The state Department of Archives and History is giving Mississippians the opportunity to explore their family history with a free beginner genealogy workshop on Saturday.

The seminar begins at 10 a.m. at the William Winter Archives and History Building.

This workshop will focus on providing basic research procedures and strategies for genealogical research, including strategies for African American genealogy. It is held every February and is open to everyone. Participants get the opportunity to sign up for a free research card.

Genealogy is the study of family history and lineage using historical documents. Archives and History has several resources for genealogical research, including fellowships and finding aids.

Joyce Dixon-Lawson, formerly the manager of research and genealogy at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, is teaching the Saturday workshop. She is now a contract worker and freelance researcher for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and has been teaching genealogy for more than 30 years.

“You can’t rely on someone else to tell you what your history is. You need to know for yourself,” she said.

Dixon-Lawson explained some of the challenges in genealogical research, especially for African Americans.

For example, many people often have to search through slaveholders’ records such as deeds, wills, probate records and more because formerly enslaved African Americans were not named on the federal census until 1870, and many changed their last names after emancipation.

Sometimes documents and records are inaccessible, lost or inaccurate. Some people discover family secrets, or just have a hard time dealing with the emotional toll of learning about their history.

“Genealogy is a lifelong project. It’s personal, sometimes heartbreaking and very addictive,” said Dixon-Lawson.

Her advice is to make a plan, get a research partner, keep digging, keep moving and verify everything.