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Clara Croom Dumas (1898-1981)

By Lillian Croom Williams
As we celebrate the achievements of Black Americans this month, an illustrious figure in Sumter
County’s history is Mrs. Clara Croom Dumas, a pioneer educator who taught for 47 years in the county, including at early, small rural schools.

Her indomitable spirit and dedication to education left an indelible mark on generations of students.
“I remember the school’s outhouse toilet,” the late Rev. Dr. William Larkin, a former student and
grandson, said last year in reflections. “But inside the classroom, she made us feel like we could achieve
our dreams if we tried. She encouraged us to reach for the top.”

Mrs. Dumas was the first African American in Sumter County to have a school named after her, Dumas
Academy. A Rosenwald School, it is now used as a storage facility, located a few miles off Highway 11
between Livingston and York. She taught earlier at the Mt. Powell Missionary Baptist Church in York.
Under her tutelage, students laid the foundation for successful careers across the United States.

The Rev. Dr. Larkin, for example, rose to prominence as the Dean of the Phillips School of Theology in
Atlanta, Georgia, the seminary for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. During his 1980 to 1990
tenure, he spearheaded numerous progressive initiatives that helped to reshape the school’s
educational landscape.

Newspaper articles and the book “Heritage of Sumter County, Alabama” point to other ways that Mrs.
Dumas inspired students, as a mentor, role model, and community leader. Her students participated in
city-wide contests and parades. At Wesley Chapel C.M.E. church in York, she served as the Sunday
school teacher and church secretary.

Born in 1898, Mrs. Dumas lived through dynamic changes in the nation, including the women’s suffrage
and Civil Rights eras. She was the daughter of former slaves Henry Clay and Clarissa Croom, who
encouraged her to get an education, as her brothers worked on the family’s Sumter County farm. She
attended county schools and later Selma University in Selma, Alabama. She married the Rev. C.C.
Dumas and they had five children, including three boys Cleophis, Joe, and Leroy; and two daughters,
Mildred, and Wilma. Daughter Wilma Larkin, along with teacher Sally Dawson, taught with Mrs. Dumas
during various years in those early rural schools. Wilma later became the principal of Hickory Hill School.

Inside her Dumas Academy, former student and cousin Willie Mae Croom recalled that Mrs. Dumas
carefully orchestrated the atmosphere each day.

“We had a routine,” Willie Mae said. “Before we sat down in the morning, we had to pray and then
recite the 23rd Psalm. She wanted us to learn but we also had time to play. She took her own money
and bought us baseballs and bats for recess.”

Inside the classroom, she also sparked the flames of discipline, Willie Mae added. “Once, when she couldn’t locate her ruler [the tool she wielded for discipline], she instructed us to stand in the corner instead.”

A year after graduating from high school, Willie Mae moved from York to Cleveland, Ohio, where she
spent many years working in the nursing field. She says that life lessons imparted by Mrs. Dumas remain
with her.

“The most important lesson that I observed was Mrs. Dumas’s kindness,” Willie Mae said. “She always
had encouraging words for people. She would do things for people expecting to get nothing back. She
wanted us to excel, but she was patient. She was a role model for how we should treat people.”

Mrs. Clara Croom Dumas died on October 10, 1981, at age 83 in York.

The author of this article, Lillian Croom Williams, is the granddaughter of Mrs. Dumas’s brother, Noah Croom. The article also appeared in the Feb. 22 edition of the Sumter County Record-Journal newspaper.

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Tony Burroughs, best-selling author of the book, Black Roots, offered the following description of his three-hour, online Sept. 30 workshop:

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By Lillian Williams

In a recent report, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) apologized for past racist practices, including the exclusion of people of color from programs and membership.

Though the NGS had published articles about its history over the years, it failed to include information about past practices of racism, bigotry and discrimination, the report said.

Examples that the NGS described among past exclusionary practices include:

“Joseph Gaston Baillie Bulloch, MD, a native Georgian, an accomplished physician, a founding member of NGS, and its fourth president (1909–1912), was an adherent of eugenics. In a 1912 article published in the NGS Quarterly, he advises how genealogy should be used to protect the white race from “admixture” and “tainted blood.” Given that NGS permitted Bulloch to publish this in its journal, and the segregated society in which the organization operated, it is reasonable to assume that other founders may have shared Bulloch’s beliefs in eugenics or racism and that those beliefs informed the exclusionary practices NGS maintained throughout its early years.”

“On March 5, 1960, NGS held an evening meeting. James Worris Moore, an African-American employee of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), attended the meeting as a guest, along with other National Archives employees. At this meeting, he was given a membership application. His presence at the meeting sparked ire and angry discourse amongst the members of our society. The debate as to whether to integrate the membership of the National Genealogical Society was eventually put to a vote by the Society’s members. On November 19, 1960, in an act of racial discrimination, NGS voted to deny Mr. Moore and all Black people membership into the Society. Those against integration are quoted in a Washington Post article as saying, “Negroes…have nothing in common with us, genealogically speaking.”

The report said NGS has taken steps to become more diverse and inclusive, including a change in its bylaws to remove racial restrictions; committees and activities to recognize and support more diverse speakers at conferences, and updating editorial style guidelines, among other moves.

See our website https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ for additional genealogy resources.

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Delia Garlic
Formerly Enslaved Delia Garlic

By Lillian Williams

Just a reminder that slave narratives might inform your family history research. The Federal Writers’ Project accounts were collected between 1936-1938.  They contain more than 2,300 first-person voices of slavery, and 500 black-and-white photographs of former slaves.

These slave voices provide insight into the culture and structure of slave families during the antebellum period, offering personal experiences and memories of those who survived slavery. They speak about their struggle for freedom and hope for a better future. They shed light on topics such as religion, music, food, medicine, family, work, resistance, and more. They unfold the brutal realities and the human costs of slavery, as well as the resilience of those enslaved.

The following is a first-person account of Delia Garlic, interviewed in 1937. Her narrative reflects the raw, spoken language of ex-slaves, who had been barred by law from learning to read or write.

Garlic said clearly, however, “Dem days was hell,” in describing the institution of legalized slavery.

Garlic was one of four million African and African-Americans held in bondage in 1860, the year before the Civil War began.

My great, great-grandfather, Arthur Croom, and his wife, Mary; my great-grandfather, Henry Clay Croom, and his wife, Classie, were among that group, too. After slavery, they picked up the crumbled pieces of their lives and settled in Sumter County, Alabama. That’s part of my Deep South ancestral heritage.

Delia Garlic’s slavery account can be found at the Library of Congress website. Here are her piercing words:

“Dem days was hell.

I was growed up when de war come, . . . an’ I was a mother befo’ it closed. Babies was snatched from dere mother’s breas’ an’ sold to speculators. Chilluns was separated from sisters an’ brothers an’ never saw each other ag’in. Course dey cry; you think dey not cry when dey was sold lak cattle? I could tell you ‘bout it all day, but even den you couldn’t guess de  awfulness of it.

It’s bad to belong to folks dat own you soul an’ body; dat can tie you up a tree, wid yo’ face to de tree an’ yo’ arms fastened tight aroun’ it; who take a long curlin’ whip an’ cut de blood ever’ lick.Folks a mile away could hear dem awful whippings. Dey was a turrible part of living”

I never seed none of my brothers an’ sisters ‘cept brother William.

Him an’ my mother an’ me was brought in a speculator’s drove to Richmon’ an’ put in a warehouse wid a drove of other niggers. Den we was all put on a block an’ sol’ to de highes’ bidder.

I never seed brother William ag’in. Mammy an’ me was sold to a man by de name of Carter, who was de sheriff of de county.

No’m, dey warn’t no good times at his house. He was a widower an’ his daughter kept house for him. I nursed for her, an’ one day I was playin’ wid de baby. It hurt its li’l han’ an’ commenced to cry, an’ she whirl on me, pick up a hot iron an’ run it all down my arm an’ han’. It took off de flesh when she done it.

After awhile, marster married ag’in; but things warn’t no better. Iseed his wife blackin’ her eyebrows wid smud one day, so I thought I’d black mine jes’ for fun. I rubbed some smut on my eyebrows an’ forgot to rub it off, an’ she kotched me. She was powerful mad an’ yelled: “You black devil, I’ll show you how to mock your betters.”

Den she pick up a stick of stovewood an’ flails it ag’in’ my head. I didn’t know nothin’ more ‘till I come to, lying on de floor. I heard de mistus say to one of de girls: “I thought her thick skull and cap of wool could take it better than that.”

I kept on stayin’ dere, an’ one night de marster come in drunk an’set at de table wid his head lollin’ aroun’. I was waitin’ on de table, an’ he look up an’ see me. I was skeered, an’ dat made him awful mad. He called an overseer an’ tol’ him: “Take her out an’ beat some sense in her.”

