Celebrating a Legacy: Geneaologist Sherri Camp Retiring

We take legacies seriously in the Topeka Room, and this month we  celebrate the dedication and achievements of one of our own, Sherrita "Sherri" Camp, as she moves on from her role as genealogy librarian. She has spent decades using her professional genealogist skills to ensure diverse stories and family histories are preserved, celebrated and honored in Topeka. Camp is a tireless advocate for local history, an author and a community connector. Her legacy includes leading Juneteenth celebrations and honoring Brown v. Board of Education history. 

As a genealogy librarian, Camp did much more than help patrons look up records. She helped them find their roots and connect with their ancestors.

"When you can put a name and a face together with a place, in context of the other people who lived at the same time, it's like solving a puzzle," she explained in a 2018 interview. 

Key accomplishments and accolades

Award-Winning Historian: In 2025 Camp was honored with a Greater Topeka Partnership Award of Excellence for her instrumental role in commemorating the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.

Our Stories:  She currently has an exhibit at the mall (originally on display at the library) that documents the story of African Americans in Topeka as part of Topeka's Black American Blueprint Collective.

Author of African American Topeka: In 2013 Camp wrote African American Topeka for Arcadia Publishing, a book documenting 150 years of Black history in the Kansas capital.

Juneteenth Champion: She serves as a charter member on the planning and implementation team for Topeka’s annual Juneteenth celebrations.

Leadership and Genealogy Expertise: Camp has served as the National Vice President and President of the national Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society (AAHGS).

Lasting impact

Beyond her formal accomplishments, Camp is known for bringing history to life through teaching genealogy classes and supporting the African American Read In.

Though she is retiring from her official post, Sherri Camp’s influence on the preservation of Topeka’s community stories will be felt for generations.

Her last day is May 29, 2026. Please join us in wishing her all the best in her next chapter!