Research at the National Archives&Beyond

    Mississippi Genealogy Resources with Laura Lanier    Laura Lanier will discuss various record sets available for genealogical research in Mississippi.   Laura Lanier is a family researcher from New York with ancestral roots in Alabama and Mississippi. She has been actively researching her family roots in Adams County and Wilkinson County, Mississippi since 2008.   Laura currently maintains a Facebook page - The Family Griot, where she shares records and research about her extended family. 

Slaves in the Family with Edward Ball If you knew that you were a descendant of a slave- owner, would you tell anyone? If you had an opportunity to apologize to descendants of those enslaved by your family, would you?   Edward Ball is a writer of narrative nonfiction and the author of five books, including The Inventor and the Tycoon (Doubleday, 2013), about the birth of moving pictures. The book tells the story of Edward Muybridge, the pioneering 19-century photographer (and admitted murderer), and Leland Stanford, the Western railroad baron, whose partnership, in California during the 1870s, gave rise to the visual media. Edward Ball’s first book, Slaves in the Family (1998), told the story of his family’s history as slave-owners in South Carolina, and of the families they once enslaved. Slaves in the Family won the National Book Award for nonfiction, was a New York Times bestseller, was translated into five languages, and was featured on Oprah. Edward Ball was born in Savannah, raised in Louisiana and South Carolina, and graduated from Brown University in 1982. He worked for ten years as freelance journalist in New York, writing about art and film, and becoming a columnist for The Village Voice. His other books, all nonfiction, include The Sweet Hell Inside (2001), the story of an African-American family that rose from the ashes of the Civil War to build lives in music and in art during the Jazz Age; Peninsula of Lies (2004), the story of English writer Gordon Hall, who underwent one of the first sex reassignments—in the South during the 1960s—creating an outrage; and The Genetic Strand, about the process of using DNA to investigate family history. Edward Ball lives in Connecticut and teaches at Yale University.    

Join author Theresa A. Fuller for an intriguing discussion about her research to uncover the truth and journey of her great grandfather Jackson J. Fuller from slavery in South Carolina to freedom in DeSoto, Louisiana. Theresa was born and lives in California. Immediately after graduating from high school, she began working as an Executive Assistant for CEO(s) of major corporations in San Francisco and Los Angeles while furthering her education in business administration. Being multifaceted, her career varied over a period of 38 years. She worked as an associate engineer in the aerospace industry; real estate sales; owned and operated a ladies' designer retail shoe store; fashion model; coordinated and commentated fashion shows for various organizations. She is also a singer who enjoys writing gospel and jazz lyrics and music.Theresa retired early in 2003, and was inspired to write her first book, "The Falling Away is Happening."  In 2012, after returning from a family reunion in Louisiana, Theresa was inspired to write a new book and epic screenplay about her great-grandfather,  titled "The Unseen Providence."  The screenplay video trailer is on  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pIwTC8LKTw, and the book is available online at Amazon.com.

The Brewers..."A Black Family Searches for Its Roots" with Beatryce Nivens Learn why would whites in a small Southern town put a black woman's obituary in the family scrapbook? Why would one of the cousin's treasure it so long? Who is Emiline Watts?  What is the connection with the Watts family? Beatryce Nivens author, family historian, motivational speaker, nationally recognized business/ career expert and executive coach will discuss her newest book -  Children Go Where I Send Thee. Her other books include: the highly acclaimed Success Strategies for African Americans (Plume); the pioneering The Black Woman’s Career Guide (Doubleday); Careers for Women Without College Degrees (McGraw-Hill)  and more.  Beatryce Nivens (A View From The Top: The Inspiring Success Stories of 15 Black CEOs, Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs) and actress Kym Whitley (“Raising Whitley,” a Tyler Perry production on the OWN Network) were recently pleasantly surprised when they learned about the untold history that was hidden in plain sight. In a surprising way, their ‘roots’ unraveled to bring into focus the multiracial heritage of their historically bound families – the Brewers (African Americans) and the Watts (white) families. Today, the families now unite to honor a woman ‘Emiline’ who represented a family bond that began during slavery and now survives in the lives of descendants–black and white.   

Join the enthusiastic Coordinators of the first Midwest African American Genealogical Institute of St. Louis, and hosted by the historic Harris-Stowe State University for an exciting discussion of the courses offered over a three day period.  The faculty consists of individuals wth genealogy expertise with special emphasis on African American research strategies. The Institute will offer courses for the  beginner and individuals seeking to enhance their genealogy skills; role of the professional genealogist;  integrating technology and learning about the history of African Americans in St. Louis.      

