AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH CHALLENGING
(Please be aware this post was written in 2003 and published at that time in the Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas) newspaper. Some of the news in this post, therefore, may not be current. Current and future posts on this blog may revisit and update news on this and other posts on this blog. If you have questions and/or suggestions, please send Mic a note using the comment page -Don’t forget to use the orange “subscribe” button to receive new posts-Thanks, Mic)
The myth that African Americans can not conduct genealogical research is just that, a myth. In reality African American genealogical research can be daunting and a real challenge but it is not impossible. It is becoming more and more common to see books and articles published in genealogical journals extending African American lineages back to 1800 or well into the American colonial era.
A reference book that anyone conducting African American research will find invaluable is James M. Rose and Alice Eichholz’ updated book, Black Genesis: A Resource Book for African American Genealogy. This book is available for $28.45, postpaid, from the Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Black Genesis contains chapters on important dates in U.S. African American history; oral history; federal and military records pertaining to African Americans; African American migratory patterns and slavery.
The bulk of the book, however, is a survey of record types found on the state and local level pertinent to African American research. Each state is listed alphabetically with the following formatted categories: important dates; state archives’ address, website, hours, etc; census records; state and county records; cemetery and church records; military records; newspapers; manuscript sources such as personal papers, slave records and diaries; internet resources; research contacts; and bibliography.
In addition to traditional genealogical research there is now the scientific and genetic approach to research using DNA. In April the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation aired a documentary called Motherland .
The goal of the Motherland project was to trace the roots of Black Britons back to Africa. The only criterion of volunteers to participate in the project was that each participant have four grandparents of African Caribbean origin.
DNA testing was conducted on each of the volunteers and compared to a database already in place having DNA haplotypes, which are DNA characteristic criteria, for the various tribal groups of Africa. The DNA of the male participants was tested for the male Y-Chromosome which is passed down from father to son to son to son and the women were tested for Mitochondrial DNA which is passed down from the mother to daughter to daughter to daughter.
The results of the study revealed that on average one in four British African Caribbean men have a Y-Chromosome that traces back to Europe rather than Africa. In comparison only 2% of the women taking the test traced their female ancestry back to Europe.
In addition to the DNA study BBC offered three of the Motherland Project participants with interesting stories a trip to Africa to find their roots. BBC followed along documenting their experiences. Readers who would like to read more about this interesting study and the experiences of the participants should go to the following website http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/dna_detectives/african_roots/index.sht ml .
SELLERS SPEAKS AT THE ALAMO
Popular lecturer John Sellers of Hopkins County will speak on History’s Role in your Genealogical Pursuits at the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library’s third Family History Seminar. The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, June 27, in Alamo Hall, on the grounds of the Alamo.
Sellers’ presentations will centralize on genealogical research and social history, newspaper research, evidence in vital records and genealogical evidence found in census records.
Registration for the seminar is $35. Checks may be sent to the DRT Library Committee at P.O. Box 1401, San Antonio, Texas, 78295-1401. Seating is limited, therefore, pre-registration is advised. For more information visit the DRT Library website at http://www.drtl.org, call 210.225.1071 or email drtl@drtl.org.
FGS MEETS IN ORLANDO
Each year the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the FGS, holds a national conference somewhere in the United States. This year the FGS will meet in Orlando, Florida from Wednesday September 3 through Saturday September 6 . The conference will feature over 200 lectures delivered by 95 top-notch genealogical speakers and 150 booths representing over 100 different societies and dealers exhibiting their genealogical wares.
Classes on Wednesday feature lectures and discussion groups relevant to all facets of running a genealogical society. Classes from Thursday to Saturday cater to one’s individual genealogical research. Tracts of classes include: the British Isles & Europe; Exploration in the United States & Canada; Focus on Florida; Ethnic & Religious Research; Research Skills & Strategies; Genealogical Records Research and Methodology; and Technology & the Internet.
To learn more about this fabulous organization, the conference, prices, classes and exhibitors visit the FGS website at http://www.fgs.org .