I begin to cry an’ run an’ run in de night; but finally I run back by de quarters an’ heard mammy callin’ me. I went in, an’ right away dey come for me. A horse was standin’ in front of de house, an’ I was took dat very night to Richmon’ an’ sold to a speculator ag’in. I never seed mymammy any more.

I has thought many time through all dese years how mammy

looked dat night. She pressed my han’ in bofe of hers an’ said: “Be good an’ trus’ in de Lawd.”

Trustin’ was de only hope of de pore black critters in dem days. Us just prayed fer strength to endure it to de end. We didn’t ‘spect nothin’ but to stay in bondage ‘till we died.

I was sol’ by de speculator to a man in McDonough, Ga. I don’t recollect his name, but he was openin’ a big hotel at McDonough an’bought me to wait on tables. But when de time come aroun’ to pay for me,his hotel done fail. Den de Atlanta man dat bought de hotel bought me, too. ‘Fo’ long, dough, I was sol’ to a man by de name of Garlic, down in Louisiana, an’ I stayed wid him ‘till I was freed. I was a regular fiel’ han’,plowin’ an’ hoein’ an’ choppin’ cotton.

Us heard talk ‘bout de war, but us didn’t pay no ‘tention. Us never dreamed dat freedom would ever come.

Delia was asked if the slaves ever had any parties or dances on her plantation.

No’m…us didn’t have no parties; nothin’ lak dat. Us didn’t have no clothes for goin’ ‘roun. I never had a undershirt until just befo’ my first chil’ was borned. I never had nothin’ but a shimmy an’ a slip for a dress,an’ it was made out’en de cheapes’ cloth dat could be bought; unbleached cloth, coarse, but made to las’.

Us didn’t know nothin’ ‘cept to work. Us was up by three or four in de mornin’ an’ everybody got dey somethin’ to eat in de kitchen. Dey didn’t give us no way to cook, nor nothin’ to cook in our cabins. Soon as us dressed us went by de kitchen an’ got our piece of cornbread. Dey wasn’t even no salt in dem las’ years. Dat piece of cornbread was all us had for breakfus’, an’ for supper, us had de same.

For dinner us had boiled vittles; greens, peas an’ sometimes beans. Coffee? No’m, us never knowed nothin’ bout coffee.

Jus’ befo’ de war I married a man named Chatfield from

another plantation; but he was took off to war an’ I never seed him ag’in.

After awhile I married a boy on de plantation named Miles Garlic. . . .

“Yas’m, Massa Garlic had two boys in de war. When dey went

off de Massa an’ missis cried, but it made us glad to see dem cry. Dey made us cry so much.

“When we knowed we was free, everybody wanted to git out.

De rule wuz dat if you stayed in yo’ cabin you could keep it, but if you lef, you los* it. Miles wa* workin1 at Wetumpka, an’ he  slipped in an’ out so us could keep on livin’ in de cabin.

My secon’ baby soon come, an’ raght den I made up my mind

to go to Wetumpka where Miles ira workin’ for de railroad. I

went on down dere an us settled down.

After Miles died I lived dere long as I could an’ den come to Montgomery to live wid my son. I’se eatin’ white bread now an’ havin’ de best time of my life. But when de Lawd say, ‘Delia, well done’ come up higher,’ I’ll be glad to go.”

See the first-person accounts of other former slaves here.

See our website https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ for additional genealogy resources.

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By Lillian Williams

ChatGPT is a hugely popular and powerful artificial intelligence (AI) language tool, capable of processing natural language, and responding to queries on a wide range of subjects.

This article explores how ChatGPT might be utilized by family history researchers, including African Americans who face challenges in finding pre-Civil War records of family members. Specifically, the article offers thoughts to ponder, as families engage with these new dialogue and search tools.

ChatGPT Explained

Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is an AI language model that utilizes machine learning algorithms to examine vast amounts of text data. It’s trained on a range of texts, including books, articles, and websites. It generates responses to text-based prompts. It’s now the fastest-growing consumer app in history. If you’re new to this technology, here’s a simple guide.

ChatGPT and Genealogy Research

For families tracing their ancestral history, could ChatGPT be a valuable research tool? Answer: Among other factors, it depends upon your research question, and the way that you ask the question. Here’s a YouTube video that offers tips for writing ChatGPT questions in a genealogy search. Pay close attention to the prompts (questions and information) that you submit to ChatGPT for responses. Strong, well-written prompts generally offer better results.

The list below offers a general framework for the types of information available through ChatGPT. View it as a starting point, only. After you receive answers, follow-up with additional questions, or utilize answers as leads in an off-line search. Double-check all answers. Repeat: Never utilize answers from an AI tool without scrutinizing the responses, as these AI tools have been known to sometimes generate errors.

Historical Context

A ChatGPT query could provide historical context on a range of topics related to your ancestral roots. The ChatGPT answer, for example, might provide insight into social and economic conditions of that time period. If you’re researching an ancestor who lived in the United States in the mid-1800s, for example, ChatGPT might offer information about the Civil War and its impact on persons of that region. Always ask ChatGPT to cite the source of its information. Then, double check the accuracy of that source, as well as the information offered.

Discovering Information About Enslaved Individuals

One of the most challenging aspects of researching African American genealogy is identifying information about enslaved family members and their enslavers. In my case, the Alabama enslavers were well-known plantation owners. Therefore, I asked ChatGPT questions about the experiences of my enslaved Alabama family members. I am still in the process of checking the accuracy of the responses. For example, to my surprise one ChatGPT response indicated that my enslaved ancestors might have been involved with the Underground Railroad. I am checking out that ChatGPT response, and others. To be clear, AI tools do not replace human expertise in genealogy research, and should be utilized in an auxiliary manner.

Accessing genealogy resources

For beginning family-history researchers, ChatGPT could identify helpful resources. The list might include online databases, historical archives, or even community organizations that focus on preserving, and sharing, history and culture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ChatGPT could assist in genealogy research.  Depending upon your query, it could provide historical context for your research topic, point to information about communities and experiences related to family members, and recommend useful databases and archives. As this new tool continues to advance, the ways in which it might be utilized in genealogy research will increase. As previously stated, always double-check the responses generated by ChatGPT, as this technology tool, though powerful, is known to sometimes generate incorrect, nonsensical answers.

See our website https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ for additional genealogy resources.

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By James E. Williams Jr.

Recently I challenged ChatGPT, the popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, with this question: “During Black History month, what are the key issues that should be addressed in an article about building and sustaining successful businesses in Black communities of the United States?”

Within seconds the human-like chatbot (which passed four law exams at University of Minnesota) gave the following advice:

“Some key issues that should be addressed in an article about building and sustaining successful businesses in Black communities of the United States during Black History Month include:

1. Access to capital and funding: Discuss the challenges that Black entrepreneurs face in obtaining the funding they need to start and grow their businesses.

2. Systemic barriers: Highlight the systemic barriers and biases that Black business owners face, including discrimination in lending, lack of access to networks and mentorship, and disparities in business education and resources.

3. The importance of community support: Emphasize the importance of Black communities supporting Black-owned businesses through purchasing decisions and advocacy.

4. The impact of Black-owned businesses on the larger economy: Discuss the economic impact that Black-owned businesses have, both within the Black community and on the broader economy.

5. The role of government in supporting Black entrepreneurship: Discuss the role that government can play in addressing the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs, including increasing access to capital, providing business education and resources, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the business world.

6. Black business success stories: Highlight successful Black entrepreneurs and businesses as examples of what can be achieved with determination, hard work, and support.”

While the AI tool generated typical seminar-style talking points, I reflected on how those answers compare to the “real-life” lessons offered by the late Dr. Ben Davis, a dentist and a McDonald’s restaurant owner/operator in the St. Louis region. One of my earliest mentors, he built the first floating McDonald’s in the United States on the Mississippi Riverfront in the 1980s. As a teen, I worked behind the counter of another McDonald’s Dr. Davis owned in my hometown, East St. Louis, Illinois, soaking up valuable business practices. Today, as a small-business owner, I operate McDonald’s franchises in the two-state metropolitan area.

