Forkland genealogy and history workshop is May 13

Published 8:14 am Monday, May 8, 2017

FORKLAND — Research on the mysterious Melungeons, DNA, and Native Americans are topics of the annual Forkland Genealogy and History Workshop on May 13 at the Forkland Community Center. 

The workshop begins with registration at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

The session on “Mysterious Mulungeons” will be presented by Darlene Franklin Campbell, an award winning poet and novelist in Southern Kentucky. She also is a first-grade teacher and visual artist.

She is proud of her Appalachian heritage and writes about the region and its people who include Scotland and Ireland settlers, and Native Americans and Mulungeon legends.

Genealogy has been a passion for her since she was nine years old and first heard her father talk great-great-grandfather.

Danville native Sarah Hamblin Kuchenbrod will talk about using DNA in family tree research.

She became interested in genealogy from seeing work her mother has done on her family tree.

She had her DNA analyzed on 23andme, AncestryDNA and Family Tree DNA in an attempt to learn more about her father’s biological family. He was adopted and through DNA, Sarah found his biological family and he met them.

Sarah also learned about genetic genealogy and likes sharing with others.

She has a degree in Art History from University of Kentucky.

Helen Danser of Tyner in Jackson County, will talk about Native American Genealogy.

She is chairwoman of the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission.

The Commission was established in 1996 to recognize and promote Native American contributions and influence in Kentucky’s history and culture. It also serves as clearing house on information for and about Native Americans in Kentucky.

Cost for the workshop is $30 and includes lunch. Deadline to register is May 8. Make checks payable to Forkland Community Center and mail to Pat Williams, 750 Black Lick Road, Gravel Switch, KY 40328.

Visit forklandlincolnmuseum.org to pay via credit card. The community center is located on Ky. 37 in Western Boyle County.

For more information, visit forklandlincolnmuseum.org, call Shirley Sheperson at (859) 936-2061 or Carolyn Crabtree at (859)516- 2028, or e-mail Carolyn at ctree1492@ctreeacres.com. If you would like to receive a workshop flyer with more details, send your name and postal address to gwill@mis.net.

Proceeds will benefit the Lincoln Museum which has hundreds of family files and books on history and genealogical research.