Session II A: Between the Vernacular and the Records

Program Type:

Conference, History & Genealogy, Lecture & Discussion, Workshop, Help Session

Age Group:

Adults
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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

In this session, participants will discuss research techniques and obstacles in crafting African American narratives from often unavailable primary sources and how to utilize oral histories in the validation or contradiction of those sources.

Presenters

Lisa N. Oakley serves as the Vice President and Curator of Education for the East Tennessee Historical Society. Her current research interests lie in the histories of Black East Tennesseans during Reconstruction. 

William Isom II, a native of East Tennessee, has enjoyed a 25-plus year career in media, public history, and social justice work focused on the research and documentation of Black history in the Mountain South.

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.