Here are keys to success I learned from Dr. Davis:

  • Creativity: Dr. Davis thought out-of-the box. He envisioned the Mississippi River as a platform to sell McDonald’s hamburgers, though initially a few local officials didn’t understand or accept the idea of a McDonald’s floating barge near the iconic Gateway Arch. The venture was a financial success and generated  $100,000 annually in local tax revenue.
  • Adaptability: In the1980’s,  Dr. Davis keenly observed that the St. Louis Riverfront had become a leisure-time destination point. McDonald’s restaurants were typically located in traditional commercial districts, but Dr. Davis saw an opportunity to capitalize on his creativity by offering consumers the unique option of dining while sightseeing along the Mississippi River.
  • Risk-taking. A sound financial planner, Dr. Davis also knew the value of taking calculated risks. After careful study, he concluded that a floating McDonald’s would be a good risk.
  • Continual Learning: Dr. Davis never stopped seeking new information that would give his restaurants a competitive advantage. He stayed abreast of the latest trends.
  • Networking: Dr. Davis understood the value of building strong relationships, exchanging ideas, and attending networking events. He joined industry groups and maintained connections with other business owners.
  • Giving Back: Dr. Davis continuously supported individuals and communities through extensive volunteer work that included monetary donations in addition to lending his time and expertise to community projects. 
  • Reputation: Because of his character and integrity, Dr. Davis earned a loyal following at his stores. My mother, Mrs. Lillian Williams, was a typical customer of the good doctor. She appreciated the quality of the hamburgers at his restaurants.   Dr. Davis not only survived but thrived because customers trusted him and took him to be a man of his word. 

Bottom line:

In our family business, we use the latest technology to offer customers and workers the best experience possible at my restaurants. But I also incorporate the “old-school” lessons taught to me by Dr. Davis and others from his generation. That to me is an important part of Black History Month and also a testament to the Black Excellence of Dr. Davis and others passed down through the generations. I am grateful for their leadership. 

Today, through the McDonald’s national “Archways to Opportunity” education program, we have awarded over $165 million in high school and college tuition assistance. McDonald’s pays the tuition upfront so employees lose no money from their paycheck. Recently actress Keke Palmer joined our Black and Positively Golden Change Leaders program which encourages excellence through youth-led activism. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, local franchises donated food to those in need. 

I cite these examples as reminders that outreach to assist others is another sign of respect to our elders who sacrificed so much for us.  I’d like to thank the many trailblazers and mentors in my life: Dr. Davis, Ralph Korte, Judson Pickard, Dick Bold, my father, the late Atty. James E. Williams Sr., East St. Louis Poet Laureate Eugene B. Redmond, the late NAACP champion Charles H. Lawson and numerous others.  I treasure their commitment to creating pathways for the success of future generations.

James E. Williams Jr., operator of a family-owned franchisee business and former U.S. Navy pilot, is president of Estel Foods Inc. He and his wife, Janet, have two children, Casi and Tre.

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“The Misses Cooke’s School Room”, Freedman’s Bureau, Richmond, Va.

By Lillian Williams

“Need help locating your ancestors? Have a burning genealogy question? Stuck in your research? Join Roberta Ridley, AAGSFW Chairwoman, members of the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne and Genealogy Center staff as they provide tips and answer your questions in an open forum.“

That’s a quote from an invitation for a genealogy research presentation.

Like many of us, I could not attend this online event, due to a scheduling conflict. The event took place at 2 pm ET, Saturday, Oct. 8.

Here’s the important step I’ve learned to get valuable information from missed, online genealogy events: Go to the “Registration Is Required” link, and search the site for any handouts posted online, following the event. Event leaders/hosts often post comprehensive handouts describing key points of their presentations.

For the Oct. 8 event mentioned above, a detailed handout was posted. Major points of that presentation, for example, included data gleaned from an important genealogy resource described here:

“Freedmen’s Bureau
On March 3, 1865, Congress passed “An Act to establish a Bureau for the Relief of
Freedmen and Refugees” to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical services, and land
to displaced Southerners, including newly freed African Americans.
https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/freedmens-bureau

Another source: www.freedmensbureau.com
What can you find?
Freedmen Savings Account
Labor Contracts
Marriage Registrations
Rations Received
Registers of Letters”

Bottom line: It pays to check links to genealogy presentations for handouts that could provide key resources.

Finally, see our website https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ for additional genealogy resources.

Sign up HERE for a free newsletter.

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The National Archives in Washington, D.C.

By Lillian Williams

A valuable resource for family history researchers is the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This federal agency preserves records that trace the history of U.S. citizens, including census, military, land, ship passenger lists, and much more.

Here are three ways for beginning researchers to get familiar with the agency’s resources:

1. The agency provides a series of YouTube videos to navigate its most popular genealogy holdings. The series includes:

Introduction to Census Records

Pension Records, Regular Service, and Volunteer Service

Introduction to Immigration Records and Immigrant Records: More than just Ship Passenger Arrival Lists

Early Naturalization Records at the National Archives

The Homestead Act: Land Records of your Ancestors

2. Don’t know where to start? NARA offers a genealogy series, Finding Genealogy Resources and Tools, that explains how the NARA website is organized; gives an overview of data available for researchers, and shows how to navigate the site’s tools and resources. The presentation also includes downloadable handouts about related topics.

3. Would you like to visit a National Archive building to conduct your research? The agency recommends that you contact its staff prior to your visit to determine the best method for obtaining records. Contact reference staff here. National Archive buildings and facilities are located here:

Finally, see our website https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ for additional genealogy resources.

Sign up HERE for a free newsletter.

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 By Lillian Williams

Watch the YouTube video above. It features a Minnesota family struggling to cope following the father’s death from COVID-19.

The father, Leslie Parker, died on May 11, 2020, the day after Mother’s day. He was only 31. The couple had two young children. The wife, Whitney, says the family followed COVID-19 safety protocols. His death came before vaccines were approved by the FDA.

In the video, the wife shares how she prepares her daughter for the fifth grade, and the challenges of life without her husband.

Consider that across the globe many families feel similar catastrophic losses.

Years from now, will future generations want to know how people coped? Should families save records, document their experiences, and pass along this history?

Absolutely.

In this case, Whitney Parker was interviewed by a Minneapolis, Minnesota, TV station. Therefore she has a video recording of key memories. Also, she was interviewed by the Star Tribune newspaper for a June 5, 2021, article, After COVID losses, widowed young Minnesotans find ‘forever friends’ online. Those are key items for a family history archive.

You may not have suffered the loss of a loved one. But perhaps you have lived through short, or long-term COVID symptoms. Last month, for example, the U.S. Office for National Statistics reported the number of people with symptoms for three months, or longer (known as long Covid), reached a record high of 1.7 million.

Here’s a suggestion: Encourage family members to record their thoughts and feelings about COVID experiences. They could keep simple journals with those reflections. Later, inquire about whether they would be willing to share their reflections at family reunions. Ask if they would write about their COVID experiences for the family history online site, or a reunion booklet.

The following are three YouTube videos on how to start and maintain journals for this project, or others. Get started today!

See our website https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ for additional genealogy resources.

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Ketanji Brown Jackson during a U.S. Supreme Court nomination hearing in April, 2022.

April 7, 2022

(Editor’s Note: We repost this NPR link and article as a reminder to follow significant current events and to record reactions of your family for genealogy projects.)

By ERIC MCDANIEL

The Senate has voted 53 to 47 to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th Supreme Court justice. When sworn in this summer, Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s high court.

“This is one of the great moments of American history,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. “Today we are taking a giant, bold and important step on the well-trodden path to fulfilling our country’s founding promise. This is a great moment for Judge Jackson but it is an even greater moment for America as we rise to a more perfect union.”

President Biden called the vote a “historic moment” for the nation.

“We’ve taken another step toward making our highest court reflect the diversity of America,” Biden posted on Twitter with an image of him taking a selfie with Jackson.

All 50 Senate Democrats, including the two independents who caucus with them, voted for Jackson’s confirmation. They were joined by three Republicans: Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Vice President Kamala Harris took the gavel in her role as head of the Senate to preside over the vote. Leaving the Senate after the vote, Harris said she was “overjoyed.”

“I am feeling a deep sense of pride in who we are as a nation, that we just did what we did as it relates to the highest court of our land,” she told reporters.

On Friday, Biden, Harris and Jackson will deliver remarks on the historic Senate vote at 12:15 p.m. ET at the White House.

On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee reached an 11-11 tie along party lines on the question of whether to advance Jackson’s nomination to a vote before the full Senate. Democrats, expecting the deadlock, immediately moved ahead with a procedural step to discharge the nomination to a vote before the full Senate.

During her hearing before the Senate Judiciary committee, Republicans attacked Jackson as a partisan and leaned heavily on culture war fights rather than inquiries concerning the nominee’s qualifications.

Multiple Republicans, including Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Josh Hawley of Missouri, accused the judge of being lenient toward child sexual abusers. Fact-checkers say that the claims are misleading and that Jackson’s sentencing decisions were in line with her peers on the federal bench.

Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court

Jackson’s confirmation fulfills a major campaign promise from President Biden: to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court.

