Genealogy Event at SARA in Washington

The Arkansas History Commission and State Archives, the Arkansas Genealogical Society, and the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives Foundation, Inc., will be hosting their annual history symposium on Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the 1914 Schoolhouse at Historic Washington State Park. The symposium’s theme, “Discovering Your Story, “ will feature speakers, James G. Jones, Dr. Daniel F. Littlefield, and Arkansas History Commission staff members Melissa Nesbitt and Jane Hooker.

Topics will include “DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy,” “American Indian Family Stories: Fact or Fiction,” “Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives: Guide to Historical and Genealogical Records,” and “New Services and a New Face: The Arkansas History Commission Today.”

The seminar is free but registration is required. Teachers can earn up to four professional development hours through attendance. Registration is limited and deadline for registration will be Monday, April 25. Check-in will begin at 9:15 a.m., the morning of April 30. Lunch will be provided for attendees.

The Arkansas History Commission, located in Little Rock, is the official state archives of Arkansas and maintains the largest collection of historical materials on Arkansas in the world. The Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives is a resource center for historical research, dedicated to the purpose of collecting and preserving primary source materials that bring together the unique history, culture, and heritage of Southwest Arkansas. SARA is located in the former Washington Elementary School at 201 Highway 195 South, Washington, Arkansas.

For more information about the symposium or to register, contact us at history.commission@arkansas.gov or call us at 501-682-6900.