Advanced African-American Genealogy Class

November 2012

It’s that time again! I will be teaching my “Advanced African-American Genealogy Class” at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD. The class is 4 weeks, one night a week (Tuesday) May 21-June 11 from 7-9pm, and I hope those in the local DC/MD Metro area will consider coming.

The class is geared for those who have gone past census and vital records, and perhaps are at a stalemate in their research. In the class I cover:

Evidence Analysis
Source Citation
Land and Probate Records
Slave Research
Inferential and Cluster Research

The class is $79 and you can register online here under the Non-Credit link. The class code is XE-131-6655. Directiosn to the Gateway Campus building can also be found on the HCC website. Please register soon–they cancel the class if they don’t get enough students before the class is scheduled. We have a great time in the class and I enjoy teaching it.

On another exciting note, I recently got to meet the wonderful Isabel Wilkerson, author of one of my favorite books, The Warmth of Other Suns. I told her–and this is true–I am her NUMBER ONE fan! She gave a lively talk to a room of about 400 people, and I stood in line until 10pm to get my books signed! She was gracious and kind and took her time to speak with everyone. If you still haven’t read the book that everyone is raving about, RUN and get it. Both the story and her writing of the story combine for a glorious read. I’m trying to learn how to write like that!

With Isabel Wilkerson

The Warmth of Other Suns

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Hot Posts and Genealogy Class

I recently updated my list of favorite posts, and it is located on the tab above entitled “Hot Posts.” I have broken the topics up by the areas of Methodology, Slave Research, and Records & Resources. I hope you’ll check out the list and let me know what were some of your favorite “Reclaiming Kin” posts. I invite you to explore the numerous other excellent African-American themed genealogy blogs I provide links to on the bottom right of the home page.

Also, one last call for the Advanced African-American Genealogy class I will be teaching that starts next week, Nov. 13 and runs every Tuesday night from 7-9 through Dec. 4 at Howard Community College, Gateway Campus in Columbia. In this class (aimed at the Intermediate or Advanced level researcher) I explain evidence evaluation and analysis, land, estate, and court records, slave research, cluster genealogy methods and more. If interested, you can sign up on the HCC website and register for the class. The class is a part of the Non-Credit courses, and has become something I really enjoy teaching. I’ve you’re in the local area and think you’re “stuck” in your research, do come out.

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Walter Hughes Family Bible: Maysville, KY

This is the kind of story that just makes you feel good all over. About 12 years ago, my aunt presented me with a very old bible that was found in my grandparent’s house in Dayton, Ohio. When my grandfather passed away, my aunt and mother were cleaning out the house, and happened to find it. My aunt knew I was into genealogy, so to me it went. The bible had been time worn, and was falling apart.

Although I couldn’t find a publication date, I’d guess it dates from the turn of the century. It contained a few obituaries cut from newspapers, and several pages of assorted of births, deaths and marriages (some from the 1800s). That information is hard to come by, and would be  solid gold for that family.  Historic surnames listed in the bible include Morton and Grey (in addition to Hughes). The bible clearly at one time belonged to Walter Louis Hughes (b. 1912) and his wife Emma (Lee), who were from Maysville, Kentucky, located in Mason County:

Walter & Emma Hughes

Births

Walter’s parents were Walter Hughes Sr. and Bertie (maiden name unknown). Walter had migrated with his wife and children from Kentucky to Dayton, Ohio, and probably lived in the house my grandparents eventually bought, or one of the houses they owned. Walter and Emma had a large family—I counted at least 10 children in the Bible (Goldie, Mary, Emma, Ruth, Walter III, William, Joyce, Audrey, Michael, and Trenia). Walter’s obituary was cut out & placed in the bible:

Walter Hughes Jr. Obit

At that time, online resources were few. Afrigeneas was one of the first major sites to focus on African-American centered genealogy and using Afrigeneas, I posted my information looking for these families. Amazingly, I got an email back from Mary, whose mother was from Maysville and a Hughes cousin in this family. She was thrilled and excited. Her mother is also involved in preserving Maysville African-American history.

After that, I dropped the ball. I don’t know what happened. Probably just the stuff of life, but nothing else happened. A few months ago, while preparing for a renovation, I came upon the Bible again, buried deeply in my basement. Fortunately, I had printed out the email from Mary and placed it in the box, but that was from 2002. I called the numbers, feeling awful about not having sent it when I had the chance.

But as the spirits would have it, Mary’s phone numbers were the same! I called and she remembered our correspondence all those years ago. I absolutely believe the spirits have a hand in it when something like this happens. I sent the Bible immediately, because I know if that were about my family, I’d just about die to have it. I also digitized the pages. Even though the Bible is not in the immediate family (i.e., one of Walter & Emma’s children), I feel really good that is within the extended family and back in Kentucky where it belongs. I wanted to post it here just in case any of Walter or Emma’s descendants decide to do an internet search one day on their family.

Just because I couldn’t resist, I looked up Walter and Emma and found them in Kentucky in the early 1900s.

