The Committee has not been able to locate an image of Dwight Wilson, Fisk University archivist and the first African-American to chair a SAA Committee. Fisk University does not have an image.

Can anyone help? Wilson was a professor at Morris Brown in 1935-1936, but the yearbook for that year has not been located.  Has a copy slipped in to your collection?

Mr. Wilson attended Kitrell College, Shaw University and Howard University and a member of the Allied Forces Records Administration during WWII. His obituary from the American Archivist can be found here http://archivists.metapress.com/content/a0v2744223598546/fulltext.pdf

Anyone with any information on the location of the yearbook for 35-36 or who may have a photo of Mr. Wilson, please comment on the blog so that we can forward the information to the SAA Committee.

Thanks!

In Search of Your African American Roots – An introduction to research methods and sources for African American and Cape Verdean family research. Topics include Collecting Family Traditions and Records, Researching Pre-Civil War Records for Enslaved and Free Persons of Color. Participants will learn about websites, databases and digital collections for researching African American families. Our speaker will be genealogist Mary Blauss Edwards of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Ms. Edwards has degrees from Brown University and Northeastern University. Her interests include New England genealogy, African American genealogy, Boston Irish, and gravestones and cemeteries.  This program is in collaboration with the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

RSVP: 617-725-0022 ext. 14 or rsvp@maah.org

You can read the entire story here at FamilyTreeMagazine:
#mce_temp_url#

In addition to the article are some informative links for help with researching your African American ancestors.

If you are going to be in the Kansas City area at the end of this month, check out the Family History Expo being held July 30-31 at the KCI Expo Center.  The exhibit hall is free and open to the public.  At $65 for the weekend — this is the best value in genealogy!

Family History Expos is making its debut in the U.S. Midwest right in Kansas City, Missouri! We knew this would be important news to you so we’re spreading the word in hopes you will too.

KCI Expo Center Hosts First Midwest Expo

The exciting Midwest Family History Expo will take Missouri by storm with a special feature tour on Thursday, July 29 and two full days of sharing and learning July 30-31 at the KCI Expo Center [http://www.kciexpo.com/], 11730 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, Missouri.

Yes, it’s really happening! Learn all about the Midwest Family History Expo and get full details including an agenda, program and syllabus at www.fhexpos.com/expos.

Join Our Feature Tour

We are particularly excited about this event because it will be preceded by the LDS Historic Sites Tour, Thursday, July 29, 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

This eight-hour tour will take you back in time to experience history at historically significant sites like these:

• Mormon Church in Independence, Missouri’s newly remodeled center honoring the past and the present, with exhibits depicting experiences of Mormon settlers in Missouri between 1831 and 1839
• Community of Christ Temple
• Liberty Jail
• Far West
• Haun’s Mill
• Adam-ondi-Ahman

The cost of the tour, $65, is in addition to registration for the Expo. Please register separately for the tour at our website above.

Spread the Word!

Your family history and genealogy network will thank you for sharing this important information with them. Please feel free to forward this invitation to society members, friends, business associates and anyone interested in family history research—beginners to sage professionals!

Register Right Now

No, it’s not too late to register! Register online right now (www.fhexpos.com/expos). Register by phone (call 801-829-3295) before 6 p.m. Thursday, July 29, and save $10 off the price of at-the-door registration.

This is the best educational opportunity you will find at bargain prices:

• Pre-registration (by Thursday, July 29, 6 p.m.): $65.00
• At the door: $75
• One day: $40
• Single class: $12
• Opening session and exhibits are FREE to the public
• LDS Historic Sites Tour, Thursday, July 29: $65 (in addition to the general cost of registration)

Plan Your Family History Experience

Please plan to join us for the LDS Historic Sites Tour on Thursday, July 29, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On Friday, July 30, a.m. enjoy a keynote address, Finding Your Family: Turning the Spotlight on Resources from the National Archives at Kansas City, by Lori Cox-Paul, Director National Archives at Kansas City, to be held in the exhibit hall classroom.

You’ll Love our Midwest Family History Expo Syllabus

A free CD copy of the syllabus is included with each full or single day registration. You can also get a printed syllabus in book format for $25 but order early, supplies are limited.

We look forward to seeing you at the Midwest Family History Expo. Please extend this invitation to your members/patrons. This Expo is suitable for all levels of genealogy experience and promises to be FUN and educational for all.

Register at www.fhexpos.com/expos or call 801-829-3295 today.

May 5, 2010 — On Saturday, June 26, the African American Cultural Forum, a brand new event taking place in downtown Hampton coinciding with the Afrikan American Festival, will welcome African Ancestry. The genetic genealogy company, based in Washington, DC, is known for using DNA to create “a vehicle to enable people of African descent to trace their ancestry back to their present-day African country of origin.” Afrikan Ancestry will conduct free genealogy and family tree seminars at the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina Hotel.

“We are very excited to welcome Gina Paige and Dr. Rick Kittles, co-founders of African Ancestry, to Hampton,” said African American Cultural Forum Committee member Pam Croom. “The duo is renowned for their work in DNA and genealogy. Our attendees are in for a very special treat.”

African Ancestry has been featured on several television programs, including Good Morning America, African American Lives on PBS, and VH1 Soul, as well as print publications like USA Today, Essence, and Black Enterprise. In addition, the company has also traced DNA for many African American celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Forrest Whitaker, Spike Lee, and Isaiah Washington.

