednesday, August 24 @ 2:00 pm
Legacy Family Tree Webinar
Tap Into Your Inner Private Eye: 9 Strategies for Finding Living Relatives
3rd Floor Computer Lab
Learn the techniques that Private Investigators use to track down missing people. These strategies will help you find those elusive living relatives who just may hold the key to your brick wall or possess that treasured photo you’ve been looking for. This Legacy Family Tree Webinar is presented by Ms. Lisa Louise Cooke, the owner of Genealogy Gems, a genealogy and family history multi-media company. Ms. Cooke is producer and host of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, the popular online genealogy audio show as well as the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast. Space is limited. Please call the Georgia Room to register, 706-826-1511.

Thursday, July 7 @ 6:00 pm
Savannah River Meanderings–Book Talk and Signing with author Lillian Powell Benson
Augusta Public Library Auditorium
Join the Georgia Room as we welcome author Lillian Powell Benson for a nostalgic journey down the Savannah River. Ms. Benson grew up in Burke County, Georgia, the granddaughter of William Henry Powell who–like his father before him–plied the Savannah River as a riverboat captain and expert fisherman. For years, Ms. Benson kept a manuscript written by her “papa” about his life on the river, always dreaming of publishing a book honoring him, and his memories of the Savannah. Savannah River Meanderings is a dream come true for Ms. Benson, a story of a family whose lives were spent in natural harmony with the rhythms of the river. Call the Georgia Room for details, 706-826-1511.

BATTER UP: A HISTORY OF AUGUSTA BASEBALL IN IMAGES AND MEMORABILIA

The Georgia Room will feature an exhibit of all things baseball on loan from local collector and Augusta baseball aficionado, Lamar Garrard. The display will feature Ty Cobb, as well as programs and photos of the Augusta Tigers, Augusta Yankees, Jennings Stadium and Warren Park. Other players featured will be George Stallings, Bill Johnson, Lou Brissie, Harry Smythe and more. Memorabilia from the Augusta Pirates and the Augusta Greenjackets will be included, and photos of the 1913 Richmond Academy baseball team. Photos of Augusta teams in 1908 and 1921, and miscellaneous player photos of the early 1900s will also be on display. The exhibit will be up from June-July 2016.

Saturday, June 11 @ 2:00 pm
Beyond Basics: Taking Family History Research to the Next Step

Hit a brick wall in your family research? Don’t know what to do or where to go for that next clue? Join Tina Rae Floyd in the Georgia Room on the third floor of the Augusta Public Library as she helps you find ways to break down those walls. This is an intermediate level class, so participants must be familiar with basic genealogical concepts and be comfortable navigating such genealogy databases as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. Please call 706-826-1511 to register.

Wednesday, May 25 @ 2:00 pm
Researching your War of 1812 Ancestor
The War of 1812, often called America’s Second Revolution left behind a set of records that have proven valuable for genealogical research. Many of these records can help solve pre-1850 census issues when only the head of household was named in the U.S. federal census. Participants will learn about the War of 1812, the major record sets of benefit to genealogists, how to identify service information such as location and military section of service and which records are available online. Presenter Thomas MacEntee aka the Genealogist Ninja, is a genealogy professional who’s also a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, online community builder and more. This Legacy Family Tree webinar is free and open to the public. Please call 706-826-1511 to register.

Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday, April 26th at 10:30 am in the 3rd floor computer lab of the Augusta Public Library for Preserving Your Family Heirlooms.
In celebration of American Library Association’s Preservation Week, April 24-April 30, the Georgia Heritage Room welcomes Lauren Virgo, Registrar for the Augusta Museum of History. Ms. Virgo will teach us tricks of the trade for protecting our family treasures from the deleterious effects of light, dust, insects, and aging. Items discussed will be documents such as letters and diaries; photographs and scrapbooks; and textiles, such as quilts and vintage clothes. By learning simple preservation techniques our family heirlooms can be saved for generations to come. Please call the Georgia Heritage Room for details, 706-826-1511.

Wednesday, May 4
2:00 pm
Getting Started Researching your Jewish Ancestors
Whether you have a Jewish ancestors or have a desire to assist others, this webinar will step you through the recommended research process. Presenter Jennifer M. Alford will present tips on unique aspects of Jewish life and guide viewers through the discovery of the hometown of her great-grandfather. Jennifer M. Alford is a freelance writer, artist and professional genealogist specializing in research in Jewish genealogy and the Midwest. This Legacy Family Tree webinar is free and open to the public. Please call the GeorgiaHeritage Room to register, 706-826-1511.