Walter and Emma, 1940

Walter and Emma, 1930

Walter with Parents, 1920

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Prather Line Passages

One line of my family has sadly lost three members within the past nine months. Stanley Prather passed away last year on July 16, 2011, at the age of 87.

He was a vibrant, generous and caring man, and he is actually shown in the “Reclaiming Kin” montage above, fourth from the left standing in the back. I love the picture of him below as a young man holding his trumpet:

Stanley Prather

Kevin Johnson (Stanley’s nephew) passed away on August 6, 2011, far too soon. He was remembered by all always with a smile on his face.

Kevin Johnson

Theodore

 

 

At 97, our oldest family member, Theodore Prather passed away this Monday, March 5, 2012. I was fortunate to have done a lengthy video interview with Theodore about five years ago (picture on left). His mind was sharp and he shared valuable family history and many memories of our family with me. I enjoyed the many conversations we had.

Below is a photo of Theodore and his lovely wife, Theresa, on their wedding day (taken by the famed Washington D.C. Scurlock photography studio):

 

 

Theodore and Theresa

 

 

Fortunately, we were able to gather together for a large Prather family reunion in 2009. All three were proud family men who left legacies of love and joy to their communities, wives, children, and siblings, and all are deeply missed. They have crossed over to the Ancestor world, and I honor their memories and thank God for their presence here on Earth.

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Wellington Waters, Rest In Peace

Skip

My favorite cousin in the entire world passed away this past Monday, April 26, 2010 from pancreatic cancer. He was 58 years old.

Skip, as he was called, was an amazing person and all week I’ve reflected on just how lucky I was to have known him in my life.  He overcame a string of huge obstacles late in life. He was forever shaped by his experiences and the wisdom he had as a result of it made you understand how even the rough parts of life can serve a positive end.

He was a computer guru and talented graphics artist who ran his own very successful company  (Waters Edge Grafixx) doing work for everyone from the NAACP to the Ludacris Foundation. He created incredible artwork in almost every medium and he was always an artist first and foremost. He was a budding photographer and spent hours with my dad taking informal lessons and posting his pictures on Flickr.

Skip

Skip was funloving and hilarious, brilliant beyond belief and loved his family. Have you ever met someone who could talk in depth about every subject–politics, history, religion, psychology, etc.? Well, that was Skip. He was one of those people you wanted everyone you knew to meet. I will miss most our 2-3 hour conversations late at night about everything under the sun and his genius in everything related to technology. I will always remember how his spirit handled this illness with calm reserve, graciousness and thoughtfulness.

We worked for several months last year on the booklet for our family reunion. Of course his graphics skills made it unlike any family program you’ve ever seen:

Reunion Cover

With typical genealogical focus, I stressed to him that we must get him on videotape talking about his amazing life. Luckily, my dad did it–and the result is a 2.5 hour conversation that will be treasured.

This is one of my favorite pictures of him posing with me and some of our other cousins, Aminah and Jamilah last October, 2009:

Cousins

My darling Skip, how glad I am that you are not in anymore pain. How happy and enriched my life is to have known you. You were a truly unique person whose depth of knowledge kept me in constant amazement. The impact you left in the hearts and souls of your family and friends will keep your memory alive and cherished always.

Wellington “Skip” Waters: Nov 13, 1951-April 26, 2010

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Happy 101 Award

I have been given the Happy 101 Award by none other than my favorite genea-buddies, Sandra, Michael, Renate and Mavis. I have been under the weather lately, tired alot and not at all feeling my normal happy genealogy self (which explains my dearth of postings), so this was something that put a much-needed smile on my face. My humble and gracious thanks to all of you.

The Award asks me to list 10 things that make me happy so here they go:

1. My life, family and friends. Even more so at times of tragedy like the current one in Haiti.
2. Doing genealogy and all the great people I’ve met in this endeavor.
3. Lying on any Caribbean beach.
4. Helping other people.
5. Cooking–I love to cook.
6. The sound that doves make. Reminds me of summers spent at my grandmother’s house as a child.
7. Getting any kind of massage or facial or spa treatment.
8. Watching movies and listening to classic music.
9. My two cats, Max and Roman and pretty much all animals.
10. Reading a good book.

And I will recognize simply my favorite blogs:

Georgia Black Crackers
Our Georgia Roots
I Never Knew My Father
Taneya’s Genealogy Blog
Into the Light
Find Your Folks
My Nola Heritage
African-American Genealogy Examiner
Geneablogie
Conversations with My Ancestors
Geneabloggers

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Aaron’s Ancestor Wall

I thought I’d show off my friend Aaron’s gorgeous ancestor wall. I have one too but it looks nowhere near as beautiful. Go ‘head, Aaron! The ancestors are watching.

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Genealogy Dreams and Goals

The holidays always get me even more reflective than usual, which is pretty hard to do for such an analytical person as myself. I was thinking the other day: in terms of my genealogy research , what would be my dream find or dream occurrence?

