The Georgia Archives’ September Lunch and Learn presentation, "My First Steps of Freedom,” by author and historic researcher Brad Quinlin, will be held onsite. The presentation is on Friday, September 9, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Georgia Archives, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, Ga.

The Lunch and Learn presentation is free, and no registration is required.

“My First Steps of Freedom” is the story of men of African descent who were enslaved in Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi, and enlisted in white regiments as undercooks during the Civil War. When General Sherman became Army commander and began the Atlanta Campaign, these men became stretcher bearers.

Ouinlin has been a reenactor for 33 years and has worked on 32 movies and TV shows. He was a background artist in Glory, Gettysburg, and Andersonville, and an actor in the TV show, Perfect Tribute. On the American genealogy documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?, he shared information with actor Matthew Broderick on the last three days of infantry life of his g-g-grandfather Robert Martindale of the 20th Connecticut Infantry. Quinlin was the research advisor on three additional Who Do You Think You Are?episodes.

He was the lead researcher and advisor for the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield film, One Last Mountain, which has received three awards. Additionally, Quinlin was a researcher on the TV documentary, The Untold Story of the Civil War. He also worked as an advisor for the National Geographic show, Diggers.

He is a master volunteer for the National Park Service with over 10,000 hours of volunteer work.

Quinlin has written or co-written 23 books on the American Civil War, and his work is being used in five museums across the United States. He gives tours of Americas battlefields, has been on the Marietta National Cemetery memorial committee for five years, and has worked on the Wreaths Across America programs for Marietta National Cemetery for 26 years.

The Georgia Archives is a unit of Board of Regents of the University of Georgia. The Georgia Archives identifies, collects, manages, preserves, provides access to, and publicizes records and information of Georgia and its people, and assists state and local government agencies with their records management.