Charles Holman

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Charles Holman regarding the parents of his great-great grandmother who escaped slavery. Charles is the great-grandson of an enslaved person who in freedom became a civil rights leader and one of the first lawyers of color in his state.  Since that time nearly 150 years ago, civil rights has been a dedicated mission in Charles’ family as well as Charles’ personal calling

The Ones Who Got Away with Charles Holman

Ethan West

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Ethan West as he shares his research regarding his West ancestors (Dolph and Millie West), various research trips through Tennessee, and the powerful connections and relationships that evolved from his journey.  It is empowering to know your lineage and it is essential to understanding what needs to be done now and in the future. Everyone has a story!

One Man’s Journey to Discovering His Family Legacy with Ethan West

Kimberly Morgan

Akosua Moore

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Akosua Moore and Kimberly Morgan.Akosua Moore and Kimberly Morgan were two strangers brought together through genealogical and historical research. At the center of their connection is a man named Stephen Binyard, who is Moore's ancestor and is buried in Edgerly Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina. The two women met in person for the first time in 2014 and during this first encounter, they discovered that not only were they researching the same person but they also shared the same dream - to do genealogical research with Dr. Henry Louis Gates for "Finding Your Roots". Since then, not only has their research into Stephen Binyard uncovered a larger history about the lives of the formerly enslaved people buried in Edgerly Cemetery and who were once enslaved on Edgerly Plantation, but the two women have also realized their dream of working for "Finding Your Roots"!

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Akosua Moore and Kimberly Morgan. Akosua Moore and Kimberly Morgan were two strangers brought together through genealogical and historical research. At the center of their connection is a man named Stephen Binyard, who is Moore's ancestor and is buried in Edgerly Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina. The two women met in person for the first time in 2014 and during this first encounter, they discovered that not only were they researching the same person but they also shared the same dream - to do genealogical research with Dr. Henry Louis Gates for "Finding Your Roots". Since then, not only has their research into Stephen Binyard uncovered a larger history about the lives of the formerly enslaved people buried in Edgerly Cemetery and who were once enslaved on Edgerly Plantation, but the two women have also realized their dream of working for "Finding Your Roots"!

Genealogy, History and a Friendship Journey - Akosua Moore and Kimberly Morgan

Larae W. Baker

Join Janice &amp; Cherekana for a discussion with Command Master Chief (CMC), United States Navy, Larae Frazier Baker.CMC Baker was selected for the Command Senior Chief program and then selected for CMC in 2016. Several months later, she was chosen for CMC reporting onboard the USS Gravely (DDG 107), Norfolk, VA from 2016-2019. While assigned, she was deployed to the SIXTH Fleet AOR as the Standing NATO Maritime Group ONE (SNMG-1) Flag Ship in support of NATO partnerships. CMC Baker is currently serving onboard USS Arlington (LPD 24), Jacksonville, FL. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Work Force Education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Her decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), and various unit and campaign awards.

Join Janice &amp; Cherekana for a discussion with Command Master Chief (CMC), United States Navy, Larae Frazier Baker. CMC Baker was selected for the Command Senior Chief program and then selected for CMC in 2016. Several months later, she was chosen for CMC reporting onboard the USS Gravely (DDG 107), Norfolk, VA from 2016-2019. While assigned, she was deployed to the SIXTH Fleet AOR as the Standing NATO Maritime Group ONE (SNMG-1) Flag Ship in support of NATO partnerships. CMC Baker is currently serving onboard USS Arlington (LPD 24), Jacksonville, FL. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Work Force Education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Her decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), and various unit and campaign awards.

History Maker - Larae W. Baker, Command Master Chief, US Navy

Leslie Anderson

Join Hosts Janice and Cherekana of Speak On It ! with Leslie Anderson for a conversation about Stories from the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry.The 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry included free men, freedmen, freedom-seekers, and white officers from the United States and around the world. Who were they? Where did they come from? Where did they go? And what of those who didn’t survive? Many who returned to civilian life established families and contributed to their communities. Others struggled with debilitating injuries, madness, and broken hearts. This program examines the pre-and post-war lives of selected troops and officers by using pension applications and sources from local history. Learn about strategies and sources that you can apply to your research.Leslie Anderson, a native Virginian, is the owner of Anderson Historic Research, LLC, and a former reference librarian at Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections Branch. Named a Virginia Humanities Scholar in 2020, she won the 2013 NGS Family History Writing Contest. Her publications include, Virginia Slave Births Index, 1853-1865 (Project Editor), Alexandria (Co-author), and the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy. Leslie holds a Master of Science in Library Science, and her genealogical education includes GRIP, IGHR, and Gen-Fed. She’s a member of AAHGS, NGS, and VGS. She blogs at "1st U.S. Colored Cavalry: Private Lives, Public Records."

