Freedom Webinar Series – FamilyTreeWebinars.com celebrates 150 years since the beginning of freedom for all Americans

2015 is a milestone year for America. 150 years ago our country changed forever. Join Legacy Family Tree Webinars as we celebrate the sesquicentennial of the beginning of freedom for all Americans. The year 1865 changed the trajectory of the nation forever, when our ancestors began to fully honor the very concepts upon which America was founded – freedom!

In 1865:

• The Civil War ended.
• Slavery was abolished.
• Freedom came for millions.
• The first Juneteenth celebration took place.
• The nation changed – slavery ended with the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

Our new Freedom Webinar Series, taught by pre- and post-Emancipation era research experts, will both entertain, educate, and instruct about the history and the wealth of records that were created as a result of this great transition. Registration and attending the live webinars is free.

Researching Ancestors in the Era of Freedom by Angela Walton-Raji, Friday, February 20, 2015

The years right after the Civil War were critical years for all southerners white and black. Amazing records reflect that incredible time during those years. This session will explore several amazing record sets and will point to where they can be found.

Click here to register.

United States Colored Troops Civil War Widows' Pension Applications: Tell the Story by Bernice Alexander Bennett, Friday, April 24, 2015

Explore the challenges faced by widows and/or former slave descendants of soldiers in the United State Colored Troops Widows’ Pension Applications.

Click here to register.

Mending Broken Ties: Reconstructing Family Trees Sawed by Slavery by Melvin J. Collier, Friday, July 31, 2015

All slaves had family members who were sold away or transferred to the slave-owners' heirs, never to be seen again. Many even took different surnames. It was not uncommon for two displaced brothers to retain different surnames after Emancipation. Collier will present cases of how displaced family members were found.

Click here to register.

Maps Tell Some of the Story for the African-Ancestored Genealogist by Angela Walton-Raji, Friday, September 25, 2015

This session will illustrate how geography can tell you things unknown about your ancestral community and help provide a critical background for the family narrative.

Click here to register.

And while you await the beginning of the series, and to kick off this year of celebration, please enjoy complimentary access to the following webinars in our webinar library (free through January 2015).

• When Freedom Came – Documenting the Family's Freedom Story by Angela Walton-Raji
• Your Civil War Ancestors: Beginning Your Research by Michael Hait
• Best Internet Resources for African American Genealogy by Angela Walton-Raji

International Decade for People of African Descent

2015 also begins the International Decade for People of African Descent adopted by the United Nations. Here at FamilyTreeWebinars, we recognize and support this resolution, and reach out to all regardless of race, color, creed or national origin with support for researching family and documenting cultural inheritance. We will continue to strive to bring the finest genealogical education to you.

Read more about this here.