The cost to attend the African Ancestry seminars is free. Those wishing to have their ancestry traced via DNA or have family trees researched can do so for an additional fee.

During the African American Cultural Forum, African Ancestry will unveil the DNA tests of esteemed Hampton resident Dr. Mary T. Christian. Dr. Christian, who began her academic career at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), later returned to the university as Director of the School of Education, rising to Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education, before retiring as professor emeritus. In 1985, Dr. Christian was the first African American and first female from Hampton to be elected to the state legislature, post Reconstruction. She served nine consecutive terms representing Virginia’s 92nd House District. The results of the Dr. Christian’s DNA test will be unveiled at 10:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 26 (during both African Ancestry sessions at the African American Cultural Forum).

The African American Cultural Forum takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina Hotel 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 26. Seminar topics include restoration of rights, gang awareness, family trees, and genealogy. Noted poet, author, and literary consultant Nathan Richardson is also scheduled to be in attendance, conducting seminars and workshops. All seminars and workshops are free. The event coincides with Afrikan American Festival, a Hampton 400th Anniversary Signature Event, happening that same weekend in nearby Mill Point Park.

For more information of African Ancestry, check outwww.africanancestry.com. For further information on the African American Cultural Forum, contact Pam Croom at 757/728-5173 or pcroom(at)hampton(dot)gov.

The following focus areas are offered as suggestions for session topics

·       African American History

·       Caribbean-American Research

·       African American Migration (varied)

·       Periods of War: Revolutionary War; Civil War; WWI; WWII;

·       African Americans in New England, Pre-Civil War

·       Use of Technology in research (Not product sales presentations)

·       Church/Religious History in the African American Experience

·       The Civil Rights Movement

·       Research methodologies (various levels)

·       State Specific Research Resources; Adoption Records

·       Local history, i.e. town histories; institutions; industrial history as it relates to the African American experience

·       Native American/African American experience

·       Blacks in the West;

The topics are merely suggestions. We are looking for presenters that have solidly researched their topic area, are able to inform a diverse audience and deliver insightful and enjoyable presentations.  Authors and possible candidates for keynote and general assembly gatherings may also submit their proposals.

Proposal Format:

I.             Session Title

II.            Name(s) of Session Presenters – indicate lead

III.          Research skill level of audience

IV.          Purpose/learning objective

V.            Session description- Provide narrative of information to be covered in the presentation  (This information will be included in the Conference Syllabus).

VI.          Include presenter(s) biographical information.

VII.         Include list of resources and/or bibliography.

VIII.       AV Requirements (this must be included in your initial proposal):

Please indicate the type of audio/visual equipment that will be required for your presentation. Examples:

§      I will be using Power Point for my presentation. I will bring my own laptop, but will need a projector

§      I will use Power Point and will provide my own equipment

§      I am using Power Point and will need a laptop, and projector from AAHGS.

Finally indicate if you need an overhead projector, slide projector, TV/VCR, DVD, flip chart, portable sound system, microphone, table or podium.

Considerations:

1.     All presenters agree to participate at their own expense. A token of appreciation is offered, however it does not cover conference costs. Please take this into consideration before submitting or agreeing to participate.

2.     Session materials, bios, etc will be included in the Conference Syllabus.

Proposals must be received no later than 30 July 2010 and should not exceed 12 pages.  Proposals must include  all required information, including: your complete name; email address; telephone number(s); and postal mail address.   Notice of acceptance or rejection will be sent by 15 August 2010.

Presenters may submit proposals via postal mail or by email.  Material submitted via email must be in Microsoft^® Word format. Proposals submitted via email should be sent to <info@aahgs.org> with “2010 AAHGS Conference” in the subject line.  Proposals submitted by postal mail should be sent to: AAHGS 2010 Annual Conference, PO Box 73067, Washington, D.C. 20056.

For additional information or with questions about the submission requirements, contact: Jerry Hynson, AAHGS Vice President of History, at <jerryhyn@copper.net>.  Do not email conference proposals to Jerry’s email address; send proposals to <info@aahgs.org> with “2010 AAHGS Conference” in the subject line.

In the inaugural issue of The Black Genealogist Tim reviews the book  Here I Lay My Burdens Down: A History of the Black Cemeteries of Richmond, Virginia.  You will have to judge for yourself, but I know I want to read it. Black Newspaper Notes doesn’t disappoint either — the ezine is loaded with links to sites containing black newspapers as well as explaining why you should visit them.  An article at the bottom reviews the Indianapolis Freeman and particularly its stories on the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers which details the types of genealogical and social history information found in these newspapers that really puts the flesh on the bones of your ancestors while in many cases giving you a family structure.  Fascinating.

You can find out more about Tim and sign up for his publications here:

http://www.blackcoalminerheritage.net/

Welcome to Afriquest, the free online database for records of African American genealogy and history. Afriquest is a place to share and preserve documents, images and family oral history. Every document, image or story you add to Afriquest will be preserved and will remain free to access, for generations to come.

Everything you share here belongs to you – you may edit your content or remove it at any time. Welcome to YOUR Afriquest: The People’s Archive!

I thought the initial concept was like a wiki, but it appears that the site reviews what is submitted for publication prior to posting.

Has anyone used this site?  I like the basic premise.  Check it out for yourself at www.afriquest.com

http://www.africanaheritage.com/Eleanors_Links.asp

Check it out and let me know what you think.