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Tahlequah, Oklahoma - Tracing family ancestry can be exciting, but without the proper resources and tools, it can be difficult to do. To help make the process simpler, Genealogists Gene Norris and Roy Hamilton of the Cherokee Heritage Center will present an educational conference Saturday, Sept. 13, on the many resources available for tracking family history.

The conference is an introduction to basic genealogical research and is designed to acquaint beginning researchers with selected tribal rolls and secondary materials with direction on how to research and record information. The conference has been designed as an informal question-and-answer session, giving students the opportunity to take advantage of both Norris and Hamilton’s genealogical experience. Students will also receive a genealogy packet containing information discussed in class, ancestry charts and family forms necessary in tracing history.

The conference will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Cherokee Heritage Pottery plant in Porum, Okla., and is open to anyone age 10 and older. Conference fees are $25 for non-Cherokee National Historical Society members, and $20 for CNHS members. Registration is limited to the first 50 who register. Participants are asked to bring paper and a pencil.

Norris has more than 20 years of experience in genealogy research and has written several articles in genealogical journals, including "Carroll County Historical and Genealogical Quarterly," "The Upper Cumberland," and "Going Snake Messenger." Hamilton also has more than 20 years experience in genealogy development.

For more information, contact Gene Norris at the Cherokee Heritage Center’s Cherokee Family Research Center at (918) 456-6007, toll free phone: 888-999-6007 or visit the CHC web site.