About the author

Robin R. Foster

I have been a journalist since 1980. In 1985, I was granted the privilege of learning how to trace my own relatives with the aid of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. From 2007-2014, I served as a FamilySearch Missionary. I am an African American, and I teach all colors of people. I am jointly responsible for founding Genealogy Just Ask, LLC, which can be found at www.genealogyjustask.com. I provided volunteer services at the Lawrence Local History and Genealogy Room of the Greenwood County Library, as well as being appointed as the director for the Greenwood, SC FamilySearch Center.<br><br>Additionally, I took part in the "Charlotte Observer" event called “Tracing Black Roots: The process, challenges and emotional journey of exploring ancestry," which can be seen on http://bit.ly/3gyWLkn. I was invited to give a talk for the Questing Heirs Genealogical Society of Long Beach, California titled "Up Your Game: Intermediate course on researching and analyzing.” After that, I was on the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast located in Canada.<br><br>On December 27, 2022, I had the honor of being a featured guest on "Genealogy Quick Start," discussing my topic "Catching Clues from an Obituary to the Underground Railroad." The link can be found here: https://bit.ly/3VQrIPu Then on February 4, 2023, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Union County Carnegie Library, with Rose Hill Plantation in Union, South Carolina as sponsor. Later that year, on May 6, 2023, I was asked to speak at North Charleston Art Fest's Dorchester Road Regional Library. Then on June 17, 2023, I presented for the UCCRP Juneteenth Celebration in Union, South Carolina as a South Carolina Humanities grant funded guest speaker.<br><br>In August 2023, Allison Garner Kotter reviewed my book, "My Best Genealogy Tips: Finding Formerly Enslaved Ancestors," in the Crossroads Journal a publication by the Utah Genealogical Association (https://www.ugagenealogy.org/). She said that it "gives amazing examples and tips for multiple research strategies specific to researching formerly enslaved ancestors."<br><br>I presented at the Agape Community Center's Revival in Archdale, NC on August 12, 2023. They learned how to search ancestors for free. I presented at the Charleston, SC FamilySearch - "Genealogy University: Come and Learn, Go and Search" where I presented Freedom Records, WPA Slave Narratives, and the FamilySearch's Research Wiki.<br><br>I was at NCGS 2023 Fall Conference Vendor Hall on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Then in Coats Museum at Coats, NC on Feb. 24th, 2024, I did a Genealogy Workshop on finding historical records. On March 9th, I gave two presentations at Greensboro, NC: "For Latter-day Saints: The Spirit of Elijah" and "Unvieling the Nelms Ancestors."