Identity Quest

The Identity Quest Conference was held Sat, Nov 16, 2024. Attendees learned about the latest research tools to help them find their identity and view heritage research demonstrations. You can watch recorded presentations.

This free conference featured national guest speaker, Kenneth B. Morris, Jr. co-founder of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI). Take a living history journey with a descendant of two of America's most influential heroes. Morris is the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington. He gave a captivating presentation about his family's heritage, the challenges he faced growing up under the weight of such distinguished ancestry, and his work today building strong children through FDFI.

The African Americans Renewing Interest in Spirituals Ensemble, Incorporated (ARISE) performed at the conference. ARISE is made up of voices in Kansas who are dedicated to uplifting, sharing history and inspiring peace through song and storytelling. Their work aims to educate people of all cultures about the significance of spirituals, from the Underground Railroad to the Civil Rights Movement.

Activities during the conference encouraged everyone to engage in the quest for their identity. Experts presented on genealogical research, DNA, family trees and how to research your family history.

2024 Presentations

In addition to keynote speaker Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., the following presentations were part of Identity Quest:

• A History of The American Indian Boarding Schools | presented by Eric Anderson, citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and professor of history at Haskell Indian Nations University
• Children of the Promised Land: Nicodemus, Kansas | presented by Angela Bates, executive director and past president of the Nicodemus Historical Society
• What's in Your DNA? | presented by Marty Flanagan member of the Topeka Genealogical Society
• One Family's Journey: From County Cavan, Ireland, to Nebraska | presented by John Manning, principal researcher of the Country School Genealogist LLC
• Being Brown: Mexican Stories of Struggles, Pride and Culture | presented by Valerie Mendoza, historian and lecturer at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Funding for Mendoza's program was provided by Humanities Kansas.