Upcoming Events
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.
Genealogy - Virtual - AAHGS ATL
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.
Orice Jenkins' 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.
If you would like to attend the meeting, email to aahgsatlanta@gmail.com by November 22. 2024
Genealogy - AAGHS Chicago
Click here for more information.
Presentation Title(s):
“Grandma Had Five Maiden Names”
“Three Ways to Identify an Enslaver”
Genealogy - AAHGS National Conference
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Genealogy for a Tragedy: The Early County Massacre
According to the Equal Justice Initiative, over four thousand people were lynched in the American South between 1877 and 1950. Many of their names have been lost to time, even though their descendants may be living within miles of their lynching sites. Some of them have been memorialized as martyrs, but their stories and ancestral backgrounds have been obscured by misinformation and cultural erasure. Grandison R. Goolsby was lynched in Early County, Georgia in 1915, but primary sources about his life were not discovered and published until over 100 years later. The task was Herculean, but not impossible due to advances in genealogical technology, social media, and traditional networking. This presentation will show how sound methodology was used to reconstruct the Goolsby Family Tree and sort through conflicting evidence, while honoring the memory of the victims and survivors of the Early County Massacre and reuniting their descendants.
Genealogy - Legacy Family Tree Webinar
Collecting and Compiling Plantation Records: Thomas Terrell Case Study
Genealogy - IAAGG Annual Conference
Featured Speakers
Dr. Evelyn A. McDowell, Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage Lineage Society
Orice Jenkins, Three Ways to Identify An Enslaver
Dr. Angela Sutton, The Builders and Defenders Database out of Nashville, Tennessee: A Collaboration Between Scholars, Genealogists, and Descendants of the Civil War
Anita L. Wills, In My Mother's Voice: Uncovering the Path to Our Family History
Genealogy - Summer Sankofa Series
Join the Lemon Project Genealogy Research Initiative for a workshop, "Transforming Oral History Into Documentation: The Early County Massacre" with genealogist Orice Jenkins on August 8 at 6 pm.
Book Talk - Hartford, CT
https://www.artistscollective.org/event/book-talk-with-orice-jenkins/
Virtual Book Release Party
Click here to register for the party.
Join me in celebrating the release of my first book, The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. The State of Georgia. Other descendants of the massacre will be sharing their thoughts and reflections, followed by Q&A and open conversation.