Jackson, 51, served eight years as a federal trial court judge and last June was confirmed for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Prior to becoming a judge, Jackson worked as a public defender. Jackson will be first Supreme Court justice since Thurgood Marshall to have represented indigent criminal defendants.

After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1996, she went on to clerk for Justice Stephen Breyer — who she will replace on the high court when Breyer formally retires this summer.

Breyer, 83, was appointed to the court by then-President Bill Clinton in 1994 to replace retiring justice Harry Blackmun.

In contrast to the contemporary view of the court as another venue of partisan political and cultural warfare, Justice Breyer became known for his decades-long effort to build consensus among the justices despite philosophical and ideological differences about the Constitution.

Last year, Breyer published a book which argued that the American public should continue to trust in the court as an apolitical institution that exists above the political fray of the other branches.

“I’m afraid if the general public begins to think that the Supreme Court justices are junior-league politicians,” Breyer told NPR’s Nina Totenberg. “A lot of unfortunate things will happen because they think, why don’t we want senior-varsity politicians? Why do we want junior-varsity politicians? A lot of unfortunate thoughts for the institution can go through people’s minds.”

During Jackson’s time on the court, Breyer’s conception of the Supreme Court will be tested as the court’s conservative majority rules on cases concerning some of the nation’s most controversial social and political issues, ranging from abortion access to the role of race in college admissions.

NPR’s Barbara Sprunt and Susan Davis contributed reporting.

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Editor’s Note: The following article, also on Linkedin, illustrates how family historians could highlight the contributions of individuals for reunion journals and books.

By Lillian Croom Williams

One of my prized possessions is a tattered, yellowed book by American historian Carter G. Woodson. First published in 1928,  the book, “Negro Makers of History,” reminds me of many things.

First, my late mother, Mrs. Lillian Williams, read this book as a student growing up in the racially-segregated, Deep South Jim Crow era.

She would recount how teachers in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, emphasized the importance of history–including the history of African Americans. She regularly read and discussed the findings of books like Woodson’s. The son of slaves, Woodson was also known as the “Father of Black History” because of his pioneering research.

Second, my mother believed that her knowledge of history—including her family’s–propelled her success. She learned from the failures and triumphs of others. After moving to East St. Louis, Illinois, she married (her husband was a lawyer and civic leader); taught in the public school system with a master’s degree in science education, and raised five children who attained degrees in their respective fields. Her grandchildren follow in her footsteps.

But here’s the deal: So many other African Americans have equally compelling stories. Their names rarely make the headlines. You won’t hear about them during the annual Black History Month celebrations. Yet they do extraordinary things, often against great odds. (No matter your heritage, I’m sure that you know of similar, uncelebrated people.) Their quiet deeds make our blocks, neighborhoods, and global environments stronger.

Let me introduce you this year to one such ordinary, yet extraordinary, African American—the late Mrs. Emma L. Wilson King.

As the social influencer for legions in my hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois, she represents Black Americans who quietly every day make a significant difference in our society.

Born in Starkville, Mississippi in 1922, Mrs. King married her friend and lifelong partner, Willie Francis King, at the age of eighteen. The couple moved to the Midwest at the urging of family. She became a proud homemaker.

What makes Mrs. Emma L. Wilson King outstanding? Many things.

She and her husband raised 12 (read that, twelve) children in the tough urban environment of East St. Louis, a river town in downstate Illinois. That’s the same town known worldwide for that horrific, bloody outbreak of race-related violence in 1917. The city never recovered from the fallout.

By economic standards, the King family was poor. But the children didn’t know that. Reflecting on things, they believe their mother’s kindness, strength, and forgiving spirit carried them over the hurdles. She preached a gospel of “Oh yes you can!” “Never give up!” “Do your best!”

Mrs. King encouraged her children to attend college and to help others along the way. Significantly, she made each child feel special. After her death, daughter Lois Blackmon wrote:

“Ma, you always told me that because I was the seventh child, that meant I was lucky to have been born from you. I often would think how you would tell us, that you would hear other mothers shouting and telling their children ‘You get on my nerves;” You would then tell us, that thought never entered your mind.”

“After, a Sunday family dinner or a holiday celebration, I can still see you sitting back and smiling, looking at all of us and saying ‘You know what, I feel as though my arms could stretch long enough to wrap around all twelve of my children at one time.”

Another daughter, Renee King-Jacobs of North Hollywood, California, said, “She was such a strong woman, yet a gentle person. She never made anyone feel small. If anything, she made you feel like you were the most important person around.  When you came in contact with Ma, you walked away with a warm feeling.”

And folks in their East St. Louis neighborhood noticed too. Said Lester, “Pretty Boy,” Lewis, who now lives in Renton, Washington: “In our little neighborhood you always knew who a person’s family was by look, behavior, and attitude; you just knew one of Miss Emma’s kids when you saw one in public. I guess you could say, you can always tell a King.”

Now here’s the real question: How did Mrs. King’s legacy of love translate into concrete action today? How is she still making a difference in East St. Louis, Illinois, and elsewhere?

The latest U.S. census figures show that East St. Louis has a median income of $24,343 compared to a statewide median income of $56,853. Nearly 34 percent of its citizens live in poverty. A majority of children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Many children suffer from elevated lead levels in their blood, a condition that can affect the ability to learn and to develop, according to research supported by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

So, here’s how Mrs. King’s legacy lives on, how she still makes a difference.

Only ten days after her death in November 2004, daughter Bernice King-Sanders decided to start a scholarship to honor her mother. After all, education was a pillar of her mother’s success formula, and her children wanted to continue that legacy.

Next, daughter Bernice King-Sanders discussed the idea with sisters Ernestine and Delores. She recalled, “We decided to have a family meeting on December 25th, 2004 and introduce our plans to the remainder of the family members. I decided to compose a letter outlining our purpose for the scholarship, means for financing it, and other details.”

To date, the family has awarded more than $40,000 in scholarships to students graduating from East St. Louis Senior High School. “We wanted to give something back to the community,” Bernice King-Sanders said. “This contribution is in honor of our mother who gave so much for others.”

The scholarship fund, and other civic endeavors, live on through the Emma L. Wilson King Foundation, established by her children. Last year, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren joined this volunteer work. In partnership with the city of East St. Louis, they planned and produced the first-ever East St. Louis Fall Festival, a popular event now expected to be held annually.

The living legacy of Mrs. King flourishes in other ways.  Her children have set fund-raising goals to restore the historic lily-pond fountain in Jones Park. They have distributed more than 1000 winter coats so far to children in East St. Louis, Brooklyn-Lovejoy, and Cahokia.

As Carter G. Woodson exhorted in his 1928 book, we must record and replay the accomplishments of those who make a difference!

You can learn more about the amazing life and legacy of Mrs. Emma L Wilson King at the foundation’s website: www.emmalkingfoundation.org. 

See our website https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ for additional genealogy resources.

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By Lillian Williams

Could deeds provide crucial keys to unlock the puzzle of your genealogy research?

Absolutely!

Deeds offer details about relationships, status, finances, and other information about individuals and families.

That’s why the North Carolina Genealogical Society will offer a webinar on the subject at 7 p.m. EST, January 19.

The webinar will explain ways to find deeds; understand them, and apply them to your genealogy work.

Leading this event will be David McCorkle, the creator of a free website, NC Land Grant Images and Data. The site contains data for the 200,000+ land grants issued in North Carolina from 1663 to 1960, as well as 500,000 images of original documents. McCorkle is on the board of the NC Genealogical Society and President of the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society.

The webinar is free for members of the North Carolina Genealogical Society (NCGS). However, a public replay of the webinar will be available at a date to be announced on the NCGS website.

See our https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ website for additional genealogy research resources.

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By Lillian Williams

If you’re new to family history research, here’s a way to jumpstart your journey: Join a historical or genealogy society. The network of connections could be valuable.

Not only will you find researchers willing to answer questions, but they also suggest ways to reach your research goals.

I am a member of two genealogy groups. I also participate in webinars about family history topics.

Here’s how Genealogy.com explains the benefits in the article, Using Historical and Genealogical Societies:

“Joining or working with a historical or genealogical society can be a real boost to your research, because it’s nice to know and speak with people who have interests similar to your own. However, if you contact a historical or genealogical society, you’ll find out that they often have much more to offer than just moral support.

“A genealogical society represents years of genealogical research experience. If you’re having trouble with a specific problem, the staff or members may be able to offer hints to help you out. It’s likely that someone else in the group has already been through the same problem.”

Here’s how a local genealogy newsletter could be an advertising tool for your research, mentioned in the same Geneology.com article.

“In addition, many people looking for relatives in a specific location put ads in the genealogical newsletter in that location. It is quite possible that you could see an ancestor’s name in a society newsletter.”

