Event Registration - Rochester Genealogical Society
November RGS Member Meeting - Exploring Records of the Freedmen’s Bureau: There’s Something for Everyone
11/19/20246:45 PM - 8:45 PM EST
Location: Nazareth University , Otto A. Shults Community Center, Room: Forum- Located in the Shults Commu, Rochester, NY 14618
Event Description
November RGS Member Meeting – Exploring Records of the Freedmen’s Bureau: There’s Something for Everyone
Renate Yarborough Sanders will explore and explain the Freedmen’s Bureau for us. While the name “Freedmen’s Bureau” suggests a primary focus on the formerly enslaved, this multifaceted government record set holds genealogical treasures about ancestors of all backgrounds. This presentation will demonstrate why everyone researching American ancestors from the antebellum and Reconstruction eras should consider these records an essential part of their comprehensive, exhaustive search.
Renate Yarbourough Sanders, an experienced genealogist and educator, is the descendant of formerly enslaved ancestors, enslavers, and free people of color. She authors two blogs and maintains an online funeral program database. Renate is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the North Carolina Genealogical Society, the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society, and several local genealogy societies. She is a member and Deputy Registrar of the lineage society, Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage. Renate provides genealogy education for conferences, societies, employee groups, and for institutions of higher learning; and her research has been featured on PBS Radio and in a National Geographic cover story and podcast. She was recently engaged in a project for Wake Forest University, seeking to find descendants of enslaved persons sold for the benefit of that institution. Renate is an instructor for the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute and joined the faculty of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh in Summer 2024. She lectures on a variety of topics but specializes in teaching research methodology and sharing specific techniques for researching ancestors of color. She provides coaching and consultation services for individuals seeking guidance with genealogical research and continues to engage in project work for various institutions.
Renate Yarborough Sanders will explore and explain the Freedmen’s Bureau for us. While the name “Freedmen’s Bureau” suggests a primary focus on the formerly enslaved, this multifaceted government record set holds genealogical treasures about ancestors of all backgrounds. This presentation will demonstrate why everyone researching American ancestors from the antebellum and Reconstruction eras should consider these records an essential part of their comprehensive, exhaustive search.