Family History Day at the Tennessee State Library and Archives
The Tennessee State Library and Archives held its annual Family History Day on October 19, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee, which included a presentation from genealogist
, a conservation clinic, and a transcribe-a-thon.
Koonce’s presentation, “A Tennessee Tapestry: Your Guide to the County-Specific Family History Resources,” was an excellent overview of the records available at the library. Vital records, maps, newspapers, county fact sheets, compiled family histories, books, and much more are available to researchers.
Even though I don’t have any Tennessee ancestors, it was great to learn how I could do research for potential clients with ties to the Volunteer State. (If you need record lookups, let’s talk!)
Participating in events like this is a great opportunity to find community with fellow family history enthusiasts. I loved hearing the questions and stories from other attendees.
The best part was finally meeting Taneya! I’ve admired her work from afar and enjoyed connecting with her online, but experiencing her infectious enthusiasm in person was even better.
Family History Day attendees received a swag bag full of info, like reference guides for finding Tennessee genealogy records. It also included details about the free resources available through the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL). I learned that it even offers a free language learning service, Transparent Language Online, which includes more than 110 languages!
Attendees also had the opportunity to register for a 20-minute appointment at the Conservation Clinic, where library staff provided “help and advice related to preserving historic family records and photographs.” This included identifying photo types, suggesting storage materials, and answering questions about preservation.
Library & Archives staff also invited volunteers to join a “Transcribe-a-thon” to help index vital records for improved accessibility.
To learn more about the Tennessee State Library and Archives, including upcoming events, visit https://sos.tn.gov/tsla
What fun seeing two of our community members meeting in real life. It's like a Marvel Universe moment. 🎉
Nicole! What a great write-up and it was so awesome meeting you in person too!!