WASHINGTON - The National Archives will host its fourth annual Genealogy Fair. This year’s program will highlight Federal records located at the National Archives relating to general genealogy, World War I, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Sessions will offer guidance on topics including Civil War pension files, Freedmen’s Bureau marriage records, World War I draft registration records, and New Deal publications. National Archives staff will demonstrate how to use databases including the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) and Access to Archival Databases (AAD).

The fair will provide information and guidance for experienced genealogy professionals and novices alike. This event is free and open to the public.

For a schedule of lectures and demonstrations, see: http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/know-your-records/genealogy-fair.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Research Center Lobby, National Archives Building, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. Government-issued photo identification or student ID is required to enter the building. The closest Metro stop is the Archives/Navy Memorial stop on the Yellow and Green lines. The National Archives is fully accessible.

If you need to request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program please email reservations.nwe@nara.gov or call 202 357-5000 at least two weeks prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements are secured.

WHO: Speakers include historian at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Marian Smith, author Raff Ellis (Kisses from a Distance: An Immigrant Family Experience) and National Archives experts Susan Abbott, Bill Creech, John Deeben, Kenneth Heger, Claire Kluskens, Constance Potter, and Reginald Washington.

BACKGROUND: The National Archives holds the permanently valuable records of the Federal government. These include records of interest to genealogists, such as pension files, census and Freedmen’s Bureau materials.

For information on National Archives holdings see www.archives.gov.

Source: National Archives

CONTACT: The National Archives Public Affairs staff, +1-202-357-5300