Uncover Your Roots: Exploring Ancestry & Family History
The last day of RootsTech is also Family Discovery Day. It is a free, fun, in-person event offering activities and experiences that will help you and your family unite as you discover more about your family history. As part of Family Discovery Day, RootsTech offers classes from experts on a variety of interesting topics, including... Continue Reading →
After a good night's rest, I arrived at the Salt Palace around 9am just in time to check my coat and walk to my 930am class. I knew this session was going to be good. I was excited to see when I arrived that the winner of our RootsTech Give-a-Way pass was in the session... Continue Reading →
If you have been following my blog or podcast for anytime at all, then you know how much I love the TV show Relative Race. Relative Race is a genetic DNA reality show. It consists of four teams that are racing across America in search for their relatives that they have never met before. They... Continue Reading →
It's hard to believe that RootsTech is finally here, and I'm in Salt Lake City attending the in-person conference. Although we have attended this conference before, I was a little nervous and anxious since we haven't attended an in-person conference in two years. But entering the building and seeing all the RootsTech signage put me... Continue Reading →
RootsTech has finally arrived. Since Phillip and I are Influencers this year, we had to arrive a day early for a media event. So I thought that would be the perfect time for us to utilize the Family Preservation Center at the Family Search Library. This is an area in the library where you can... Continue Reading →
Although I celebrate Black History 365 days a year, Black History Month has always been special to me. Growing up I attended many Black History Month programs at my church and in my community of Newport, Arkansas. When I left Newport to attend college in northwest Arkansas, the Black History Month programs were just a... Continue Reading →
My mother, Patricia Hatchett Mays, (smiling on the bottom right) celebrating her niece, Jackie's, birthday with family and friends in Newport, Arkansas
RootsTech is a 3-day event held in Salt Lake City, Utah, dedicated to celebrating family and discovering family histories. With over 200 breakout sessions, an exciting lineup of celebrity speakers, and a gigantic expo hall, there's something we’re sure you’ll love. The Expo Hall features more than 100 companies offering products and services designed to... Continue Reading →
My Uncle, Alexander Cooper, the first African American Post Master in Newport, Arkansas.
NOTE: I accepted the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge headed by fellow genealogy blogger Amy Johnson Crow in January 2023. The idea behind this challenge is that you will receive email prompts, a word or phrase, every week, and you find something about your research or family history to write about. I write in... Continue Reading →
Hostesses at Mr. and Mrs. Branch 50th Anniversary, November 1960 - Newport, Arkansas (My Granny, Gladys Denson Mays, third from the left)
It's hard to believe that January is almost over. And that means that we are getting closer to RootsTech 2023. If you have followed my blog for anytime, then you know that this will be my 5th year attending RootsTech (2 in person and 2 virtual). This year's conference theme is Uniting: uniting families, communities,... Continue Reading →
Journey Through the Generations 