MECC to Host 20th Annual Melungeon Union

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Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College will host the 20th Melungeon Union June 23-25, featuring presenters, field trips, and research opportunities for those interested in learning more about the heritage and genealogy of Melungeon people.

MECC’s Wampler Library, in coordination with the Melungeon Heritage Association and the Wise County Historical Society, will sponsor three genealogy workshops and a lecture session on Thursday, June 23, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, June 24 events include a trip to Vardy, TN, home of the Vardy Museum and former site of a Melungeon school. Saturday, June 24 activities include a Keynote Address from Author Wayne Winkler and presentations by two Melungeon researchers.  

Pre-registration is required for the Genealogy Pre-Conference for the 20th Melungeon Union by emailing Dr. Michael Gilley, MECC Director of Library Services, at mgilley@mecc.edu.  There is no fee for the Genealogy Pre-Conference, although participants are encourage to join the Wise County Historical Society and/or the Melungeon Heritage Association.  Admission for the Melungeon Union is $10.00.  Admission to all events is free of charge to residents of the City of Norton and Dickenson, Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties in Virginia.  The schedule for the 20th Melungeon Union is as follows:

Thursday, June 23

Pre-conference Genealogy Workshop-Mountain Empire Community College, Dalton-Cantrell Hall, Room 242 /243.

  • 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon…Paula D. Royster: African American Research for the Novice.
  • 1:30 – 2:50 PM…………Philip Edwards: Family of Tree Makers: Computer-Automated Genealogy in 2016.
  • 3:10 – 4:30 PM…………Lynda Davis-Logan: DNA for Family History Studies (DNA terminology, various companies for DNA)
  • 4:45 – 6:00 PM…………Darlene Wilson: The WebSpinning Granny Still Spins – How It Began

 

Friday, June 24

Those wanting to carpool/caravan to Vardy, meet at the Holiday Inn parking lot at 1051 Park Ave NW, Norton, at 10 a.m. For those driving on their own from Big Stone Gap or elsewhere, use the following address as a GPS point in Vardy, Tennessee: 3865 Vardy Blackwater, Sneedville, TN 37869-6432. Meet at the Vardy Museum/former Vardy Presbyterian Church.

  • 10:30 AM. …………….Depart for Vardy, Tennessee from Holiday Inn parking lot, Norton, VA.
  • 11:45 AM………………Arrive Vardy (approximate time)
  • 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM….Lunch at Vardy (sandwich lunch provided, bring lunch for special diet)
  • 12:30 – 2:30 PM……….Tour Vardy Historical Museum/District
  • 6:00 PM……………… Reception (light fare food and refreshments), Victorian Parlor,
  • Southwest Virginia Historical State Park, 10 E 1st St N, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219. Exhibit of Julie Williams Dixon’s photographic prints, “People and Their People.”
  • 7:00 PM………………..Julie Williams Dixon will talk briefly about her photography exhibit, “People and Their People,” and also facilitate a group discussion focused on the value of photography in historical genealogical study. Again, she welcomes participants to bring family portraits to share with the group.

 

Saturday, June 25

Events held at MECC’s Goodloe Center, Phillips -Taylor Hall

  • 9:00 AM………………Announcements: Mike Gilley, Scott Withrow
  • 9:30 – 10:15 AM………Wayne Winkler: Melungeon Keynote Talk
  • 10:15 – 10:30 AM………Break
  • 10:30 – 11:15 AM………Stephanie Musick: Tazewell County Schools in the 1930s
  • 11:15 – 11:30 AM………Announcements
  • 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM….Lunch on your own
  • 1:00 – 1:45 PM……….. Laura Tugman: Ongoing Melungeon Research
  • 1:45 – 2:30 PM………. .S. J. Arthur, Wayne Winkler: History of the Melungeon Heritage Association
  • 2:30 – 3:00 PM…………Break/Executive Committee meeting
  • 2:45 or 3:00 – 4:00 PM…Final announcements/raffle

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