Join Hosts Janice and Cherekana of Speak On It ! with Leslie Anderson for a conversation about Stories from the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry. The 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry included free men, freedmen, freedom-seekers, and white officers from the United States and around the world. Who were they? Where did they come from? Where did they go? And what of those who didn’t survive? Many who returned to civilian life established families and contributed to their communities. Others struggled with debilitating injuries, madness, and broken hearts. This program examines the pre-and post-war lives of selected troops and officers by using pension applications and sources from local history. Learn about strategies and sources that you can apply to your research. Leslie Anderson, a native Virginian, is the owner of Anderson Historic Research, LLC, and a former reference librarian at Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections Branch. Named a Virginia Humanities Scholar in 2020, she won the 2013 NGS Family History Writing Contest. Her publications include, Virginia Slave Births Index, 1853-1865 (Project Editor), Alexandria (Co-author), and the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy. Leslie holds a Master of Science in Library Science, and her genealogical education includes GRIP, IGHR, and Gen-Fed. She’s a member of AAHGS, NGS, and VGS. She blogs at "1st U.S. Colored Cavalry: Private Lives, Public Records."

Stories from the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry with Leslie Anderson

Evelyn McDowell

Join Janice and Cerkana of Speak on It! for a discussion with Dr. Evelyn McDowell, chair of Rider University’s accounting department in Lawrenceville, NJ.  She co-chaired the task force who recommended the removal of the name “Van Cleve” from an 18th-century house on Rider University’s campus following the discovery that its namesake, Benjamin Van Cleve, supported slavery. Rider University removed the name “Van Cleve” from an 18th-century house on its campus following this discovery. McDowell is a founding board member of the National Society of the Sons &amp; Daughters of the United States Middle Passage, a lineage society that works to preserve the memory and history of slavery.

Challenging the Historical Narrative with Dr. Evelyn McDowell

Melvin Collier

Join hosts Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with Melvin J. Collier, Author, Genealogist, Presenter, and Blogger.  Melvin will share information regarding his website:  Roots Revealed and his book, 150 Years Later: Broken Ties Mended.Melvin J. Collier has been conducting historical and genealogical research for over 25 years, starting at the age of 19. He is a former civil engineer, who used his passion for African American history and historical preservation to foster a career change. He then earned a Master of Arts degree in African American Studies, Clark Atlanta University, in 2008, with additional graduate coursework in Archival Studies from Clayton State University.

Join hosts Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with Melvin J. Collier, Author, Genealogist, Presenter, and Blogger.  Melvin will share information regarding his website:  Roots Revealed and his book, 150 Years Later: Broken Ties Mended. Melvin J. Collier has been conducting historical and genealogical research for over 25 years, starting at the age of 19. He is a former civil engineer, who used his passion for African American history and historical preservation to foster a career change. He then earned a Master of Arts degree in African American Studies, Clark Atlanta University, in 2008, with additional graduate coursework in Archival Studies from Clayton State University.

Roots Revealed with Melvin Collier

Kathy Marshall

Join hosts Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with author, Kathy Marshall:  Lots of Roots investigation led Kathy Marshall on another thrilling journey into her family’s tangled historical past, finding black and white ancestors she’d never known, leading to places she’d never been, and uncovering secrets that did not want to be told.The family only knew that Grandpa Austin Marshall smoked sweet-smelling cigars, sported a white linen suit, jingled coins in his pockets, and was born in Columbus, Georgia. So how did he put his son through medical school on a Pullman porter’s salary? Marshall will share some of her research methodologies, which may help you find results too.

