Melvin Collier’s powerful new book, From Fragments to Foundation: Uncovering a Buried History of Tragedy and Triumph, is officially out. When I received my book, I asked my son to answer the door for trick-or-treaters, grabbed a hot tea, and curled up with the good read I knew it would be. Melvin does not disappoint […]
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Category: Writing Your History
Two New Books Worth Your Time
Genealogists and historians Noreen J. Goodson and Donna Tyler Hollie have recently published “Through the Tax Assessor’s Eyes: Enslaved People, Free Blacks and Slaveholders in Early Nineteenth Century Baltimore.” This book is a welcome addition to the historiography of early Baltimore history and takes its rightful place aside works by Ralph Clayton, Barbara Jeanne Fields […]
Why We Need To Cite Our Sources
Sometimes it can seem as if there is a civil war going on in the genealogical community. After we start researching our families, at some point we hear about the necessity of source citations. Once we figure out exactly what they are, some of us think, “That looks complicated. I don’t have time to do […]
Slavery Studies
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 […]
Estate Inventories: Peek Into Their Live...
For those doing African-American research, antebellum estate inventories are commonly used to find enslaved ancestors. But all genealogists should make it a regular practice to examine all the items in an inventory. This practice will help us understand our ancestor’s day-to-day lives. Scrutinizing inventories can provide many interesting little details to make a written family […]
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 […]
Extension Service Records
I recently got a chance to view some pretty cool records. Claire Prechtel-Kluskens gave a lecture on Agriculture Extension Service Reports last year at the NARA Fair. After her lecture, I knew I needed to look at them. Extension Service Records Starting around the turn of the century, the Dept. of Agriculture decided to provide […]
Ideas for Writing Your Family History
I discussed the importance of writing your family history awhile ago. This topic is one I feel very strongly about and I constantly impart to other genealogists. It is so important that we tell the stories of our families. Here are a few more ideas for jump starting the writing of your family history. These […]
Historic Trust Inventories: Search the L...
The image above is from the Inventory of Historic Properties, which is a part of the Maryland Historical Trust. (UPDATE, 9/21/2018: the website has changed in appearance) My cousin Jahrod shared this website with me and it is a goldmine: it contains digitized original applications from historic places in Maryland. Maryland Historic Inventories At the site, […]