Genealogy Face to Face - Presented by Clayton Library Friends

This is a weekly roundtable discussion for Clayton Library Friends members and the general public related to genealogy research. 

Topic: "Using Masonic Grand Lodge Proceedings for Genealogical Research" with Jessica Horne Collins
Discussion Topic: Have you discovered a Freemason ancestor? How?

Registration in advance of the meeting will be required. Pre-register now by following this link.

Quarterly meeting of the Clayton Library Friends Executive Board.

The Board meets via Zoom Video Conference.

Genealogy Face to Face - Presented by Clayton Library Friends

This is a weekly roundtable discussion for Clayton Library Friends members and the general public related to genealogy research. 

Topic: African American Video Oral History Collection with Sue Kaufman, Clayton Library Manager

Discussion Question: Have you explored the HistoryMakers Archive (available remotely with your Houston Public Library card)? What have you found?

Registration in advance of the meeting will be required. Pre-register now by following this link.

Clayton Library Presents -  

The 1870 Community-Cluster: Gateway to Your Ancestor’s Enslavement

Researching enslaved African American ancestry is an extremely challenging and daunting task. Descendants of enslaved ancestors encounter the proverbial brick wall of 1870, which may seem impenetrable. Author and genealogist Franklin Smith will demonstrate how the 1870 community-cluster is the gateway to not only identifying the slaveholder but to providing information about their history of enslavement. For intermediate to advanced researchers.

For registration, please click here.

This event is offered by Houston Public Library - Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. Please direct questions to cla.reference@houstontx.gov or 832-393-2600.

Clayton Library Presents -  

Using Manuscript Collections in Genealogy Research

Manuscripts are original records and are often overlooked sources. They serve as primary sources that provide first-hand documentation and evidence of events that shape the development of a society, community and/or family. They are usually not indexed in the manner that we are accustomed; therefore, it takes time and patience to sift through the various pieces of papers that you might find. Manuscripts can be found in a variety of repositories from archives, public/private libraries, historical societies, and universities. Knowing exactly where and what will be found in manuscript collections can be tricky, but when found, these records can create a gold mine of information pertaining to your ancestor’s life. Presented by guest speaker Deborah A. Abbott, PhD.

For reservations, please click here.

This event is offered by Houston Public Library - Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. Please direct questions to cla.reference@houstontx.gov or 832-393-2600.

The Clayton Library Friends General Meeting will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2021.

In Honor of Black History Month

You are invited to a Joint Meeting of the Clayton Library Friends and Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. Willie Lee Gay H-Town Chapter.

Presenter: Debra Blacklock-Sloan

Topic: The Answer Was Right in Front of Me: A Case Study Using Clayton Genealogical Library Resources to Help Determine the Last Slaveholder of Your Ancestor

The presentation will offer:

• Tips and strategies for researching African American ancestry
• Library and online resources

Register: tinyurl.com/clf-aahgs

Questions? htown@aahgs.org | info@claytonlibraryfriends.org

Genealogy Face to Face - Presented by Clayton Library Friends

This is a weekly roundtable discussion for Clayton Library Friends members and the general public related to genealogy research. 

Speaker: Melvin E. Edwards, Author of “The Eyes of Texans”

Melvin E. Edwards is a former award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist, who became a speechwriter for the highest officeholders in Texas government by the time he was 30 years old. His new book, “The Eyes of Texans: From Slavery to the Texas Capitol,” tells personal and reimagined stories from six generations of his family, going back to Isaac Bladen, an enslaved man brought from Maryland to Texas in 1844.

His book highlights the unique difficulty that African Americans face when doing genealogical research and how family stories can sometimes make that research more – not less – challenging. He will speak for 30 minutes, then answer questions for 30 minutes about the book, and about the writing and publishing processes, in general.

We encourage you to read Edwards’ book for yourself, then discuss it with him. It is available in paperback and Kindle eBook on Amazon. The audiobook will be available in mid-January. Despite the book’s serious content, it has moments of lightheartedness that will leave you feeling optimistic about the future of Texas and America.

You do not have to be a CLF member to attend the meeting.

Registration in advance of the meeting will be required. Pre-register now by following this link.

Clayton Library Presents -  

Some Great & Seldom-Used African American Resources: A Genealogical Potpourri

Seasoned researchers are constantly in search of resources with the potential to resolve issues in one or more of their troublesome research areas.  Many of these great treasures are hiding in plain sight online, while some may require a journey to seldom-used spaces in a college campus library.  Either way there is an adventure in store, and you can be pretty sure it will make your day!  Presented by guest speaker Tim Pinnick.

For registration, please click here. 

This event is offered by Houston Public Library - Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. Please direct questions to cla.reference@houstontx.gov or 832-393-2600.

Clayton Library Presents -  

Naturalization: An Unnatural Process

Guest speaker and genealogy blogger Michael John Neill discusses naturalization from the colonial era until World War II, with an emphasis on how history has impacted the amount of records that were created.

For registration, please click here.

This event is offered by Houston Public Library - Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. Please direct questions to cla.reference@houstontx.gov or 832-393-2600.

Quarterly meeting of the Clayton Library Friends Executive Board.

The Board meets via Zoom Video Conference.

The Clayton Library Friends General Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021. The details of this meeting are still being determined.

Quarterly meeting of the Clayton Library Friends Executive Board.

The Board meets via Zoom Video Conference.

The Clayton Library Friends General Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021. The details of this meeting are still being determined.

Quarterly meeting of the Clayton Library Friends Executive Board.

The Board meets via Zoom Video Conference.

The Clayton Library Friends Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021. The details of this meeting are still being determined.