Directory of Members

Renate Yarborough Sanders, an experienced genealogist and educator, is the descendant of formerly enslaved ancestors, enslavers, and free people of color. She authors two blogs and maintains an online funeral program database.
Renate has a wide-spread and influential presence in the genealogy community. She provides genealogy education for national, state and local conferences, employee groups, and for institutions of higher learning. Her research has been featured on PBS Radio and in a National Geographic cover story and podcast; and she has been featured on several local network television programs. Renate cohosted three seasons of “Let’s Talk North Carolina Genealogy,” an online platform presenting programing and virtual events for North Carolina researchers, now available on YouTube. She was recently engaged in a project for Wake Forest University, seeking to find descendants of enslaved persons sold for the benefit of that institution and she has assisted descendants of the enslaved from George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Renate is an instructor for the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI) and joined the faculty of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburg (GRIP) in Summer 2024.
Renate is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society, the North Carolina Genealogical Society and several state and county societies, holding leadership positions in many. She is a member and Deputy Registrar of the lineage society, “Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage,” from which she was recently honored to receive the 2024 Solomon Northup Service Award for her contributions to the genealogy community.
Renate lectures on a variety of topics but specializes in teaching research methodology and specific techniques and resources for researching ancestors of color. She provides coaching and consultation services for individuals seeking guidance with genealogical research and continues to eagerly engage in project work for various institutions and entities.

Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage - Solomon Northup Service Award

North Carolina Genealogical Society - Certificate of Appreciation for Let's Talk North Carolina Genealogy (with Taneya Koonce)

African American research methodology

General research methodology

Broad Topics

General research methodology ( pre/post 1865)

Enslaved ancestral research

Antebellum era free people of color research

Specific document deep dives (i.e. Slave Schedules, Church records, cohabitation and marital records, manuscript collections)

Funeral programs

INTRODUCTORY DNA

Case Studies:

Finding Calvin: Following My Enslaved Ancestor Through Multiple Owners: A Case Study

We Were Supposed to be Neals: Combining Traditional Research and DNA To Reconstruct An Enslaved Family

Please reach out for a complete list of topics and presentations.

2024

(January-August)

Comite’ des Archives de las Louisiana

Virginia Beach Genealogy Society

Black Family Genealogy and History Society (Phoenix, AZ)

Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society-Greater New York Chapter

Family Tree University

Buffalo and Erie County Library (NY)

Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society

RootsTech

Legacy Family Tree Webinars

Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society-Houston

University of Virginia (Black Alumni Weekend Seminar)

York County Library (VA)

Strickland-Taylor Family Reunion (Mount Airy, NC)

Midwestern African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI) - Instructor

William & Mary Lemon Project "Porch Talk"

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) - Instructor

International African American Museum - Center for Family History (panelist)

Gen-Friends

(September-December)

Ranstand African Heritage BRG (private)

Oberlin African American Genealogy and History Group (OH)

University of Virginia - Descendants Day (panelist)

Lake County Library (IN)

York County Genealogy Conference (SC)

North Carolina Genealogical Society Fall Conference

Rochester Genealogical Society (NY)

First Baptist Church Denbigh - Mary J Tillerson Senior Ministry (VA)