Caution: Before joining a group, find out what the membership includes. Does the organzation offer resources, networking, conferences, etc., that meet your research objectives?  

Besides nationally-known groups–such as the National Genealogical Society, the New England Historic and Genealogical Society and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society–there are state-wide groups, too. Also, consider local ethnic societies that could target your research needs.

By all means, check with the local public library for research resources!

The following are links to websites of national, state and local groups: List of Genealogical Societies; Genealogical Societies, and Resources for Genealogists.

Also, see our https://documentyourfamilyhistory.com/ website for genealogy research resources.

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Graduates of East St. Louis Senior High School

By Lillian Williams

The million-dollar question remains: How do you solve that last piece of the puzzle in your family history research? Sometimes family, friends, and online databases provide the answer. In other instances, you might dig for days within off-line storehouses without results.

Here’s another idea: Connect with social organizations in a community that might have information relevant to your research. Also, contact local churches and other religious organizations. They are known to produce anniversary booklets with photos and descriptions of families.

The Chicago public library, however, offers another suggestion: Check out local school yearbooks.

The Yearbook As A Research Tool

“Yearbooks can be a great tool to learn more about your ancestors, their interests and the school they attended,” according to an article in the Nov. 18 Chicago Public Library blog. “Yearbooks can also provide insights into how high school students initiate and respond to changes in their community and the world.”

Yearbooks can be a goldmine for photos, too, the blog points out.

Not only might you find a photo of your ancestor, but you might discover extracurricular activities; the elementary school they attended, and their post-graduate plans, according to the post.

Yearbooks could reflect the social climate of that era. Importantly, they could show how your ancestors responded to issues of the day. Note this early 20th century yearbook entry:

“In this example from the June 1918 edition of Lake View High School’s Red and White, Lydia Trowbridge wrote an article called, “War work for Women and Girls,” in which she highlighted ways they could help the war effort by doing farm work during summer vacation, working with children, teaching English in factories, writing articles and typing wartime bulletins, speaking to women’s groups about the war effort and child welfare.”

The 1918 yearbook article reflects a vigrous effort to encorage women to participate in the war effort. That’s a noteworthy finding for historical context.

Ancestry.com Has Some U.S. High School Yearbooks

The blog also points out that Ancestry.com has digitized some U.S. high school yearbooks. You can access those yearbooks at home through your computer until Dec. 31, free of charge, with a local library card. After that date, you can utilize the computers at your local library to acess the yearbooks.

Follow our Facebook page with posts about family history research by clicking “Like” at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/FamilyStoriesForever.

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Cheers,

Website founder and editor Lillian Williams

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By Lillian Williams

Could African American fraternal records offer clues to your family’s ancestral history?  Absolutely!

Researcher James R. Morgan III, author of the book, The Lost Empire: Black Freemasonry in the Old West (1867-1906), demonstrated ways to find key genealogy data from fraternal records during an excellent virtual presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

James Morgan III
Historian, Genealogist, Author

The webinar, Titled Finding Our Fathers; Understanding African American Fraternalism, was sponsored by the Allen County Public Library.

“Fraternal organizations are important to family historians because their records, history and practices can provide a unique look into the social lives and social standing of individual ancestors and the communities in which they inhabited,” Morgan explained in a hand-out to webinar participants.

 “A common practice of the African American press was to carry fraternal columns and pages with local and national happenings.”

Morgan, a Prince Hall Freemason, is also Grand Historian and Archivist of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.  His research largely focuses on the 19th century, African American fraternal experience and its relationship to the field of genealogy.

Black Fraternal Organizations

Here’s a list of Black Fraternal Organizations, with city and year established, provided by Morgan:

Prince Hall Freemasons (Boston, M.A., 1775)

Free African Society (Philadelphia, P.A., 1787)

African Union Society (New Port, R.I., 1787)

Brown Fellowship Society (Charleston, S.C.)

The Female Benevolent Society (New Haven, C.T., 1804)

The New York African Society for Mutual Relief (New York, N.Y., 1808)

Moral Reform Society (Philadelphia, P.A., 1835)

Union Benevolent Society (Lexington, K.Y., 1843)

Grand United Order of Oddfellows (New York, N.Y., 1843)

Knights of Liberty (St. Louis, M.O., 1846)

Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria (New York, N.Y., September 14, 1847)

United Brothers of Friendship & Sisters of the Mysterious Ten (Louisville, K.Y., August 1, 1861)

Resources to Trace Ancestors in Fraternal Records

Morgan’s hand-out also included a list of resources to trace ancestors in fraternal records. Among those listed were:

  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037; http://www.nypl.org/

“The premiere resource center for African American life and culture, the Schomburg Center is home to the Harry A. Williamson Collection on Prince Hall Freemasonry. A finding aid index of the collection is available for download at: http://archives.nypl.org/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/Sc_Micro_R-3984.pdf”

  • The Columbus Black History Museum and Archives; 315 8th Street, Columbus, GA 31901; 706-507-3466

“The Columbus Black History Museum and Archives is the repository for the African American history of the Chattahoochee Valley. Staff available for genealogy research. Emphasis is placed on local fraternal groups within the exhibits of the museum.”

  • Mosaic Templars Cultural Center; 501 West 9th Street, Little Rock, A.R. 72201

(501) 683-3593; http://www.mosaictemplarscenter.com/

  • The Iowa Masonic Library

813 1st Avenue S.E., Cedar Rapids, I.A. 52402; 319-365-1438

Iowa Masonic Library and Museum

“One of the largest masonic libraries in the world, the Iowa Masonic Library houses the largest

collection of masonic proceedings in North America. Collections include a vast array of African

American masonic records which can be scanned and e-mailed for a fee.”

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By Lillian Williams

Ready to dig deeper into those eyebrow-raising family stories you’ve heard over the years?

Uncovering your family history may be easier than you think.

That’s because your local public library card provides free access to historical documents.

With a public library card, you can access millions of documents for ancestral history exploration. Libraries offer the research database, Ancestry Library Edition, for viewing historical records.

Until Dec. 31, you can access this Ancestry Library Edition at home, through your own computer.

After Dec. 31, you can still view these records through computers at the library.

Contact your local library for instructions on how to access the Ancestry Library Edition from home until Dec. 31, utilizing your library card.

Among the vital documents in this Ancestry Library Edition are:

  • Birth, Marriage, & Death Records
  • Census & Voter Lists
  • Immigration & Travel Records
  • Military Records
  • Schools, Directories, & Church Histories
  • Tax, Criminal, Land, & Wills
  • Reference Records, Dictionaries, & Almanacs
  • Oral Histories, Historical & Genealogical Publications
  • Newspapers
  • Photos & Maps

In this video, one local librarian explained how to use the Ancestry Library Edition:

Also, the Gale Free Library lists these additional, free family history databases:

  • U.S. National Archives

– “This is a great place to start! The national archives gives a brief overview of the types of records you’ll come across during your search and has great tips for getting started.”

  • U.S. GenWeb Project

– “This site is maintained by volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and state of the United States. This Project is non-commercial and fully committed to free genealogy access for everyone.”

  • Genealogy Today

– “The equivalent of Google for ancestry research.”

Also, follow our Facebook page by clicking “Like” at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/FamilyStoriesForever.

Check out our website at www.documentyourfamilyhistory.com.

Cheers,

Newsletter founder and editor Lillian Williams

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By Lillian Williams

This holiday season, we’re likely to prepare a healthy list of New Year’s resolutions, as usual.

But let’s add a new category– family history research.

Family Tree Magazine has published a list of 25 top websites for beginning, family history researchers.

It’s a category that makes sense for the whole family.

Studies show that children who know their family history, tend to develop greater self-confidence and resilience.

Divided into categories, the Family Tree list offers sites for building family tree histories; DNA testing; ethnic and regional resources; newspaper records, and more.

Here’s how the magazine described five of its recommended sites:

Cyndi’s List

Consider Cyndi Ingle’s free site your table of contents for online genealogy. You’ll find lists of sites dedicated to researching particular places, types of records, ethnic and religious groups, and more. Check out the Beginner’s category for guides and tips just for newbies. But also watch for topics you’re interested in, like military research or DNA.

Chronicling America

The Library of Congress’ portal to historical newspapers has two important areas of content: digitized newspaper pages (1789-1963)—and a comprehensive index to all known newspapers published in the United States and where to find them today. Check back frequently for new content. To learn more about using the site, including what’s on it and what’s not, click on the Help section.

Newspaper Archive

Access more than 120 million digitized newspaper pages dating to 1607. The site is easy on the eye and easy to navigate. Browse newspapers by state and city (and for other countries), or enter names and other keywords along with desired dates and locations.

