Discovering Heritage Via Genealogical Research At New Rochelle Library

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Black history is American History and organizers said an upcoming event at the library, detailing how genealogy can help reveal that history, can be a model for understanding our unique and shared heritage one story at a time.

On Saturday, at 2 p.m., the New Rochelle Public Library, in collaboration with the Westchester County Historical Society, will present "Discovering Your African American Heritage by Building a Family Tree" with Joyce Sharrock Cole, Ossining Village Historian and certified genealogical researcher.

The presentation will explore the unique challenges in tracing family trees faced by African American families.

Using her own journey of researching her family lineage, Sharrock Cole will demonstrate how she was able to discover her ancestors and piece together a largely unknown history. She will show how the claiming of surnames impacted Black people, and how other ethnic groups that immigrated to the U.S. changed their names to assimilate and escape prejudice. The talk will offer expert tips on how to navigate these challenges to family research along the way.

This workshop will focus specifically on African American families, although the online and print resources are applicable for all genealogical searches, according to the event organizers. Driven by her passion for genealogy and local research, Joyce said she is an advocate for all people to learn about their family and their community’s past, as it fosters a better understanding of themselves and the community that has shaped them.

Joyce earned a BS in Organizational Management from Mercy College and certification as a Genealogical Researcher from Boston University. She is a founding member and lead researcher of the Little Bertie County Genealogical Society, which facilitates the Ossining Public Library Genealogy Group, and is a trustee of the Westchester County Historical Society.

The 90-minute workshop will be presented in person in the Ossie Davis Theater of the New Rochelle Public Library, located at 1 Library Plaza and will also be available via Zoom.

Registration for virtual attendance is required and can be done here.

Registration for in-person attendance is requested and can be done here or by calling the library at 914-813-3706.

Find out more about the New Rochelle Public Library on their website.