Contact Kenneth H. Thomas Jr. at P.O. Box 901, Decatur, GA 30031 or gagensociety.org.
The Black History Month symposium at the National Archives in Morrow will focus on Reconstruction.
The event, sponsored by the Archives and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Metro Atlanta Chapter, will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 21. The program is free; lunch is provided but space is limited, so pre-registration is required.
Speakers and their topics: Angela Walton-Raji on “When Freedom Came: Finding Your Family’s Story,” Velma Maia Thomas on “Southern Claims: Give Me What is Mine,” Lisa Bratton on the 1871 trial of the owner of the Brattonsville plantation for the lynching of a former slave, Sharon McMeans-Lukin on “Reconstruction: An Overview,” Jackie Herring on “Big Bethel AME Church: From Slavery to the 21st Century,” and Joel Walker of the National Archives on Reconstruction documents held at the Archives.
To register, email ancestryatl@gmail.com. For more information about the society, check aahgsatl.org, and for the National Archives go to archives.gov/atlanta. For program information, contact Joel Walker at 770-968-2530.
Georgia Archives events
The Feb. 13 Georgia Archives Lunch and Learn lecture on the Tuskegee Airmen, 1930-1949, will be given by Daniel Haulman of the Air Force Historical Research Agency. It’s set for noon and is free; bring your own lunch.
The Georgia Archives in Morrow is launching a new quarterly Saturday lecture series, with the first set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 14. The topic will be the experience of African-Americans in the 20th century South.
Speakers will be Reggie Tiller from the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site; Holly Smith, archivist at Spelman College; Charles Ward, archivist of the Herndon Home; and Andrea Jackson, archivist for the Atlanta University Center. A children’s program also will be offered.
The event is free; bring your own lunch. Seating is limited, so to reserve a seat call 678-364-3710. For more information, check georgiaarchives.org.
Roswell events
Roswell is holding a monthlong Festival of Black History and Culture. Check roswellgov.com. The events will cover a wide range of subjects, including storytelling and passing down family traditions, genealogy and historical exhibits.