Ancestry.com

This powerful subscription website is home to more than 11 billion old records, 100 million family trees and more than 15 million DNA profiles. Be sure to check out Ancestry Academy and Ancestry’s YouTube channel for beginner-friendly tutorials. Many U.S. libraries offer Ancestry Library Edition free to patrons (Note that the Ancestry Library Edition is free to use from your computer at home until Dec. 31, with a public library card. After that time, you can still use this resource at the library free of charge.)

Archives.com

This is a budget-friendly, scaled-down version of Ancestry, its owner. The core historical record collections are for the United States, so this may be a good option for beginning researchers who believe their families have been in the United States for several generations.

Also, look around this www.documentyourfamilyhistory.com website for resources and links about researching and preserving your family history.

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By Lillian Williams

Need help in tracing your family’s ancestry? Here’s some good news.

The Oakland Family History Library offers a free, monthly research worshop. It’s open to anyone with computer access. It also welcomes beginners with no experience in genealogy research.

This online workshop meets the 4th Wednesday of each month, 6pm – 8pm, Pacific Time Zone. It specializes in African American family history research.

To attend the online workshop, get a Zoom link at us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlf-CtqDwiHd3OOsVO0YDkOOtf7cdkxcmo

Here’s how Oakland FamilySearch Library, the library sponsoring this event, describes the workshop:

“This is an ongoing, free, hands-on research workshop comprised of African Americans, also referred to as Black or Afro-American, or those who harmonize with Sub-Saharan Africa, with ancestry, citizenship, or residency in the United States. The workshop is an interactive exchange of research tools, methods and systems, and discussions necessary for progress at individual levels of family histories and genealogies impacted by the 16th Century removal of Africans to America as slaves.”

Email Pat Jenkins, the workshop facilitator, with any questions at pat4gene@gmail.com.

Walking Along This Genealogy Trail

I welcome feedback about your research needs. I’d also like to hear about your family history stories.

As mentioned on the Facebook Page, I’ve worked as a journalist and a professor at Columbia College Chicago. I have a Ph.D. in Higher Education. At the Chicago Sun-Times and WKYC-TV in Cleveland, I reported on news events.

Forever a student, I participate in genealogy webinars. I created websites to share resources, tips, and advice for finding and preserving family history. See www.documentyourfamilyhistory.com and www.facebook.com/FamilyStoriesForever. I’d like to stress that I still have much to learn about the field of genealogy, but like many of you, I’m fascinated about this field of study.

Currently, I’m researching the ancestral roots of my own family. What a rewarding adventure! I’ve found key information dating back to the Civil War days.

Facing a brick wall, I sought the help of like-minded researchers on Ancestry.com. After more than a year of absolutely no responses, one person offered a lead that yielded breakthrough results. I will share more about that in later posts.

A member of New Life Covenant Church Southeast in Chicago, I’m interested in spiritual topics, too. Should we document and pass along our faith histories, too? In my family history research, I’ve found fascinating data about our spiritual roots.

In summary, we’re off to a good start here. I’d like feedback from you about your needs and desires about family history research. I look forward to hearing from you!

Follow our Facebook page by clicking “Like” at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/FamilyStoriesForever.

Check out our website at www.documentyourfamilyhistory.com.

Cheers,

Newsletter founder and editor Lillian Williams

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By Lillian Williams

A wealth of resources exists for family history research. Yet, some data sources might be particularly helpful to those conducting research about African American lineage.

That’s according to Ari Wilkins, a scholar who specializes in African American family history research.  She spoke about the subject during a virtual, August 25, 2021, event sponsored by the Chemung County Library District in New York.

Titled “Scaling the 1870 Brick Wall in African American Research,” the well-organized webinar was free and open to the public.

Wilkins is a professional genealogist and library associate at the Dallas Public Library. She’s known for her work with noted genealogist, Dr. James Rose, on his project, “Generations: The WPA Ex-Slave Narrative Database.” She speaks at national genealogy conferences across the nation.

Offering a hand-out to event attendees, Wilkins clearly described the function and value of particular resources during the session, including the following:

  • Slave Schedules – Slave Schedules of the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Federal Census tracts enumerate the enslaved separately. The enslaver’s name is listed. The enslaved usually were not named, though they were described by sex, age and color.
  • Freedmen’s Bureau – The Freedmen’s Bureau records are a rich data source for information about former slaves, following the Civil War. It was established to assist the millions of former slaves, refugees, sick and destitute persons in Southern states. Their offices, with records spanning from 1865-1872, were in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
  • Freedman’s Bank – The U.S. Congress established The Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company in 1865,  primarily as a bank for free slaves and former African American military personnel. Between the years of 1865-1874, bank accounts were opened.  
  • Voter Registration Records – The fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution granted African American men the right to vote.  Their registration started in 1867.
  • Military Records – Some 180,000 African American men, known as the United States Colored Troops, volunteered to fight for the Union Army. These military records could provide a soldier’s name, parents’ names, name of a former slaveholder, and birth information.
  • Plantation Records – Wilkins said that Ante-bellum Southern Plantation Records are an important source of information that could connect a formerly enslaved person to his or her family. A microfilm set, these manuscript records come from several major Southern repositories.
  • WPA Slave Narratives – During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration created jobs for Americans, including the Federal Writers’ Project. Writers and researchers interviewed and documented the testimonies of formerly enslaved persons. These ex-slave narratives were collected from 17 states between 1936-1938.
  • Southern Claims Commission – The Southern Claims Commission, created by the U.S. Congress, was a government organization tasked with considering claims for compensation for property loss to the U. S. Army during the Civil War.
  • Newspapers – Both mainstream and African American newspapers could provide valuable information about the lives and locations of African Americans.

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture site in Washington, D. C., Feb. 22, 2012. Participants include: former First Lady Laura Bush; Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray; Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.; Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas; Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, pastor, Abyssian Baptist Church, New York; Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the museum; Richard Kurin, undersecretary for History, Art and Culture at the Smithsonian; Linda Johnson Rice and Richard Parsons, co-chairs of the museum’s advisory council; Dr. G. Wayne Clough, Secretary, The Smithsonian Institution; Lonnie Bunch, Founding Director, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture; and Dr. France Córdova, Chair, Smithsonian Board of Regents. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

By Lillian Williams

It’s the largest museum in the world dedicated to African American history.

When the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in September of 2016, President Obama dedicated the building. Quoting from Langston Hughes’ poetry, he said it symbolizes, ”I, too, am America.”

The Washington D. C. museum houses more than 36,000 artifacts related to African-American history and culture. Currently it showcases the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s copy of his speech for the 1963 March on Washington. The copy is on loan from Villanova University.

In addition to the speech, the museum also houses King’s Congressional Gold Medal; a laundry pail used by King during his march from Selma to Montgomery, and a program from King’s funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

But here’s what might also interest family history researchers. The museum operates a center devoted to assisting the public with family history research.  It’s called the The Robert Frederick Smith Explore Your Family History Center.

Mission

Working with the Center’s genealogy experts, people will be able to learn basic techniques of research for African American family history.  Individuals interested in this assistance are required to register in advance for virtual research meetings. To schedule a session, email familyhistorycenter@si.edu.

Introduction to Databases

Also in services offered by the Center, staff members teach how to utilize online databases, including Ancestry Library Edition, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3.com. For persons at more advanced stages of research, other services will be offered.

Again, email familyhistorycenter@si.edu to request research sessions with the Center staff.

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The Art Institute of Chicago, Cavigga Family Trust Fund, Copyright, Bisa Butler

By Lillian Williams

Can quilts tell a family, or community history?

Of course, they can!

See the themes of family, community and migration running through the Bisa Butler portrait quilt exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago.  The exhibit runs through September 6, 2021.

Among Butlers’ influences are family photo albums; the philosophies of AfriCOBRA (the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists); Romare Bearden’s collages; Faith Ringgold’s quilts, and Gordon Parks’s photographs.

Quilts have a long history of storytelling.

For an illuminating discussion about Butler’s portrait quilts, listen to the NPR story by Cheryl Corley.

Quilts That Speak

Or, ask Phyllis Elmore who shared her family’s narrative on the blog talk radio show, Speak On It!

The show offers resources, stories, and answers to genealogy questions at 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

Elmore was sent to live in Livingston, Alabama, with her grandmother, Lula Horn, at age four.

Her grandmother made beautiful quilts out of the fabric worn by loved ones. With each strip of fabric, she told stories associated with the fabric. These stories became the tool that later helped her granddaughter dig deeper into the family’s history.

Listen to this unforgettable blog talk show about one family’s journey.

Additional Resources

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By Lillian Williams

“Discovering a new aspect about oneself through one’s ancestors is infectious!” says Henry Louis Gates, Jr., professor, author, and host of PBS’ Finding Your Roots series.

