Upcoming Events
Goochland County, Virginia
PANEL DISCUSSION EXPLORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REGINALD D. BUTLER
The Goochland County Historical Society invites you to join us for a panel discussion exploring the life and legacy of Reginald D. Butler, author of The Evolution of a Rural Free Black Community: Goochland, Virginia, 1728–1832.
People often ask: what makes Goochland so different. This special event will bring together a distinguished panel of scholars to discuss Dr. Butler’s groundbreaking research and its lasting impact on the study of Virginia’s free Black communities.
Featured Panelists:
Orice Jenkins – Independent scholar and award-winning author
Robert Trent Vinson – Commonwealth Professor of African American and African Studies and Director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American and African Studies at the University of Virginia
Robert Vernon – Independent researcher, Central Virginia History Researchers
Dr. Butler, the second director of the University of Virginia’s Carter G. Woodson Institute, authored an influential and much-cited doctoral dissertation at Johns Hopkins University that was not formally published until recently. In The Evolution of a Rural Free Black Community: Goochland, Virginia, 1728–1832, Dr. Butler examined the formation and development of one of Virginia’s rural free Black communities through innovative and meticulous research in county and state archives.
His scholarship reconstructed the social, economic, and family networks that connected free Virginians with one another, their enslaved neighbors, and the white employers and public officials who shaped their daily lives. Decades after it was written, Dr. Butler’s work remains a fundamental resource for historians and genealogists, offering profound insight into the resilience, complexity, and enduring legacy of Virginia’s free Black communities.
Join us for an engaging conversation celebrating Dr. Butler’s remarkable scholarship and exploring its continued relevance to the history of Goochland County, Virginia, and the nation.
📅 Date: August 29, 2026
🕒Time: 10:00 AM
📍Location: The Eagle Theater, Central High Cultural and Educational Complex, 2748 Dogtown Rd, Goochland, VA 23063
Admission is free and open to the public. A reception will be held following the presentation, and the book will be available for purchase.
Center for Family History at the International African American Museum
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"What if the missing pieces of your family’s story are already in an undiscovered document, newspaper article, or your DNA - and is waiting to be written?
In this inspiring episode, host Shelley Murphy sits down with acclaimed authors Melvin Collier, Michael Willis, Kathy Marshall, and Orice Jenkins to explore how African American genealogy and DNA testing are transforming family history into powerful, published narratives - documentaries, stage plays, books, blog and vlog videos, video reels, and other formats.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn research into storytelling, this episode gives you the roadmap.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to use DNA testing to uncover African American ancestry
Ways to turn genealogical research into compelling stories
Tools for writing or digitally publishing your family history
Why reclaiming Black stories is essential for future generations
Your family’s legacy deserves to be told - not just discovered and not shared.
Join the conversation, share this episode, and start writing your family’s story today.
Genealogy - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
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Explore how Colonial Virginia “tithable” and tax records can reveal the lives of enslaved individuals. Using a case study from Louisa County, learn how these records uncover names, ages, locations, and connections to prominent figures like Patrick Henry.
Genealogy - Connecticut Museum
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The Connecticut Museum recently opened a new exhibition, Drawn Here, that explores the migration history and culture of Hartford’s North End through a series of original graphic novels developed by local students and professional artists.
Join us for a virtual presentation as Orice Jenkins discusses one heroic resident of the North End. Mary Jewel Barlow was one of only three members of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion who died in service during World War II, and one of only four women buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. Though erased from popular memory for decades, her legacy connects directly to Hartford’s historic Clay Arsenal neighborhood and to one of Connecticut’s most prominent Black families. Genealogical research reveals Barlow not as a fictionalized figure from a movie, but as a real young woman whose sacrifice deserves recognition. This virtual event is free and open to the public.
Live Podcast - Traverse City, MI
All ages - General Admission - $10 Tickets
Live conversation with audience Q&A - Recorded
Doors & bar open at 6:30 PM - Show starts at 7:00
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Isiah Smith and Orice Jenkins are long-lost cousins reconnecting through a shared journey of genealogy, history, and identity. Their individual family stories converge around one common thread: uncovering the past to move forward.
This one-time live podcast explores the complex intersection of race, genealogy, and family history. Isiah Smith and Orice Jenkins connect through a shared past, including a powerful artifact, Smith’s great-grandfather’s Bill of Sale, and the story of an ancestor freed from slavery in Georgia.
With much of their history lost to the Civil War, they work with a UVA genealogist to uncover missing pieces. Their search leads to difficult revelations, including ties to the Early County Massacre.
