The Challenge Of Researching Slave Families

By Alan Lytle

Lexington, KY – Since even before the middle ages, there have been some who have obsessively researched and charted their family trees. In fact, one could argue that the genealogy business has never been more popular.

But how difficult can it be when the researcher has very few records to draw from? That's the challenge Gwen Thompson faced in tracing the lineage of a particular African American slave who was owned by Mary Todd Lincoln's family in Lexington.

Ms. Thompson is the Executive Director of the Mary Todd Lincoln House and she talks about her challenge with WUKY's Alan Lytle.

Though the Mary Todd Lincoln House has been closed most of this winter, it will be open for tours on Monday, President's Day.