Feb 19, 2016 2 min read

Kenneth Britten has had an interest in genealogy since he was 6 years old. Now, as president of the Genealogy Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania, he applies that passion to helping others trace their lineage.

People from out of state contact Britten in search of Washington County ancestors. He enjoys scouring records at the courthouse and online databases, hunting down connections.

Although public interest in genealogy fluctuates, Britten has seen a rise lately.

A woman Britten met at church was curious, but didn’t think he could find anything on her ancestors.

“She said, ‘You won’t find anything for me because we were cotton farmers,'” he said.

He found photos of people in front of the plantation where the woman’s ancestors worked and printed them out for her.

“Two or three Sundays later, she came up to me and said, ‘That’s my mother,'” Britten said. “Her family never knew those pictures were taken. It’s gratifying to find stuff, and it’s fun.”

The society is encouraging people of African-American descent to trace their heritage.

“There’s a generation (whose) grandmothers are still living,” he said. “If they don’t preserve that history now, the next generation is not going to have it.”

In his research, Britten has found Buffalo Soldiers buried in cemeteries in Washington and Canonsburg.

“It’s fascinating,” he said. “Teens don’t know they had ancestors fighting in these wars.”

In recognition of Black History Month, the society will host Russ King Sr. for a meeting at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 in Citizens Library.

King, a lay pastor, will talk about Christians’ role in the anti-slavery movement.

“Even today, there are many forms of slavery,” King said. “Any type of bullying is a form of slavery.”

King will discuss esteemed historic figures Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington.

For information, email gsswpa55@yahoo.com.