This event will explore the themes of ancestry, the legacies we inherit, and the necessity of understanding our past to heal and grow. It will feature an unscripted, open-ended conversation where Isiah and Orice share their personal reflections, the challenges they faced while uncovering their history, and how this journey has shaped their identities today.
Genealogy - SOFAFEA Conference
Please Join Us for a Special VIP Event
America 250: Forgotten Patriots A Dream Yet Realized
Society of the First African Families of English America
Genealogy - Shelton Heritage Society
Join author and family historian Orice Jenkins and the Shelton Heritage Society as Jenkins revisits the Early County Massacre-long referred to as the Grandison Goolsby War-uncovering the deeper family and historical context behind the events of December 1915. Moving beyond the commonly told account, Jenkins traces how the violence began days earlier with a single incident and ultimately led to a devastating miscarriage of justice years later. Through careful research and storytelling, he centers the lives, resilience, and sacrifices of Grandison and Mary Goolsby and the lasting impact on their family, restoring complexity, dignity, and humanity to a story too often reduced to a single moment in history.
Concert - Northampton, MA
Vocalist Orice Jenkins is with the Green Street Trio at City Sports Grille in Northampton. Welcome back to the regular 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month Northampton Jazz Workshop series for 2026. Joining Orice will be Jon Fisher, Matt Dwonszyk and Paul Arslanian.
The music starts at 7:30 followed by an open jazz jam session. Happy New Year everyone and I hope you can join us for another great year of wonderful guest soloists.
Food is available as of 6PM and there is a $5 music fee added to bar or food tabs.
Genealogy - Legacy Family Tree Webinar
Sarah Elizabeth Grant, also known as Betsy, was born enslaved in 1837 in Greene County, Georgia. In 2022, a tweet from the Smithsonian Transcription Center shed light on a letter she wrote to the Freedmen’s Bureau, showing up on the timeline of one of her great-nephews: Orice Jenkins. Further research by Orice revealed Betsy’s complex story, as the daughter of an enslaved woman and a free man of color, who sued her enslaver after emancipation. Various resources were used to determine the identity of her parents, including DNA results, court records, Freedmen’s Bureau records, newspapers, and the new Full-Text Search feature on FamilySearch, leading to the uncovering of a historical phenomenon in the Grant family.
Genealogy - Virtual - Indiana African American Genealogy Group
$10 for members and $15 for non-members
This hands-on writing workshop will show you how to transform genealogical research into a vivid, well-structured narrative that captures the heart of a historical moment. Using real-world examples from The Early County Massacre, you’ll learn how to identify a pivotal family or community event, verify and balance diverse sources, and navigate conflicting accounts. Through guided exercises, you’ll practice humanizing historical figures, weaving personal stories into broader social contexts, and enhancing your work with timelines, maps, and images. Whether documenting acts of injustice, landmark court cases, or community milestones, you’ll leave with the skills and strategies to craft an engaging, accurate account that preserves both the facts and the spirit of your history.
Concert - Springfield, MA
9th Annual “A Journey in Jazz” Concert
featuring: Ethel Lee, Samirah Evans, Genevieve Rose, Jocelyn Pleasant, Chris Casey, Orice Jenkins, Christina Colon, Frank Newton, Michela Marino Lerman
Genealogy - RootsTech 2025
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Three Ways To Identify Your Ancestor's Enslaver
People that research African-ancestored individuals in America are often plagued by the theoretical “1870 Brick Wall.” This phrase stems from the necessity to identify who enslaved an ancestor to find information on them before they were recorded as free on the 1870 census. This presentation involves three short case studies, proving that it’s possible to break through that barrier. One focuses on traditional genealogy, one uses DNA research, and the other resulted from unintentional fate. These examples serve to inspire everyone to try their hand at slavery-era research.
Genealogy - AARP Michigan
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Researching Your Ancestry for Adoptees
For adoptees, tracing family history can present unique challenges and opportunities. Our special guest Orice Jenkins, researcher and genealogist will share strategies and resources to help adoptees explore their roots. Learn how to use DNA testing, archival records and community connections to discover your biological heritage and build meaningful links to your past.
Commemoration of the Early County Massacre
On December 28, 2024, the Early County community will host the first-ever commemoration of the Early County Massacre, an event dedicated to honoring the lives lost and the resilience of the survivors during this dark chapter of history. The commemoration will take place on the grounds of the historic Early County Courthouse, a symbolic venue that represents reflection and the aspiration for justice.
This solemn yet empowering gathering will bring together descendants of the victims and survivors from as far away as California and Connecticut. For many, this will mark their first visit to Blakely, as they reconnect with their ancestors' legacies and the shared history of the region.