Join hosts Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with author, Kathy Marshall:  Lots of Roots investigation led Kathy Marshall on another thrilling journey into her family’s tangled historical past, finding black and white ancestors she’d never known, leading to places she’d never been, and uncovering secrets that did not want to be told. The family only knew that Grandpa Austin Marshall smoked sweet-smelling cigars, sported a white linen suit, jingled coins in his pockets, and was born in Columbus, Georgia. So how did he put his son through medical school on a Pullman porter’s salary? Marshall will share some of her research methodologies, which may help you find results too.

Lots of Roots with Kathy Marshall

Warren Eugene Milteer Jr

Color

Join host Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with Warren Eugene Milteer Jr, Assistant Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  We will discuss his new book, Beyond Slavery’s Shadow: Free People of Color in the South.Warren is also the author of North Carolina’s Free People of Color, 1715-1885 (LSU Press, 2020), the independently published Hertford County, North Carolina’s Free People of Color and Their Descendants (2016), as well as articles in the Journal of Social History and the North Carolina Historical Review. Milteer was the recipient of the Historical Society of North Carolina’s R. D. W. Connor Award in 2014 and 2016 for the best journal article in the North Carolina Historical Review.

Join host Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with Warren Eugene Milteer Jr, Assistant Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  We will discuss his new book, Beyond Slavery’s Shadow: Free People of Color in the South. Warren is also the author of North Carolina’s Free People of Color, 1715-1885 (LSU Press, 2020), the independently published Hertford County, North Carolina’s Free People of Color and Their Descendants (2016), as well as articles in the Journal of Social History and the North Carolina Historical Review. Milteer was the recipient of the Historical Society of North Carolina’s R. D. W. Connor Award in 2014 and 2016 for the best journal article in the North Carolina Historical Review.

Free People of Color in the South with Warren Eugene Milteer Jr.

Rodney Sam

Marie Senegal

Join hosts Janice and Cerekana of Speak On It! for a conversation with Rodney Sam about the Legacy: Marie Senegal - his African Ancestor.Marie is Rodney Sam's paternal 7th great-grandmother and the oldest known ancestor of African descent.  She was born in 1699 in Africa and was in the French colony of Louisiana by the 1720s. She is described as "Marie Senegal" and was emancipated out of slavery in 1769 by Andre Masse, an early French trader, and rancher, in Louisiana with her family. Rodney descends from her daughter, Marie-Flore, who was manumitted over a decade earlier.Rodney Sam is a graduate of Prairie View A&amp;M University. His family has deep Louisiana Creole roots that extend to the beginning of the colony. He is passionate about learning about the history, genealogy, and culture of his Louisiana Creole ancestors.

Join hosts Janice and Cerekana of Speak On It! for a conversation with Rodney Sam about the Legacy: Marie Senegal - his African Ancestor. Marie is Rodney Sam's paternal 7th great-grandmother and the oldest known ancestor of African descent.  She was born in 1699 in Africa and was in the French colony of Louisiana by the 1720s. She is described as "Marie Senegal" and was emancipated out of slavery in 1769 by Andre Masse, an early French trader, and rancher, in Louisiana with her family. Rodney descends from her daughter, Marie-Flore, who was manumitted over a decade earlier. Rodney Sam is a graduate of Prairie View A&amp;M University. His family has deep Louisiana Creole roots that extend to the beginning of the colony. He is passionate about learning about the history, genealogy, and culture of his Louisiana Creole ancestors.

Legacy: “Marie Senegal” My African Ancestor with Rodney Sam

Welcome to Research at the National Archives and Beyond. This show will provide individuals interested in genealogy and history an opportunity to listen, learn and take action. I offer a wonderful line up of experts who will share resources, stories and answer your burning genealogy questions. All of my guests share a deep passion and knowledge of genealogy and history.My goal is to reach individuals who are thinking about tracing their family roots; beginners who have already started and others who believe that continuous learning is the key to finding answers."Remember, your ancestors left footprints".

Its a gem of a program with far reaching topics and guests. The host is an absolute joy.

Gr8 podcast

Bernice has a great online personality and makes her shows fun and interesting!

Podcast Listener

Welcome to Research at the National Archives and Beyond. This show will provide individuals interested in genealogy and history an opportunity to listen, learn and take action. I offer a wonderful line up of experts who will share resources, stories and answer your burning genealogy questions. All of my guests share a deep passion and knowledge of genealogy and history. My goal is to reach individuals who are thinking about tracing their family roots; beginners who have already started and others who believe that continuous learning is the key to finding answers. "Remember, your ancestors left footprints".