Initially, your children (or grandchildren) might not be feeling the vibe. Yet, research shows it’s important that they know their family history.

Studies show that children who know their family history develop better self-identifies. This knowledge leads to increased self-confidence and resilience. See a March 15, 2013, New York Times, article about this subject.

At-home Genealogy Projects

The website, Finding Your Roots The Seedlings, outlines activities for children to learn about family history and to produce family history projects. The website is maintained by Pennsylvania State University.

Here are samples of suggested activities for children:

Trace The Family Tree: This activity involves identifying the persons of a family history tree, starting with the immediate family members.

Interview Family Members About Their History: Ask family members about their life experiences and movements around the nation and the world.  See the family-history interview question list. This list just jumpstarts your work, as you tailor questions to meet your research needs.

Research a Historical Person: This activity involves examining how events might have influenced a person’s life. As suggested, the researcher might seek to know: “What kinds of joys and struggles did your subject live through? What was the popular music of the time? What movies were big that year, if you didn’t go back to a time before movies?”

Free Charts and Templates

For newcomers to the family history research, this site offers basic free charts and templates to help organize data. It also recommends another resource, Genealogy For Youth, a site organized by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, a well-known name in family history research.

Also, see our www.documentyourfamilyhistory.com website for resources and links about researching and preserving your family history.

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By Lillian Williams

New Cranky Old Women is a 32,000-plus public, Facebook group for fun and laughter. Anyone can see who is in this group and what they post.

“This is NOT a DATING SITE,” the site managers warn.

“Have fun and please read the group rules before posting and commenting as they are there for our protection and safety. New to FB accounts will not be accepted. Everyone must answer the application question and abide by our group rules.”

The site offers insights for anyone researching and publishing family history narratives.

An August 24, 2021, post by moderator Bernice Ellis, of Texas City, Texas, caught my attention. It underscores the virtues of age, and cautions against the temptation to lament later years. It reminds us to recognize and honor the hands that stitched our pathways to success.

In advice to “all my female friends 50 years and up,” Ellis writes:

The take-a-way? Older family members offer valuable life lessons that should be underscored in family narratives. Their lives deserve more space than one-line entries in family-history tree charts.

As Ellis points out, they have raised households, paid bills, and dealt with diseases, sadness, and everything else life has assigned. They carry authentic badges of strength, grace, and courage. Filled with wisdom, their stories contain priceless gifts to future generations. Let us give them the recognition and respect they deserve in our family narratives.

For newcomers to the family history topic, here are free charts and templates to help you organize data. Here are 18 free websites recommended by the National Genealogical Society.

Also, see the www.documentyourfamilyhistory.com website for information about preserving and publishing your family’s history.

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By Lillian Williams

Family. Stories. Forever. They matter.

You’ve “raised them right,” as they say. Nevertheless, it’s hard to let go.

You see flashes of the past, and high hopes for the future, as you say goodbye.

It’s a college ritual for parents all across America. In these photos, Anthony White bade farewell to his son, Harlem, on the grounds of Morehouse College in Atlanta recently. His son will start freshman semester soon.

An art history major, Harlem was a straight-A high school student in Chicago. He was awarded a Morehouse scholarship. His story makes the perfect chapter in a family history narrative. The format could be video, newsletter, blog, podcast, or memoir.

But there’s something else that this story should highlight.

Over the years, this father shared the family’s history with his son, a step that researchers say makes a tremendous difference.

Studies show that children who know their family history develop strong self-identities. They show more self-confidence and resilience. Read reporter Bruce Feiler’s New York Times article about that topic.

Harlem’s story is really about the long journey it took to arrive in Atlanta that day. The journey began decades ago.

Harlem’s mother, Shirley, says her father could barely read or write. Why? Because Black children in the rural South were forced to quit school to work the fields. He desired an education, she said, but was denied the opportunity. “This always saddens me but now his grandson is going to Morehouse.” She described her father as a hard worker who supported his family of nine children.

Harlem’s mother always shared the family story with her son.

Who else influenced Harlem’s life? That’s another question for family historians. For instance, on the evening of his high school prom, friends, neighbors, and other relatives showed up to take those classic snapshots. It seems that a village might have helped to raise him. The “village,” and its influence on his life, adds context to this story.

Here’s the point: Precious family narratives like this one unfold every day. Each one is different. Each holds valuable lessons. We should document and preserve these experiences. They’re not always picture-perfect, but we can learn from them.

Make your children aware of your family history research. Ask them to participate. With guidance, they could help with interview preparation. Depending upon their age, they could write, and re-write, photo captions and drafts of the narrative. They could share visual production and editing responsibilities. Give them the space to be creative.

In planning your projects, consider interviewing the oldest family members first. Collect their remembrances of historical events of the era, in addition to the standard childhood and family background questions.

The UCLA Library offers a guideline for conducting oral histories with family members, including sample interview questions.

Take a look around the documentyourfamilyhistory.com website for information and resources about preserving your family’s history.

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Dear Mama, 2019. Collection of Scott and Cissy Wolfe; Broom Jumpers, 2019. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. Photograph by Margaret Fox. Bisa Butler

By Lillian Williams

As NPR reporter Cheryl Corley explains, the stunning Bisa Butler technicolor quilts on display at the Art Institute of Chicago represent family photo albums.

They depict the ordinary, the rich, the poor, and more. The exhibit runs through Sept. 6, 2021.

For family historians, the exhibit also serves as an important storytelling prompt. It brings to mind our own family storytelling techniques.

It asks about the complexity of our research, the categories, and the chapters of our narratives.

It begs the question: Have we ventured beyond the obvious data of family tree charts?

Thinking creatively, Butler brought life to the ordinary quilting process with her unique blend of materials and patterns. Family historians could do the same. We could add vibrancy, and context, to our stories with research about the culture, economic conditions, and other factors that influenced the lives of our ancestors.

Here’s a suggestion: Read about the communities of your ancestors in the local newspapers of the era. The Library of Congress has a website with access to historic newspapers dating back to the 1700s. Your local library might also have a selection of digitized, historic newspapers. Paid subscription services are also available for some historic publications.

During my family history search, I found articles about ancestors in local Alabama newspapers. Those articles, and others, helped to fill gaps in knowledge about my ancestral background. Below is a newspaper resource.

Free Historic U.S. Newspapers by State

Purdue University provides free access to historic U.S. newspapers, by state. This service is open to the public.

Here’s a small sample of what the Purdue site offers:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

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By Lillian Williams

So you’ve decided to research your family history!

The National Genealogical Society recommends a couple of forms to start your project.

They’re called the pedigree chart and the family group sheet. Fill in family names, and related research findings, on these charts. Later, the charts make it easier to find the data.

A pedigree chart performs as it sounds. It traces the lineage back, typically beginning with the present generation. A group family sheet displays the basics, including birth, death, and occupation, of members of one family.

Download both forms, free of charge, from websites of the National Archives, or The National Genealogical Society.

Websites for Family History Research

The following 18 free, genealogy resources are recommended by the National Genealogical Society.  

(Ancestry.com is a major site that also could be free of charge through your local public library. Note that the National Genealogical Society (NGS) offered the descriptions below. See other (NGS) free resources here.)

