Genealogy Lecture:  Their Voices Can Be Heard

Uncover the story of African Americans who migrated to Alexandria, Virginia during the Civil War, while learning more about a number of local families.  Determined to gain their freedom, thousands of African Americans migrated during the Civil War. Because Alexandria was a Confederate town so close to the capital city of the Union (Washington, D.C.), Northern troops occupied Alexandria using its river port and train line to support the Union Army.  This Southern town was within Northern military boundaries, and these African Americans made their journey to be free by coming to Alexandria. 

This lecture, with a $5.00 admission, will be Saturday, February 7 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA.  Payment may be made at the door on the day of the lecture.

Char McCargo Bah is the CEO/Owner of FindingThingsforU, LLC.  A genealogist since 1981, she is sought after for her expertise, having been interviewed for numerous television shows and documentaries, including those produced for CBS, FOX-5, Comcast, and PBS. She has also received numerous awards for her work and was named a Living Legend in Alexandria, Virginia in 2014. McCargo Bah served as the official genealogist for the Office of Historic Alexandria’s work in identifying descendants of those buried at the city’s Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery. She is co-author of African Americans of Alexandria, VA: Beacons of Light in the Twentieth Century.

For more information about this program, contact the Alexandria Black History Museum, located at 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA, at 703.746.4356.  For media inquiries, contact Daniel Lee, Research Historian, Office of Historic Alexandria, at 703.746.4733 or daniel.lee@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, email lance.mallamo@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.