Research at the National Archives and Beyond

Doreen J. Ketchens

Doreen's Jazz New Orleans is a group whose primary interest lies in spreading the culture and traditional music of New Orleans all over the world, through performances and education. Doreen Ketchens, the leader of the group, has been called "Queen Clarinet", "The female Louis Armstrong", and “Lady Louie” by critics who have heard her perform. She has performed with Ellis Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Trombone Shorty, Al Hirt, Dorothy Donagan, The Black Crows and Jennifer Warrens, to name a few. She has opened for such names as Macy Grey and Dr. John.Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans has represented New Orleans and the United States around the world, performing in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, South America, Central Asia and the United States. They have performed for four United States presidents, including Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr., Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. The band also boasts 23 volumes of CD’s and 3 DVD’s.In addition to being superb performers, Doreen and Lawrence are outstanding educators. They regularly perform in schools around the world, educating students of all languages, spreading the culture and music of New Orleans.www.doreensjazz.com

Doreen's Jazz New Orleans is a group whose primary interest lies in spreading the culture and traditional music of New Orleans all over the world, through performances and education. Doreen Ketchens, the leader of the group, has been called "Queen Clarinet", "The female Louis Armstrong", and “Lady Louie” by critics who have heard her perform. She has performed with Ellis Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Trombone Shorty, Al Hirt, Dorothy Donagan, The Black Crows and Jennifer Warrens, to name a few. She has opened for such names as Macy Grey and Dr. John. Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans has represented New Orleans and the United States around the world, performing in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, South America, Central Asia and the United States. They have performed for four United States presidents, including Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr., Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. The band also boasts 23 volumes of CD’s and 3 DVD’s. In addition to being superb performers, Doreen and Lawrence are outstanding educators. They regularly perform in schools around the world, educating students of all languages, spreading the culture and music of New Orleans. <a href="http://www.doreensjazz.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.doreensjazz.com</a>

Doreen's Jazz, History and Culture with Doreen J. Ketchens

Alvin Blakes

The Civil War Pension File of Philip McQuerter of Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi provides revealing information about his family.Alvin Blakes is a lifelong organizer and community worker who has been researching African history since he was a teenager, and has travelled to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and all over the United States to pursue his studies. He has researched his family’s history from Woodville, Mississippi back to the late 1700s in the Eastern US. He is a member of the Dallas Genealogical Society’s African American Genealogy Interest Group. He graduated with a Bachelors and Masters of Mechanical Engineering degree from Howard University’s School of Engineering.  Currently, he is the Manager of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Agency’s Bus Fleet Engineering Group.

The Civil War Pension File of Philip McQuerter of Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi provides revealing information about his family. Alvin Blakes is a lifelong organizer and community worker who has been researching African history since he was a teenager, and has travelled to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and all over the United States to pursue his studies. He has researched his family’s history from Woodville, Mississippi back to the late 1700s in the Eastern US. He is a member of the Dallas Genealogical Society’s African American Genealogy Interest Group. He graduated with a Bachelors and Masters of Mechanical Engineering degree from Howard University’s School of Engineering.  Currently, he is the Manager of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Agency’s Bus Fleet Engineering Group.

Civil War Pension File Reveals Valuable Family Information with Alvin Blakes

Andre Kearns

Andre Kearns's research comes from the perspective of an African American genealogy hobbyist. Advances in DNA testing offer African Americans the possibility of leapfrogging brick walls created by slavery to connect to ancestral roots by analyzing family history documented within DNA.  Andre will share strategies he’s used to advance his research as a hobbyist and highlight how he’s leveraged DNA testing to reveal white slave owning ancestors, uncover free people of color ancestors and re-connect family branches. Andre Kearns has deep roots in the American south and a passion for discovering new ancestors and learning their stories. An African American, he knew he descended from enslaved persons and likely slave owners which DNA analysis has helped confirm. Through his research he also discovered ancestors that were free people of color long before the civil war, Native American, and multi-racial persons. Discovering this ancestry has unlocked previously unknown rich aspects of American history. Andre is a genealogy hobbyist. By day he works in the business and technology world, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Business Administration from Morehouse College. His website www.Cumbofamily.com is where he regularly shares his research findings through blog posts. He also regularly blogs on Race, Culture, History and Genealogy at www.medium.com under the name Andre Kearns.

