African-American Research Has Special Challenges
‘There is a hunger in all of us to know our roots,” said author Alex Haley. If that is true - and I believe it is - then genealogy is a hobby that can be enjoyed by anyone willing to dig deep to discover those roots.
In past columns, I have discussed dozens of resource items for folks with English, Irish, Scottish, Welch, Italian, Spanish, Greek or Native American ancestry. Today I have good resources for those with African-American roots.
No matter where your family lived 100 or more years ago, all genealogists begin in an identical way.
“First the Family,” is genealogy rule No. 1 for everyone. Talk to your family, ask questions, ask about old photos and family stories - then begin to dig into your ancestor’s official records.
Those with African-American ancestry are caught in a dilemma different from most researchers. If they are “lucky,” their Southern roots-searching will lead them to a white plantation owner whose records could be quite easy to trace for at least one side of their lineage.
In mid-October, a short article ran in the newspaper on Gen. Colin Powell, a fifth-generation Jamaican. Seems that Sir Eyre Coote (1762-1823), while Lt. Gov. of Jamaica, had a child by one of his slaves who became Powell’s ancestor. Sir Eyre’s lineage is well documented by Burke’s Peerage in England.
The Genealogy Section of the downtown Spokane Public Library has items of specific interest to those tracing African-American history, including Charles L. Blockson’s “Black Genealogy”; there are also magazine articles on beginning black genealogy in the vertical file.
So, a visit to the Genealogy Section is a great way to start your search. You might want to visit on a Thursday when volunteer helpers from the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society are there for assistance.
The African American Genealogical Research Institute (AAGRI) was founded in 1993 to help blacks trace their ancestry. This group, which is building a research library, has the National Surname Registry and Index and a helpful newsletter which publishes queries and lists new research guides in its Book Shelf section. Write to AAGRI, P.O. Box 637, Matteson, IL 60443-6370, for more information.
A parallel organization is the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. Headed by Barbara D. Walker, this organization publishes AAHGS News, a firstclass, multi-page newsletter.
A recent issue carried announcements of upcoming conferences of specific interest to blacks, snips of history involving black Americans, opportunities for historical archaeology, archival records of specific interest, queries and how-to articles.
The best feature is its new resources section, highlighting new records’ collections being cataloged and new, available books.
One cited source was a new CD-ROM disc, “Index to Black Periodicals,” compiled by G.K. Hall, and available at the New York Public Library. (It costs $895, so I doubt many will want to purchase it, but isn’t it nice to realize somebody has done such an index?) More than 100,000 citations provide complete bibliographic information on books, films, manuscript collections, artwork and much more - all by and about people of African origin. Membership in AAHGS ($25 per year) includes the newsletter. Send your check to AAHGS, Inc., P.O. Box 73086, Washington D.C., 20056-3086.
The California African American Genealogical Society (CAAGS), P.O. Box 8442, Los Angeles, CA 90008, was founded to encourage and support the use of genealogy as a tool for African-Americans to become aware of their history, encourage the collection and preservation of African-American genealogical materials and stimulate members to study, research and record their family histories.
For $11 they offer a CAAGS Society Surname Directory, a listing of surnames being researched by members and a “Beginning Black Genealogy” how-to book for $7.
I would be happy to organize a beginner’s class on African-American family history, which could meet at the downtown library. Please write to me c/o this newspaper if you are interested in such a class, and be sure to include your phone number. For a stamped, self-addressed envelope, I will send you a two-page bibliography, “African-American Genealogy,” published in 1991 in the Dallas Genealogical Society newsletter.
Today’s laugh
Two new classes for genealogists might just be (according to Desmond Walls Allen, nationally known genealogical author and lecturer), “How to Write the Stories to Go Along with the Facts,” and “How to Write the Facts to Go Along with the Stories.”
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The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review