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Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library announces events in celebration
of African American History Month
Internationally known genealogist
Tony Burroughs to lecture
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[JAN. 27, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- In recognition of African
American History Month, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
will host professional genealogist Tony Burroughs, who will present
"Researching Your African-American Roots" on Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in
the library's multipurpose room. Burroughs' lecture is described as
a fun, inspirational talk on tracing family history and solving
family riddles. It contains easy, practical methods and sources that
anyone can use to trace their family history. A question-and-answer
session will follow.
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This program is free, but reservations are recommended. For
reservations, call 217-524-7216. Burroughs is a professional
genealogist who has been teaching genealogy at Chicago State
University for 15 years. He was a guest expert in "Oprah's Roots"
(PBS 2007) and "African American Lives" with Henry Louis Gates (PBS
2006). The program airs this month on PBS stations. Burroughs was
the genealogist in search of the family of Jesus on three continents
in "The Real Family of Jesus." The documentary was produced by the
BBC and aired as a two-hour Easter special on The Discovery Channel
(2005). He was a featured genealogy expert in six episodes of the
PBS television series "Ancestors 2" (2000) and was the
African-American genealogy expert in the original PBS "Ancestors"
(1997). Burroughs has also been interviewed on "CBS Sunday Morning,"
"CBS News," "ABC World News Tonight" and "BET Nightly News."
His book "Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African
American Family Tree (Simon & Schuster, 2001)" was No. 1 on Essence
Magazine's best-seller list and is now in its fourth printing.
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 On Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. in the presidential library's multipurpose
room, Kathryn Harris will portray Harriet Tubman. Tubman is probably
the most well-known figure associated with the Underground Railroad,
a network of people and places that helped escaping slaves to
freedom. Harris, the library services director, has been portraying
Tubman for several years. Her one-woman show depicts the faith,
tenacity, bravery and determination of a woman who was called the
"Moses of her people."
This performance is free and open to the public.
(Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum news release)
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