Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America with the Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library, and Professor of History at Brown University, Karin Wulf:

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.

Drawing on extensive research across 18th century British America, Karin Wulf’s new book, Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America, explores how genealogy functioned in the past and why it continues to matter today.

Karin Wulf is Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library and Professor of History at Brown University. A historian of early America specializing in gender, family, and politics, she writes for both public and academic audiences about history, research and scholarship, and the vital role of libraries and archives. She serves on numerous nonprofit boards, is involved in national planning for the 2026 semiquincentennial, and is a Vice President of the American Historical Association.

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