Of course, like all of you, you know there’s not just one. But here’s my list of what I would consider the answer to my genealogy dreams:

1. To discover where and when the slaveowner Giles Holt acquired my ancestor, Malinda.
2. To discover anything about the Georgia roots of my ancestor John Smith (arrgghhhh).
3. To connect with any living descendants of my John Smith and Walter Springer lines (beyond the very few that I personally know.)
4. To find out where, and possibly find the headstone of, my ggrandfather Daniel G. Waters.
5. To find a picture of my ancestor Margaret Barnes.
6. For closed record states not to exist.
7. For the ability to order FHC microfilm online, instead of having to go there in person.
8. For the Social Security Administration to have mercy on us po’ struggling genealogists, and cut us a discount on those SS5s.
9. For me to not have to still work full-time, and be able to spend all day researching, transcribing, compiling & meeting with my genealogy buddies.
10. For the fires that destroyed the 1890 census and the bulk of 20th century Army records to not have happened!
11. For more interest on the part of family members in preserving our precious family history.
12. For my two grandparents, Luther Holt & Pauline Waters, to magically come back to life so I could actually interview them about their families. Hey–we are dreaming right?

I also read an intriguing article in the NGS Magazine where the President called upon us to make a list of our genealogy goals for the year. So, while my dreams at the moment remain only that, I’d like to share my tangible goals for the year as well:

1. Publish at least 3 articles about my family in various journals and newsletters.
2. Finish adding complete source citations to my genealogy software program & my Ancestry online family trees.
3. Distribute the documented family history on at least 3 of my lines to the Library of Congress, the archives of that line’s state, the public library of the county and the county’s historical society. My descendants will find my work!
4. Contribute at least 3 bodies of work to the genealogical community to help others–abstracts, transcriptions, compilations, etc.
5. Continue to meet and encourage others to research & especially to publish our histories.

So…what are YOUR genealogy dreams and goals?

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Casefile Clues

In a previous post, I talked about the need to continue learning and developing our genealogical skills. Recently, I subscribed to Michael John Neill’s Casefile Clues. It’s been a good addition to my toolbox and I want to recommend his newsletter to others.

I’ve always been partial to case studies because I am able to learn best when  genealogical methodology is illustrated using a real-life scenario. Michael’s newsletter is subscription based: for $15/year, you get a casestudy every week. It is a well-written narrative that tackles diverse problems and includes source citations. Michael also talks about what to do next at the end of each study that I think is particularly helpful.

I was familiar with Michael’s work because I’ve read many of the articles he’s written for Ancestry over the years. I will say, I initially balked at paying because I pay so much for all of my subscription genealogy databases, as I’m sure we all do (except Aaron:). But I read so many terrific reviews of Casefile Clues, for example, Randy over at Genea-Musings, and Thomas at Geneabloggers, that I decided to give it a spin. I’m so glad I did. Michael is very responsive if you have any questions or comments about his case studies, which I think is wonderful. I find myself every week looking forward to the next issue.

So, think about checking out Casefile Clues. Honestly, $15 is nothing compared to what you get in return. If you email Michael, he’ll send you a free copy. And, I promise you I have no connection with this endeavor other than wanting to share good genealogy resources when I come across them.

If you do decide to subscribe, let me know what you think.

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Kreative Blogger’s Award: How Nice!

Oh Mavis (of Georgia Black Crackers), you made me BLUSH! I can’t thank you enough for including lil’ ol’ me in your selection for this award. I just was notified that Renate over at Into the Light bestowed upon me the same honor. Thank you ladies! It means so much to me that the random genealogy thoughts running around inside my head actually do provide good reading and support to others. We start these things and they sort of take on a life of their own. I was telling someone recently that there’s whole little world of bloggers that I now know, and although we’ve never met in person, it feels like we know each other deeply. I love that.

I’m simply flattered to have received this. The award comes with the responsibility to share 7 things about myself and then pass it on to 7 more bloggers.

Here goes:

1. Although I’m an engineer, I’m really an artist in my heart & spirit. I always wanted to be a writer and filmmaker & the fat lady hasn’t finished singing yet, so watch out.

2. I’m a terrific cook.

3. I am a voracious reader of all kinds of literature, a habit I have had since childhood. I just finished Nina Simone’s autobiography &  now I am reading “Why Evolution Is True.”

4. I started roller-skating when I was 13 years old, joined a skating team (yes, like in that movie ‘Roll Bounce’), and still love to skate even though I don’t get out as often as I used to.

5. I love movies and music. Especially old movies, and classic old-school R&B.

6. My sister, Alice Smith, is a singer.  Her wonderful CD, “For Lovers, Dreamers and Me” has been out a few years, she was nominated for a Grammy, her 2nd CD will drop soon and she tours all over the country. Check her out! You can find clips of her all over YouTube.

7. I’m extremely directionally challenged. If I didn’t have a GPS, I’d get lost going around the block;)

And I pass the torch to the following 6 blogs. I’m trying to spread the fire, so I’m attempting to name blogs that haven’t gotten one already and I could only pick 6:

1. The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation
2. The African American Genealogy Examiner
3. The Hope Chest
4. Genwriting
5. Virginia Family Tree Genealogy
6. John Brown Kin

I love this ! Let’s keep it going, family.

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