  • FamilySearch A completely free genealogy database website. You can use an Advanced Search tool by surname, record type, and/or place to access millions of records. The FamilySearch Wiki is a “go to” resource to find what exists for a wide range of family history topics, even beyond FamilySearch’s extensive databases.
  • U.S. Census Bureau Discover explanations on all federal census years and access copies of original forms and questions. Also see Census Online for links to state censuses; tools for research; and calculators to convert year of birth.
  • National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Maintained by the U.S. Federal government, NARA houses millions of microfilmed, printed, and manuscript records. Excellent for census records; governmental and military history records; military pension files; product patents; also passenger lists, early naturalization records, and much more.
  • Library of Congress (LOC) One of the largest collections in the world of printed and recorded materials; outstanding source for free images; resource for all copyrighted materials in America and beyond. LOC maintains collections of nearly all city directories and county histories in the U.S.; houses a comprehensive directory of all known copyrighted newspapers by timeframe and where they can be located today, in the important U.S. Newspaper Directory and Chronicling America; and offers comprehensive historical materials of all kinds.
  • New York Public Library (NYPL) Among the elite tier of library collections, second only to LOC in the size and scope of its historical and genealogical collections. The NYPL Map Division has one of the best collections in the U.S.; the Milstein Division has extensive local history and genealogical materials related to the all fifty states, including one of the largest American collections of city directories on microfilm; other notable divisions are the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Dorot Jewish Division, Manuscripts and Archives, Performing Arts Division, and the Science, Industry, and Business Library. Plus many accessible online digital collections and image galleries; and use of lntraLibrary Loan through ILL and your local library card.
  • USGenWeb Project Free county/state historical and genealogical resources; research resources and content projects driven by volunteers of local and state genealogical societies throughout the United States.  Also see WorldGenWeb Project for records beyond the U.S.
  • Research Guides for Ship Passenger Lists and Immigration Records Focuses on providing guidance and links to records for passenger lists from about 1820 to the early 1950s. It includes suggestions for finding records for ports of arrival and immigration records.
  • Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Special collections include African American and a Native American Gateway; military records; and a surname database contributed by researchers. One of the largest genealogical library collections in the U.S.
  • Freedman’s Bureau A Federal agency of the United States Department of War to help slaves who were set free after the Civil War and also poor whites with provisions, clothing, and fuel. It also helped with immediate and temporary shelter and supplied food and aid to the destitute and suffering.
  • Access Genealogy Access hundreds of links to genealogical data by state or by topic. Very helpful and handy website.
  • JewishGen An easy-to-use website with many record groups and good surname search facilities. Daitch-Mokotoff phonetic search algorithms for eastern European and Jewish name searches. Some databases require payment.
  • BillionGraves Search their free database by people or by cemetery. Many entries have photos of gravesites. Free app helps to direct you to the GPS location in a cemetery, which is a great help as many cemeteries are poorly marked.
  • Find A Grave They call themselves the world’s largest gravesite collection with more than 170 million memorials. Search for free. Many photos and text has been added to gravesite information.
  • Legacy.com The global leader in online obituaries, partners with more than 1,500 newspapers and 3,500 funeral homes across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Consumers can also express condolences, share direct support for families, and celebrate the people who have touched their lives.
  • Afrigeneas.com An excellent starting place for African American genealogy. It features a “Beginners Guide” video; details on best sites for African American records, resources, and research; good direction on finding slave data, vital records, history of slavery; plus a website search function, forums and chats.
  • Rootsweb One of the first genealogical resources on the internet; it still offers excellent help with mailing lists; Ancestry Wiki; obituaries; connect to USGenWeb; Family Trees; queries; and more.
  • Cyndi’s List Offers links organized by topics/categories. A cross-referenced index contains extensive lists of online genealogy resources. Don’t know where to look for specific records?  Check Cyndi’s up-to-date list of suggested sources.
  • Society of American Archivists Laura Schmidt in “Using Archives: A Guide to Effective Research” provides an excellent tutorial on archives: what are archives, the types, requesting materials, visiting and guidelines, copyright, and more.~~National Genealogical Society

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The newsletter will give you notices about our blog posts; lists of genealogy events, and examples of our research experiences.

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By Lillian Williams

We love those selfies!

And so did abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

A Freethink article offers an excellent perspective about Douglass and his “selfie” philosophy. It points out that Douglass understood the power of imagery and used that knowledge to his advantage. You might want to watch the accompanying Freethink video.

But here’s the deal: There’s an underlying message for family history researchers, too. A message (or lesson) that we can apply every day.

Douglass, a runaway slave, knew that Blacks had been stereotyped and stamped in photographs as less than human and unworthy of citizenship.

Among other moves, Douglass decided to take control of his own image (think selfie) during portrait sessions and in other ways. He presented a careful, and accurate, visual reflection of himself.

As pointed out in the Freethink article, Douglass didn’t have Facebook, Instagram, or other social media outlets to distribute his “selfies.” Douglass ordered copies of his photographs and widely distributed them. He was determined to be pictured differently.

David Blight’s biography, “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom,“ offers a comprehensive look at Douglass’ life.

Let’s be clear: This Douglass philosophy could be applied in multiple scenarios, including to family history research. First, start collecting (and documenting) the facts about your family. Second, do not let your research stay in a computer file folder. This means you should preserve your research in a form to be passed along to future generations. Perhaps you would publish a book; a series of lengthy newsletters to the family with copies for the local historical society, or a documentary for the family reunion. The U.S. Library of Congress accepts family history books for its vast library collection. Shouldn’t your family story be available at the Library of Congress for future generations? Here’s a link to that Library of Congress site explaining the process.

Consider other back-to-basics:

When it comes to family history, does your family have a committee, or at least one person, to research facts about your lineage? Have you begun to interview the oldest members of your family? Do not wait.

Given the unusual nature of this era (think pandemic), have you started a journal, or in some way begun to record your family’s experiences during this period? Use a recording app on your mobile device to get started.

Sign-up for my free newsletter HERE for tips and notices of upcoming webinars and events about family history research.

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Ari Wilkins

By Lillian Williams

Ari Wilkins, a scholar who specializes in African American family history research, will lead a genealogy webinar on August 25.

This event, via Zoom, is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Chemung County Library District in New York. Register in advance here. [If the link is broken for any reason, go to the library events page here; scroll down to that August 25 event; hover over the event; then register.]

The August 25 webinar will be held from 7 to 8 pm EST. It’s called “Scaling the 1870 Brick Wall in African American Research.”

Last month, Wilkins led an excellent webinar on July 28 about African American migration patterns.

She is a professional genealogist and library associate at the Dallas Public Library. She’s known for her work with noted genealogist, Dr. James Rose, on his project, “Generations: The WPA Ex-Slave Narrative Database.” She speaks at conferences such as the National Genealogical Society, Roots Tech, Federation of Genealogical Societies, and others.

Black Migration Patterns

During her July 28 webinar, Wilkins noted that before 1910 almost 90 percent of African Americans lived in the rural South. In the first Great Migration of Blacks between 1910 and 1930, some 1.6 million Blacks moved North for better social and economic conditions.

She explained that their destination was influenced by several factors: friends and neighbors; railroad routes, and “step migration,” the act of stopping along the way to earn enough money to continue the journey.

Major industries and employers for Black migrants, she said, were meatpacking and railroad industries in Illinois; steel mills in Indiana; auto companies in Michigan; rubber and tire in Ohio, and brewing in Wisconsin.

Recommended Books on Black Migration Experience

For books on the Black migration experience, Wilkins recommends the following:

Dodson, Howard, and Slviane A. Diouf. In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2004.
http://www.inmotionaame.org/

Flanders, Stephen A. Atlas of American Migration. New York, NY: Facts On File, 1998.

Ginzburg, Ralph. 100 Years of Lynchings. Baltimore, MD: Black Classic Press, 1962.

Lemann, Nicholas. The Promised Land: The Great Black Migration and How It Changed America. New York, NY: Random House, 1991.

Marks, Carole. Farewell – We’re Good and Gone: The Great Migration. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1989.

Wilkerson, Isabel. The Warmth Of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration. New York, NY: Random House, 2010.

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By Lillian Williams

We loved those family stories that our mothers whispered in our ears. Years later, those stories gave us solace in times of need. They clarified our identities. They provided platforms of strength in the face of unexpected storms.

Understand that we can preserve those stories, and our broader family histories, for future generations. Though not always easy, steps to preserve those histories are well worth the effort.

Make A Lasting Record

Here’s the deal. In addition to oral histories, government and historical records may help you to document your ancestry. Make certain that you maintain a list of all the sources used in your research, including the name, title and date of publications. Sources might include census tracts, newspaper or journal articles, Freedmen’s Bureau records, county estate filings, and personal records. In my storytelling, for example, I will point to 1870 and 1880 census records, among other data, to establish my family’s ancestral trail.

Your finished product could take many forms: an article; a book; an online family history tree; a newsletter; a reunion booklet with photographs and text, or a documentary.

Do younger generations in your family express an interest in genealogy? If not, decades from now they might inquire about the family history. Leave a copy of your research findings with local institutions where they might later find your work. A family in my hometown, for example, donated personal papers to a local college, making the documents easily accessible for future generations.

Where To Donate Family History Research

Among other places, the U.S. Library of Congress accepts family history books for its vast library collection. Also, some local libraries, and historical societies, accept family history manuscripts. One family historian donated a research manuscript to her family’s Mississippi hometown library. Check with The Society of American Archivists for additional ways to donate, and preserve, copies of your family records.

Below is a list of genealogy websites with resources, including birth, death, marriage, census, slave databases, and more. To jumpstart your research journey, however, here’s another key step.

Family First

Interview your family members about their remembrances. We often overlook those right around us.

Start with the oldest family members. Use the names, places, and events gathered from these interviews as leads for your database research. Record these interviews. Later, you might want to use information from these interviews for a book, article, documentary, or in other ways.

Questions for Your Family Members

See “Steps to Creating Your Genealogy,” an article by genealogist Ann Lawthers. The article suggests questions for family history interviews. Tailor the questions to fit your research needs.

Check out the following genealogy websites:

FamilySearch.org

Afrigeneas.com

Chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

FamilyTreeMagazine.com

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