Andre Kearns's research comes from the perspective of an African American genealogy hobbyist. Advances in DNA testing offer African Americans the possibility of leapfrogging brick walls created by slavery to connect to ancestral roots by analyzing family history documented within DNA.  Andre will share strategies he’s used to advance his research as a hobbyist and highlight how he’s leveraged DNA testing to reveal white slave owning ancestors, uncover free people of color ancestors and re-connect family branches.  Andre Kearns has deep roots in the American south and a passion for discovering new ancestors and learning their stories. An African American, he knew he descended from enslaved persons and likely slave owners which DNA analysis has helped confirm. Through his research he also discovered ancestors that were free people of color long before the civil war, Native American, and multi-racial persons. Discovering this ancestry has unlocked previously unknown rich aspects of American history. Andre is a genealogy hobbyist. By day he works in the business and technology world, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Business Administration from Morehouse College. His website <a href="http://www.Cumbofamily.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.Cumbofamily.com</a> is where he regularly shares his research findings through blog posts. He also regularly blogs on Race, Culture, History and Genealogy at <a href="http://www.medium.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.medium.com</a> under the name Andre Kearns.

African American History Etched in My DNA with Andre Kearns

Drew Smith

Drew Smith is an Assistant Librarian with the USF Tampa Library, and is the 2016 winner of the Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship, presented by the National Genealogical Society. He is past president of the Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa, and has served on the boards of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the Florida State Genealogical Society. Drew is the author of the book Social Networking for Genealogists, is the co-author of the book Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques, and has written extensively for a number of genealogical print and online magazines. His latest book, Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher, was published in 2016.

Organize Your Genealogy with Drew Smith

Jason Lee

GEDmatch provides DNA and genealogical analysis tools for amateur and professional researchers and genealogists and most tools are free. You will need to upload autosomal DNA raw data to make use of their tools. Jason Lee, MD will walk the listeners through the basics of how to use the tools at Gedmatch.com to assist you in analyzing your DNA results.Jason Lee, MD has been a genetic genealogist for a little over 5 years. He is the administrator for the AncestryDNA Matching Facebook group and he blogs at DNA Genealogy. Jason Lee, MD  has also been a practicing physician for the last 11 years.

GEDmatch provides DNA and genealogical analysis tools for amateur and professional researchers and genealogists and most tools are free. You will need to upload autosomal DNA raw data to make use of their tools. Jason Lee, MD will walk the listeners through the basics of how to use the tools at <a href="http://Gedmatch.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gedmatch.com</a> to assist you in analyzing your DNA results. Jason Lee, MD has been a genetic genealogist for a little over 5 years. He is the administrator for the AncestryDNA Matching Facebook group and he blogs at DNA Genealogy. Jason Lee, MD  has also been a practicing physician for the last 11 years.

The Basics  of Gedmatch.com with Jason Lee, MD

Melissa Barker

Join Melissa Barker for a conversation about archiving and preserving records. Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian currently working at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives. She lectures, teaches and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in archives and records preservation. She conducts virtual webinar presentations across the United States for genealogical and historical societies. She writes a popular blog entitled A Genealogist in the Archives and is a well known Book Reviewer for the FGS Magazine FORUM and Utah Genealogical Association Magazine Crossroads. She writes a bi-weekly advice column entitled The Archive Lady published at Abundant Genealogy. She writes history pieces for her local newspaper The Houston County Herald called From the Archives. Her Professional Genealogy expertise is in Tennessee records and she is currently taking research clients. She has been researching her own family history for the past 30 years.

Join Melissa Barker for a conversation about archiving and preserving records.  Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian currently working at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives. She lectures, teaches and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in archives and records preservation. She conducts virtual webinar presentations across the United States for genealogical and historical societies. She writes a popular blog entitled A Genealogist in the Archives and is a well known Book Reviewer for the FGS Magazine FORUM and Utah Genealogical Association Magazine Crossroads. She writes a bi-weekly advice column entitled The Archive Lady published at Abundant Genealogy. She writes history pieces for her local newspaper The Houston County Herald called From the Archives. Her Professional Genealogy expertise is in Tennessee records and she is currently taking research clients. She has been researching her own family history for the past 30 years.

