Age Group:
Adults- Registration is required for this event.
- Registration is no longer available for this event.
Program Description
Event Details
Front of the Auditorium, First Floor
East Tennessee Roots & Resources is free and open to the public; however, pre-registration is required for sessions.
Session Description
This session will highlight the unique partnership between a local genealogical and historical society, museum, and county archives. Together, these organizations preserve, protect, and share the community’s rich history and family stories–a genealogical trifecta. Using the archives of Jefferson and Morgan counties as examples, participants will discover how collaboration strengthens public access to genealogy and historical resources, fosters civic pride, and ensures that future generations can connect with the people, places, and events that shaped the county’s heritage.
Presenters
Wayne Roberts is the director of the Jefferson County Archives and County Museum, located in one of the oldest Tennessee courthouses (mid-1840s) still in use. The Archives contains numerous resources available including records of Cocke, Hamblen, and Sevier counties, as early as 1792.
Jill Jones-Lazuka is an author, genealogist, and historian with decades of leadership in local and national lineage societies. She has published multiple family histories, co-authored Civil War Stories of Morgan County, and written extensively for books, magazines, and blogs. A recipient of the NSDAR Historic Preservation Medal, Jill also speaks statewide on cemeteries, dowsing, and historic preservation, combining research with hands-on community engagement.
About East Tennessee Roots & Resources
East Tennessee Roots & Resources is three days (November 7-9, 2025) of engaging lectures, hands-on research, and access to the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection and Knox County Archives. Whether you’re starting your genealogy journey or tackling decades-old mysteries, the East Tennessee History Center is where you’ll discover your story.
About the East Tennessee History Center
At the East Tennessee History Center, Discover Your Story isn’t just a tagline—it’s an invitation. Whether your roots run deep in East Tennessee or you are exploring a newfound interest, the History Center offers a gateway to the people, places, and events that shaped the region. With a family friendly museum, governmental archives, and a heralded special collections and genealogical library under one roof, the History Center is where personal past meets regional history.
The East Tennessee History Center is a facility of Knox County Public Library and is operated in programmatic partnership with the East Tennessee Historical Society. It is located at 601 S. Gay Street in the heart of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, please call 865-215-8899.