Genealogy Workshop - Chabot College

Anita Wills, is the author of a book titled, Notes And Documents of Free Persons of Color. The book chronicles the lives of a group of Free Blacks, who resided in Colonial Virginia. In the book Ms. Wills details how the laws of Colonial Virginia affected the lives of those labled Free Persons of Color.

The book gives information on a family who were Mulatto Indentured Servants to George Washingtons family. The family matriarch was, Mary Bowden, who was indentured to George Washingtons father, Augustine Washington Senior. Her forced indenture was for thirty years, a term that stretched out when Mary escaped three times.

Ms. Wills shares tips for locating hard to find ancestors, and on how to Write your family history.

If you've always wanted to trace your family history but didn't know where to start, or if you have started but have hit a brick wall, this is the place for you. This class is designed to take you step-by-step through the process of genealogical research. You will be introduced to the resources and techniques needed to track down and record
information on your family's history and to build a family tree.

You will learn to:
-understand the terminology in genealogy research
-properly record names, dates, and places
-locate sources for published information
-use vital records
-ask the right questions and use the Internet for resources
-effectively communicate through letters, phone calls, and personal visits

At the end of the first session, students will be asked to gatherinformation using the lessons they have learned and return to the second session to discuss the information they have discovered and find out how to proceed further. Students may register for one or both sessions.

Anita Wills is a published author and historian. She grew up in Chester County Pennsylvania listening to her mother telling stories about the family history during and after the Civil War.

In 1978 Ms. Wills began documenting her mothers lineage and found Revolutionary War soldiers and others who made contributions to American history. She began writing articles and eventually a book which was published this year titled Notes and Documents of Free Persons of Color: Four Hundred Years of An American Family History; purchase site http://www.lulu.com/leboudin. She appeared on Bay Area People on June 19, 2004, and is scheduled to participate in the Books By the Bay Book Fair, on July 127th. Ms. Wills has been a resident of the Bay Area since 1972.

DATE:
Course #5113
Saturday, August 7
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Room 315
$50

Course #5114
Saturday, September 4
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Room 315
$50

CONTACT:
Susan May,(510)723-6665
Anita Wills, alani2@yahoo.com