City, Partners to Hold Second Round of Community Engagement Genealogy Workshops

4/9/2025

Pre-registration for Interested Participants is Now Open

The City of Tulsa, in collaboration with Intermountain Forensics and the Greenwood Cultural Center, will host the second round of Community Engagement Genealogy Workshops from April 25 to April 27, 2025, at the Greenwood Cultural Center, 322 N. Greenwood Ave.

Residents who are interested in participating in one of the workshops are asked to fill out pre-registration information at www.greenwoodculturalcenter.org/genealogy-workshop Friday and Saturday’s workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday’s optional workday will go from 1 – 7 p.m. Space in each workshop is limited, so residents are asked to register early. Due to the private nature of genetic genealogy, each workshop is limited to registered participants only.

Workshops are part of the City's goal to increase public awareness and empower community members, especially those in Greenwood and North Tulsa - and 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre descendants - to explore their own genealogies, connecting them with resources and experts to uncover family histories.

Participants will have access to experienced genealogists who will guide them through the fundamentals of genealogical research, including:

• Tools and resources for effective family tree research, including free access to Ancestry Institution courtesy of Ancestry.com
• Guidance on when and how to expand your family tree
• Access to research materials and resources for continued learning

For more information on the Community Engagement Genealogy Project, visit: www.cityoftulsa.org/genealogyproject

Surnames and Locations of Interest
Several new surnames and locations of interest have been identified as part of the City's genealogy process for the unmarked graves uncovered at Oaklawn Cemetery. People may recognize these surnames and locations of interest in their family trees. The latest list of surnames and locations of interest can be found online.

ABOUT THE EMMETT TILL COLD CASE GRANT
The City of Tulsa received a $1 million Emmett Till Cold Case Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, focusing on forensic genetic genealogy to identify potential victims. In addition to genetic genealogy workshops being held as part of the grant, the Tulsa Police Department is participating in training sessions on genetic genealogy. These trainings focus on how genealogy can be utilized to solve cold cases and prevent cases from becoming cold cases. The grant also supports an exhibit at the Greenwood Cultural Center, with additional details to follow as they become available.