As I have researched more and more enslaved ancestors, I have become more immersed in researching the history of slavery. I have learned so much. Most genealogists are not professional historians. But we can benefit from being familiar with some of the evolution in slavery studies. I encourage anyone researching enslaved people to read at […]
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Category: African-American History
These posts refer to particular events in African-American history.
The Fleet Family of Washington, D.C.
Sometimes our research veers off into an unexpected direction.That happened to me with the Fleet family. Usually its because we come across a person or circumstance that is of interest. My 3rd great-grandfather, Perry Simpson, married a woman named Margaret Fleet. Her family is fascinating, even though she technically is not a blood relative. After […]
Researching Free Blacks
There is a good probability that many of us researching African-American families will find at least one line that was freed before 1865. A Brief History In 1860, there were over 400,000 free blacks in the U.S. This map (from the Schomburg migrations website) shows the numbers of free blacks in each state: Although Northern […]
The Schomburg and Black Migrations
The Domestic Slave Trade transported over 1 million people to the Deep South and West. This internal trade separated families on an even larger scale than did the African Slave Trade a century earlier. We can learn more about this trade at the Schomburg’s Migrations website. It also includes information about all of the other migrations […]
The Artifacts of Our History: Part 2
I enjoyed those who shared their family artifacts- they were all wonderful! I’ve got to share just a few more of my favorites. Education & Photography My dad attended Howard University and for awhile wrote a column in the school paper, The Hilltop. It’s nice to look into the twenty-something mind that would later become […]
The Artifacts of Our History: Part 1
Artifacts are those items passed down within our families. Pictures and bibles are artifacts. But military papers, diplomas, letters, awards, and even quilts are also good examples. I wanted to post some of the wonderful artifacts from my family. Each has expanded my understanding of their lives and communities. Maybe this post will inspire you […]
Legacy of the Rosenwald Schools
The Rosenwald Rural School Building Program was one of the most amazing things I learned while on my genealogical journey. It illustrates how the efforts of a few visionary people can have results that positively affect hundreds of thousands. This story should be in high school history textbooks everywhere. Background Julius Rosenwald made a fortune […]
What You Didn’t Know About Slavery
OK, I confess that blog title is a little sensationalized. Much of this information becomes well-known to researchers of African-American families over the years. Family research turns many of us into walking, talking, beacons of history. It is an endlessly fascinating subject: epic, tragic and but often inspiring. Points to Remember Nevertheless, here are […]
Black Farmers
I was at the Reginald Lewis Museum in Baltimore recently, presenting my first lecture on using land records effectively. The Lewis museum is dedicated to Maryland’s African-American history. So, I wanted to focus not just on genealogical research, but also the unique history between land and African-Americans. That history starts with the failure of Reconstruction to […]
Slave Housing
I’ve been pondering lately how we need to reconsider how our enslaved ancestors lived. We need to think more about the physical dimensions of that space. Not long ago I posted a recommendation for a book called “Back of the Big House.” This book tells the stories of these homes well and encouraged me to […]