National Park Service curator Ethan P. Bullard will deliver an illustrated presentation highlighting unique artifacts and documents from the museum collections of the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site. Maggie L. Walker (1864-1934) was a pioneering entrepreneur, educator, and fraternal leader. She is renowned as the nation's first African American female bank president and Richmond's preeminent civil rights crusader during the early 20th century. Walker's home in Jackson Ward is a public house museum, fully furnished with an unparalleled collection of original artifacts donated from Mrs. Walker's descendants directly to the National Park Service. The museum is the National Park Service's first site dedicated to preserving the legacy of an African American woman and is a must-see for visitors of all stripes.

Ethan is the Museum Curator for Richmond's two national parks, managing the archives, artifacts, and exhibits of the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site and Richmond National Battlefield Park. A native of Decatur, GA and a graduate of Bowdoin College and VCU, Ethan has called Virginia his home since 2007. When not in the museum, you can find him canoeing and birdwatching with his wife, Kelly, and dog, Smokey.

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Genealogy is everywhere today; online, on our screens, and through organizations, conferences, and communities across the country. But long before the digital age, genealogy was just as powerful in the 18th century. While we often think of early Americans as the subjects of genealogical research, they were active participants in a practice that shaped their world. Family histories were deeply meaningful and were woven into the very fabric of society through law, politics, and religion.

Join us for an engaging conversation about lineage, identity, and the enduring power of connection with Karin Wulf.

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