From Family History to Community History - the Chowan Discovery Group Story with Marvin T. Jones, Executive Director of the Chowan Discovery Group(CDG).    The mission of the Chowan Discovery Group  is to research, document, preserve and present the 400+ year-old history of the landowning tri-racial people of color of the Winton Triangle, an area centered in Hertford County, North Carolina.     Founded in 2007, the Chowan Discovery Group (www.chowandiscovery.org)  co-produced in 2009 its first major presentation, a stage production, scripted by Jones, called The Winton Triangle.  The book, Carolina Genesis: Beyond the Color Line, features Jones’ summary of the Triangle’s history. In addition to writing articles, Jones has made numerous presentations about the Winton Triangle’s history on national and regional radio, at colleges and universities, museums and to civic groups. The North Carolina Office of Archives and History accepted four of his nominations for highway historical markers. A native of Cofield, a village in the Winton Triangle, Marvin Jones began this project a decade ago by scanning the photograph collection of relatives and neighbors.  The Winton Triangle digital collection now has over 7000 files of photographs, documents, maps, audio and video recordings.  Jones is the owner of Marvin T. Jones & Associates, a professional photography company in Washington, DC.  He has  published in well-known magazines and has worked in South America, the Caribbean and Africa.  Howard University and Roanoke-Chowan Community College hosted Jones’ exhibit on Somalia.    

"Maximize Your Genealogy Research at the Alexandria Library, Special Collections", with Leslie Anderson.   Natonne Elaine Kemp welcomes Leslie Anderson, Reference Librarian in Special Collections, Alexandria Library and co-author of  Alexandria and editor of the multi-volume Virginia Slave Births Index, 1853-1865.  She is on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Genealogical Society, a member of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, the National Genealogical Society, and several Virginia and Pennsylvania genealogical societies.  Ms. Anderson received her Master's of Science in Library Science degree from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio and her Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut.  She has participated in the Virginia Institute of Genealogical Research, the National Institute on Genealogical Research, the University of Virginia's Rare Book School, Samford University’s Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh.  Her articles have appeared in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy and The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter. 

Dower Slaves and Administrative Court Action   Court minutes are a chronological listing of events and persons presented to the appropriate assembly or court. They are rarely indexed by name, but contain very rich genealogical treasures.    J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA was named the FGS Delegate of the Year in 2000. He is a full-time professional researcher and educator, who formerly served as President of APG, and as an officer for FGS . You can generally find him researching for clients including Who Do You Think You Are?, African American Lives or Biography Channel’s uneXplained. Otherwise with his love for teaching, you will see him at SLIG, IGHR, numerous webinars or at your local society Lowe is a professional researcher and educator, teaching at SLIG, IGHR & RIGS Alliance, researching for clients, and working on projects like "Who Do You Think You Are?"  

Bernice Bennett welcomes Joanne Abel for a discussion of the  Jeanes Teachers and their community organizing work to build Rosenwald Schools. Joanne Abel, adult programming and humanities librarian at Durham County Library, earned her bachelor of science degree in education from Georgia Southern College, her master of library science from North Carolina Central University, and her master of arts in liberal studies from Duke University. Joanne Abel’s master’s thesis  was Persistence and Sacrifice:  Durham County's African American Community and Durham's Jeanes Teachers Build Community Schools, 1900-1930.  In 1907 Miss Anna T. Jeanes, a Quaker woman, donated $1,000,000, “for the furthering and fostering of rudimentary education” in small rural Negro schools.  Though this fund was incorporated as the Negro Rural School Fund, it was usually referred to as the Jeanes Fund. Rosenwald devised a matching grant program to help build black schools in the South. If a rural black community raised a contribution and the white school board agreed to operate the facility, Rosenwald would contribute cash – usually about one fifth of the total project.  

“To Do The Next Needed Thing”:  Jeanes Teachers and the Freedom Struggle Do you know who the Jeanes Teachers are and their role in the education of African American children in rural America? Bernice Bennett welcomes Dr. Valinda W. Littlefield, the Director of African American Studies and Associate Professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina.  Dr. Littlefield’s research focuses on Southern African American women educators during the Jim Crow era.  She earned dual degrees, BA in History and Political Science from North Carolina Central University and her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.  In 1907 Miss Anna T. Jeanes, a Quaker woman, donated $1,000,000, “for the furthering and fostering of rudimentary education” in small rural Negro schools.  Though this fund was incorporated as the Negro Rural School Fund, it was usually referred to as the Jeanes Fund. Rosenwald devised a matching grant program to help build black schools in the South. If a rural black community raised a contribution and the white school board agreed to operate the facility, Rosenwald would contribute cash – usually about one fifth of the total project.  

