A lot of genealogy events are scheduled for this fall. Here’s a list of the major events, as well as a reminder of the usual monthly meetings of many genealogical societies. Each will be featured in more detail in a later column closer to the time.
• September 2 and 3: The AJC Decatur Book Festival will include numerous authors speaking on their books, many with historical themes, as well as good books for sale from various university presses. See decaturbookfestival.com.
• September 9: The Augusta Genealogical Society will host its annual “Homecoming,” with J. Mark Lowe as the featured speaker. (augustagensociety.org)
• September 16: The Georgia Genealogical Society’s fall meeting will be held in Marietta, with Lisa Louise Cooke as speaker. (gagensociety.org)
• September 23: The Friends of Georgia Archives and History (FOGAH) will hold its annual meeting at the Georgia Archives. World War I will be the theme. (fogah.org)
• October 7: The 5th annual Georgia Archives and Genealogy Day will be held at the Georgia Archives. More information will be available on the website when speakers are firmed up. (GeorgiaArchives.org)
Many genealogical societies have regular monthly meetings with great speakers, so don’t overlook those. Check their websites for details: the Central Georgia Genealogical Society in Warner Robins, the Cobb County Genealogical Society in Marietta, the Rockdale Genealogical Society in Conyers, and the Atlanta Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (aahgsatl.org). The Georgia Archives also hosts monthly Lunch and Learn Lectures.
African-American stock car drivers
“Blazing the Track: A Race Against Time” is a planned documentary focusing on Southern African-American stock car drivers of the 1940s and 1950s. The story of black racers in the South remains largely untold. The main racing club was the Atlanta Stock Car Club, based at the Lithonia Speedway in DeKalb County, but they raced in North Carolina, Tennessee, and throughout the South. This project will explore the world of these drivers and their impact on the economic, cultural and social fabric of Southern life. Anyone with any information should contact Vernon Clarke at Clayton State University, vfclarke@gmail.com or 404-441-5614. He is looking for any photos, programs, memorabilia, as well as anyone who might have knowledge of these drivers and the racing circuit.
Virginia sources in print
Virginia sources are important to southern genealogies. The Iberian Publishing Company in Athens has long been the source for Virginia county books. Check Iberian.com, and your county of interest.
