The Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, in partnership with SIAMO: The Italian-American Heritage Society of NEPA, will sponsor a presentation by Robert Wolensky, author of Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1897-1959, as part of 2017 Mining History Month activities.

Mr. Wolensky's presentation, "Italian-American Mineworkers in the Northern Anthracite Field: 1896-1936," will take place on Thursday, Jan. 26, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Genealogical Research Society's headquarters, 1100 Main Street, Peckville. This event is free to the public and refreshments will be served.

"The Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania is so pleased to be a part of Mining History Month," said Maureen Gray, president, The Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania. "We have made a lot of effort to preserve mining records from our area, specifically, the Hudson Coal records and other, smaller companies. The records we provide very often reflect the dangerous circumstances these men and boys faced when working in the mines."

Mining History Month is held annually in January throughout the region. Offering a variety of historical events, presentations and lectures, its goal is to continue to preserve the region's history while educating the general public.

"This is SIAMO's second year participating in Mining History Month activities," said Stephanie Longo, founder, SIAMO. "Participating in Mining History Month allows us not only to recognize the positive contributions of Italian-Americans to our area's cultural landscape, but also to honor all those, regardless of ethnicity, who sought to provide for their families by putting their lives at risk every day in the mines."

A full schedule of Mining History Month activities can be found at http://www.grsnp.net/events and at http://www.siamonepa.com/events.html.