Learn to find, read, and extract information from birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, and census pages.
Njila New Moon Workshop — "The Paper Trail | Reading & Interpreting Vital Records"
Birth certificates. Death records. Marriage licenses. Census pages. These documents are the backbone of genealogical research — and they are far more complex than they appear. Knowing how to read them, what to look for, and how to interpret what they do and don't say is a skill that changes everything.
In this one-hour workshop, B. Kelly, Founder of Njila, walks you through how to find, access, read, and extract maximum information from vital records — with specific attention to the records that document African American families in the South.
You'll learn:
• How to locate vital records at the state, county, and parish level
• What each field in a vital record actually tells you (and what it hides)
• How to read handwritten historical documents with confidence
• How to identify errors, inconsistencies, and indirect evidence in records
What's included:
GA ($27) — Live workshop access
VIP ($47) — Live workshop access + downloadable Vital Records Extraction Template (fillable PDF research template)
This workshop is free for Njila Patreon members (Storykeeper tier and above). Join at patreon.com/njila.
About Njila:
Njila is a family history preservation practice founded by B. Kelly. Rooted in African American heritage and the documentary record of Louisiana, Njila uses rigorous genealogical methodology to help families find, document, and honor their ancestors. njila.org
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Highlights
- 1 hour
- Online
Refund Policy