The Archive Lady - Melissa Barker

Angela Walton-Raji

Bernice Bennett welcomes Angela Walton-Raji for a discussion on the Challenges and Opportunities  in  African American Genealogy.Angela Walton-Raji is known nationally for her research and work on Oklahoma Native American records.  Her book Black Indian Genealogy Research, African Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes, is the only book of its kind focusing on the unique record sets pertaining to the Oklahoma Freedmen. A founding member of the well known AfriGeneas.com, webite, Ms. Walton-Raji is also a genealogist specializing in information for beginners, via daily and weekly online genealogy chats on AfriGeneas.com. She also serves as the host of a weekly genealogy podcast, The African Roots Podcast a number of instructional videos and has been used in recent years as a genealogical consultant on several video documentaries. Ms. Walton-Raji combines her skills as a genealogist with a warm on camera personality that brings comfort to her viewers through and her video channels on YouTube, while providing her viewers with useful information. Her African Roots TV, and Beginning Genealogist channels have both brought new insights to hundreds of viewers nationwide.

Bernice Bennett welcomes Angela Walton-Raji for a discussion on the Challenges and Opportunities  in  African American Genealogy. Angela Walton-Raji is known nationally for her research and work on Oklahoma Native American records.  Her book Black Indian Genealogy Research, African Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes, is the only book of its kind focusing on the unique record sets pertaining to the Oklahoma Freedmen.  A founding member of the well known <a href="http://AfriGeneas.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AfriGeneas.com</a>, webite, Ms. Walton-Raji is also a genealogist specializing in information for beginners, via daily and weekly online genealogy chats on <a href="http://AfriGeneas.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AfriGeneas.com</a>. She also serves as the host of a weekly genealogy podcast, The African Roots Podcast a number of instructional videos and has been used in recent years as a genealogical consultant on several video documentaries. Ms. Walton-Raji combines her skills as a genealogist with a warm on camera personality that brings comfort to her viewers through and her video channels on YouTube, while providing her viewers with useful information. Her African Roots TV, and Beginning Genealogist channels have both brought new insights to hundreds of viewers nationwide.

Challenges and Opportunities in African American Genealogy - Angela Walton-Raji

Karen Batchelor

Karen Batchelor will share the many unexpected twists and turns on her 40-year family history journey and how what she has learned from the past has changed her life.Karen started doing genealogy because of a New Year’s resolution in 1976 - before the Internet and computers. By 1977, she became the first known Black woman to be admitted for membership in Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Since then, Karen has discovered ancestors who were slaves and slaveowners, patriots and Puritans and even a colonial witch or two. Her family history in America goes back to the year 1630. With a background in the practice of law and over 40 years of experience as a genealogist, Karen founded Story Mountain LLC, where she helps others with family research. She specializes in colonial New England and the Revolutionary War era; preparation of lineage applications; and analysis of historic legal documents. In addition to her client work, Karen serves as a National Vice Chair of Lineage Research for DAR and is a certified instructor of guided autobiography.  Karen continues to research her own family history, making discoveries that have recently led to membership in five other hereditary societies. When not "hot on the trail" of the long-dead but not forgotten, Karen enjoys spending time with family and friends, knitting and has been known to dress up in 18th century clothing on occasion. She lives in a historic 1898 building in Midtown Detroit.

Karen Batchelor will share the many unexpected twists and turns on her 40-year family history journey and how what she has learned from the past has changed her life. Karen started doing genealogy because of a New Year’s resolution in 1976 - before the Internet and computers. By 1977, she became the first known Black woman to be admitted for membership in Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Since then, Karen has discovered ancestors who were slaves and slaveowners, patriots and Puritans and even a colonial witch or two. Her family history in America goes back to the year 1630.  With a background in the practice of law and over 40 years of experience as a genealogist, Karen founded Story Mountain LLC, where she helps others with family research. She specializes in colonial New England and the Revolutionary War era; preparation of lineage applications; and analysis of historic legal documents. In addition to her client work, Karen serves as a National Vice Chair of Lineage Research for DAR and is a certified instructor of guided autobiography.   Karen continues to research her own family history, making discoveries that have recently led to membership in five other hereditary societies. When not "hot on the trail" of the long-dead but not forgotten, Karen enjoys spending time with family and friends, knitting and has been known to dress up in 18th century clothing on occasion. She lives in a historic 1898 building in Midtown Detroit.

