Earlier this fall, staff from W&M Libraries, the Lemon Project, and Bray School lab presented at the Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society (WAGS) Conference to showcase the genealogy research resources and initiatives in progress on campus.
This is the first conference hosted and organized by the society. WAGS’ purpose is to inform and engage with genealogical records in the local community. Together they research and study their family histories, advise each other on methods and standards, and provide fellowship for members and non-members interested in the work.
Williamsburg is a historic hub, so it can be challenging to pinpoint where to find what you need. W&M Libraries is a great place to start your genealogy journey. At the WAGS conference, Instruction and Research Librarian Jessica Ramey provided insight into the genealogy resources available at Swem Library such as, making an appointment with a librarian, visiting the Special Collections Research Center, and taking advantage of the Rebman Genealogy collection which contains a mix of print and online materials highlighting the Williamsburg and broader area.
Other members of the W&M panel were Elizabeth Drembus, genealogist for the Bray School Lab and Jajuan Johnson, Interim Robert Franics Engs Director of the Lemon Project. They each discussed how genealogy is a crucial piece of their missions to document and ensure the the legacies of Black people at the college and in the city of Williamsburg are not forgotten.
The Lemon Project provides resources for genealogy research through the Genealogy Research Initiative. They host family history workshops for descendant communities in the Williamsburg and the Greater Tidewater area.
Elizabeth also explained the steps that the Bray School Lab takes in their research and hopes that WAGS members can apply those methods to their own.
If you’re interested in genealogical research, go to W&M Libraries genealogy research guide for more information.
Learn more about the Lemon Project and the Bray School Lab’s genealogy efforts on their websites.