Following the trail of an ancestor in trouble with the law or plagued with mental illness is often difficult. The Tennessee State Library and Archives will host a one-and-a-half-hour workshop, entitled “Locked Up: Finding Ancestors in Prisons and Asylums,” on Saturday, April 14 at 9:30 a.m. CDT. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Using examples from actual records in Tennessee and elsewhere, State Librarian and Archivist Chuck Sherrill will discuss how to locate the records, what to glean from the information and how to deal with confidentiality restrictions.

“Learning from Chuck Sherrill, who has written and edited 21 books on Tennessee genealogical records, will be a valuable tool to anyone interested in genealogical research,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I would encourage anyone interested to reserve their seats for this unique event as soon as possible.”

The workshop will be conducted in the Library and Archives auditorium, 403 Seventh Ave. N., just west of the Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville. Free parking is available around the Library and Archives building.

Due to seating limitations in the auditorium, registration is required. To reserve seats, visit prisongenealogy.eventbrite.com.