My Extreme Ancestry with Karen Batchelor

Judy G. Russell

Property Rights and Wrongs: African-Americans at the Courthouse with The Legal GenealogistFrom being treated as property to having their property stolen by those who used the law against the freedmen, African Americans' experience at the courthouse had only one bright spot: it created records for the genealogist-descendants.A Certified Genealogist with a law degree, The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell examines the interplay between genealogy and the law. She is a lecturer, educator and writer who enjoys helping others understand a variety of issues, ranging from using DNA in family history to the effect the law had on our ancestors’ lives and the records they left behind.A graduate of George Washington University and Rutgers School of Law-Newark, Judy is a Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side. She's a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and, among others, the state genealogical societies of New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas and Illinois. She has written for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the National Genealogical Society Magazine .

Property Rights and Wrongs: African-Americans at the Courthouse with The Legal Genealogist From being treated as property to having their property stolen by those who used the law against the freedmen, African Americans' experience at the courthouse had only one bright spot: it created records for the genealogist-descendants. A Certified Genealogist with a law degree, The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell examines the interplay between genealogy and the law. She is a lecturer, educator and writer who enjoys helping others understand a variety of issues, ranging from using DNA in family history to the effect the law had on our ancestors’ lives and the records they left behind. A graduate of George Washington University and Rutgers School of Law-Newark, Judy is a Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side. She's a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and, among others, the state genealogical societies of New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas and Illinois. She has written for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the National Genealogical Society Magazine .

Property Rights and Wrongs with Judy G. Russell

Sharon Batiste Gillins

RebroadcastPension Files of African Americans in the War of 1812We are natives of this country; we ask only to be treated as well as foreigners. Not a few of our fathers suffered and bled to purchase its independence; we ask only to be treated as well as those who fought against it. We have toiled to cultivate it, and to raise it to its present prosperous condition; we ask only to share equal privileges with those who come from distant lands to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Rev. Peter Williams, Jr. African American Episcopal Priest 1786 - 1840Genealogist Sharon Batiste Gillins will share the following information concerning African Americans in the War of 1812 files:

Rebroadcast Pension Files of African Americans in the War of 1812 We are natives of this country; we ask only to be treated as well as foreigners. Not a few of our fathers suffered and bled to purchase its independence; we ask only to be treated as well as those who fought against it. We have toiled to cultivate it, and to raise it to its present prosperous condition; we ask only to share equal privileges with those who come from distant lands to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  Rev. Peter Williams, Jr. African American Episcopal Priest 1786 - 1840 Genealogist Sharon Batiste Gillins will share the following information concerning African Americans in the War of 1812 files:

Pension Files of African Americans in the War of 1812 - Sharon Batiste Gillins

Michael Twitty

Host Bernice Bennett welcomes author, Michael W. Twitty for a discussion of his new book, The Cooking Gene - A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South.Michael W. Twitty is also the author of Afroculinaria a food blog. As a food writer, independent scholar, culinary historian, and historical interpreter, he is personally charged with preparing, preserving and promoting African American foodways and its parent traditions in Africa and her Diaspora and the legacy in the food culture of the American South. Michael is a Judaic studies teacher from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area and his interests include food culture, food history, Jewish cultural issues, African American history and cultural politics. Afroculinaria highlights and addresses the critical role of  food in the development and definition of African American civilization and the politics of consumption and cultural ownership that surround it.

Host Bernice Bennett welcomes author, Michael W. Twitty for a discussion of his new book, The Cooking Gene - A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South. Michael W. Twitty is also the author of Afroculinaria a food blog. As a food writer, independent scholar, culinary historian, and historical interpreter, he is personally charged with preparing, preserving and promoting African American foodways and its parent traditions in Africa and her Diaspora and the legacy in the food culture of the American South. Michael is a Judaic studies teacher from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area and his interests include food culture, food history, Jewish cultural issues, African American history and cultural politics. Afroculinaria highlights and addresses the critical role of  food in the development and definition of African American civilization and the politics of consumption and cultural ownership that surround it.

