Lecture Hall - Scaling the 1870 Brick Wall - African American Research
February 12, 2026 7PM ET
For many, researching before 1870 is a hurdle in African American research. In this webinar, you'll learn about sources and strategies to trace back into the Antebellum Era.
Many Midwestern families spent a generation or more in Pennsylvania before migrating throughout the region as it grew in the 1800s. Hear the details on major migration routes they took from the Keystone state—and how to track the families back to Pennsylvania with a variety of records and methodologies.
In this lecture hall you will learn:
- Sources (such as census, probate records, plantation records, and Freedmen’s Bureau records) that can help find your ancestor prior to 1870
- How best to use these documents to trace your ancestors
- How to incorporate timelines into your research
- View strategies and application in case studies
Take your African American research to another level by surpassing the 1870 brick wall.
About the instructor:
Ari Wilkins graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in interior design. She has been actively researching family history since 1998. Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research, the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, the American Library Association, RootsTech, and a multitude of state and local societies.
Ari has been a Library Associate at Dallas Public Library since 2007. She speaks on multitude of genealogical subjects and specializes in African American research.
February 12, 2026 7PM ET
For many, researching before 1870 is a hurdle in African American research. In this webinar, you'll learn about sources and strategies to trace back into the Antebellum Era.
Many Midwestern families spent a generation or more in Pennsylvania before migrating throughout the region as it grew in the 1800s. Hear the details on major migration routes they took from the Keystone state—and how to track the families back to Pennsylvania with a variety of records and methodologies.
In this lecture hall you will learn:
- Sources (such as census, probate records, plantation records, and Freedmen’s Bureau records) that can help find your ancestor prior to 1870
- How best to use these documents to trace your ancestors
- How to incorporate timelines into your research
- View strategies and application in case studies
Take your African American research to another level by surpassing the 1870 brick wall.
About the instructor:
Ari Wilkins graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in interior design. She has been actively researching family history since 1998. Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research, the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, the American Library Association, RootsTech, and a multitude of state and local societies.
Ari has been a Library Associate at Dallas Public Library since 2007. She speaks on multitude of genealogical subjects and specializes in African American research.
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