    “My experience in the military was certainly an important inspiration and foundation in researching the history of the Black Military. It is story of a people who in spite of injustice, continue to be the most patriotic of Americans.”   Bennie J. McRae Jr. Do you know or understand the role played by individuals of African descent in the American Civil War?  Bennie J. McRae a military history researcher, native of Louisville, Alabama who served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from August 1951 to July 1955, and presently resides in Trotwood, Ohio,  will discuss  the chronology of events of people of African descent prior to, during and after the American Civil War.  For the past twenty-three years, Bennie has focused his research on the African American Military Experience.  He owns and manages a number of websites including “Lest We Forget”, “Making of the United States of America”, “African American Military History” and “Resting Places of United States Colored Civil War Soldiers and Sailors”.  He is the co-author of "Nineteenth Century Freedom Fighters" centered on Lieutenant Colonel Charles Tyler Trowbridge, commander of South Carolina’s 33 Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. The book was published in January 2007. Bennie J. McRae is committed to supporting educational programs that include the history of the US Colored Troops. In collaboration with Paul LaRue, history instructor of Washington Senior High School, Washington Courthouse, Ohio, he is  proud of the School’s website maintained by its students.  “ Freedom Fighters: UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS IN THE CIVIL WAR”.

Bernice Bennett welcomes renowned Genealogist -  Angela Walton-Raji for a conversation on challenges and opportunities facing the African American genealogy researchers. Angela Walton-Raji is known nationally for her research and work on Oklahoma Native American records.  Her book Black Indian Genealogy Research, African Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes, is the only book of its kind focusing on the unique record sets pertaining to the Oklahoma Freedmen. A founding member of the well known AfriGeneas.com, website, Ms. Walton-Raji is also a genealogist specializing in information for beginners, via daily and weekly online genealogy chats on AfriGeneas.com. She also serves as the host of a weekly genealogy podcast, (The African Roots Podcast) a number of instructional videos and has been used in recent years as a genealogical consultant on several video documentaries. Ms. Walton-Raji combines her skills as a genealogist with a warm on camera personality that brings comfort to her viewers through and her video channels on YouTube, while providing her viewers with useful information. Her African Roots TV, and Beginning Genealogist channels have both brought new insights to hundreds of viewers nationwide.

The Inventive Spirit and African American Patented  Ingenuity by Author,  Patricia Carter Sluby Sluby details the plight of inventive slaves during the antebellum and Civil War eras and juxtaposes with their efforts with free blacks of the same period. In addition, the listeners are guided through a comprehensive discussion of patents developed by African Americans beginning in1821 to present. Discover the range of African American inventiveness with this collection of patents that have been filed since the start of the US Patent Office. Patricia Carter Sluby is a Registered Patent Agent and Researcher. She has interviewed on television and radio shows to discuss minority inventors and is the past president of the National International Property Law Association. 

Learn how Cluster Research helped to unravel the history of a family in 19th Century New York! Black Gotham: A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City Yale UP, 2011- is a social and cultural history of African Americans in nineteenth-century New York City as seen through the lens of family history.  It was awarded the 2011 NYC Book Award in History from the New York Society Library and was a finalist for the 2012 Gilder-Lerhman Institute Frederick Douglass Prize.   In connection with the publication of Black Gotham, Peterson has appeared on C-SPAN Book TV. Part detective tale, part social and cultural narrative, Black Gotham is Carla L. Peterson’s riveting account of her quest to reconstruct the lives of her nineteenth-century ancestors from youth to adulthood.  Her book challenges many of the accepted “truths” about African American history, including the assumption that the phrase “19-century black Americans” means enslaved people, that “New York State before the Civil War” refers to a place of freedom, and that a black elite did not exist until the 20th century.  Peterson demonstrates that despite the rise of scientific racism, the trauma of the Civil War draft riots, and the advent of Jim Crow, members of New York’s 19-century elite achieved remarkable success in their public activism, trades, and professions.   Peterson is a professor in the department of English at the University of Maryland, and affiliate faculty of the departments of Women’s Studies, American Studies, and African-American Studies.     

  "Do Your Roots Need Untangling?  If So, Try Stepping Out on a Limb!  Cluster Genealogy May Hold the Clue"   "Our ancestors lived among many, therefore we can not research them as if they lived in isolation.  Researching our family history through extended family members, neighbors and the community may answer questions and provide information about our own ancestors not found elsewhere".    Deborah A. Abbott, Ph.D., is an adjunct faculty member at the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and currently serves as the Cleveland District Trustee on the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) Board.  She is past-president of the African-American Genealogical Society, Cleveland, Ohio (AAGS) and a retired professor of Counseling from Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.  She holds both the Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education degrees from Tuskegee University (Alabama) and the Ph.D. degree from Kent State University (Ohio). In 2010 the City Council of Detroit, Michigan presented Dr. Abbott with a “Testimonial Resolution” honoring her outstanding commitment to African American genealogical research.  Dr. Abbott's five-year genealogical research project about an African American family’s migration from Kentucky to Ohio entitled "From Slavery to Freedom to Antioch" was highlighted in the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio) Newspaper under the title "Six-Volumes to Amplify a Family History" in 2008.