The Cooking Gene with Michael Twitty

Angela P. Dodson

Angela P. Dodson documents one of the longest, most hard-won struggles for civil rights in our country’s history. Her approach to this history is inclusive, detailing the contributions of activists from various movements, women and men, of different races, religions and politics who helped bring about the victory to secure the right to vote for women. She also documents women’s political gains since that milestone. This book, complete with beautiful photographs and illustrations, will help facilitate the conversation about how far women have come and where they are headed politically.Angela P. Dodson, CEO of Editorsoncall LLC.  and a contributing editor for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, has served as senior editor for The New York Times and executive editor of Black Issues Book Review. She has written and edited newspaper and magazine articles, feature stories and books. She is married to Michael I. Days, editor for reader engagement and vice president of Philadelphia Media Network, and author of “Obama’s Legacy: What He Accomplished as President.” They live in Trenton, NJ.  She is a graduate of Marshall University and earned a master’s degree at American University. As an editor, Angela has worked on such books as “n Charge: Finding the Leader in You, by Myles Munroe, He Is Risen: Reflections on Easter and the Forty Days of Lent, by Richard Abanes, and Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority”by Tom Burrell.

Angela P. Dodson documents one of the longest, most hard-won struggles for civil rights in our country’s history. Her approach to this history is inclusive, detailing the contributions of activists from various movements, women and men, of different races, religions and politics who helped bring about the victory to secure the right to vote for women. She also documents women’s political gains since that milestone. This book, complete with beautiful photographs and illustrations, will help facilitate the conversation about how far women have come and where they are headed politically. Angela P. Dodson, CEO of Editorsoncall LLC.  and a contributing editor for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, has served as senior editor for The New York Times and executive editor of Black Issues Book Review. She has written and edited newspaper and magazine articles, feature stories and books. She is married to Michael I. Days, editor for reader engagement and vice president of Philadelphia Media Network, and author of “Obama’s Legacy: What He Accomplished as President.” They live in Trenton, NJ.  She is a graduate of Marshall University and earned a master’s degree at American University. As an editor, Angela has worked on such books as “n Charge: Finding the Leader in You, by Myles Munroe, He Is Risen: Reflections on Easter and the Forty Days of Lent, by Richard Abanes, and Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority”by Tom Burrell.

Remember the Ladies with Angela P. Dodson

Barbara Ricard Landix

Barbara Ricard Landix is a native of New Orleans and a recently inducted member into the Pleasant Run Chapter, NSDAR of Texas DAR. Barbara will share her journey to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution based upon her seventh generation grandfather Pierre Belly. Barbara is a charter member of The Louisiana Creole Research Association, Inc., known as LA Creole, that was founded on August 21, 2004 as a New Orleans-based, non-profit family research and educational organization.

My Patriot Ancestor and Our Path to the DAR - Barbara Ricard Landix

Bill Webb

After retiring from a career in banking, Bill Webb began to investigate his family history. His interest had been sparked by a family Bible record of his ancestor Brown Colbert that he saw as a child in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The research of Bill and his wife, Eva Kobus-Webb, revealed the connection to Monticello and brought to light other Colbert descendants like the Civil War soldier George Edmondson and suffragist Coralie Franklin Cook.Webb can track his lineage to Elizabeth (Betty) Hemings, mother of Betty Brown &amp; Sally Hemings.

After retiring from a career in banking, Bill Webb began to investigate his family history. His interest had been sparked by a family Bible record of his ancestor Brown Colbert that he saw as a child in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The research of Bill and his wife, Eva Kobus-Webb, revealed the connection to Monticello and brought to light other Colbert descendants like the Civil War soldier George Edmondson and suffragist Coralie Franklin Cook. Webb can track his lineage to Elizabeth (Betty) Hemings, mother of Betty Brown &amp; Sally Hemings.

My Ancestor on Mulberry Row at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello with Bill Webb

Janet G. Hudson

For 21,609 young African American men who called North Carolina home, the First World War meant leaving families and familiar Tar Heel communities. The military service and sacrifice of those tens of thousands of black North Carolinians, however, are not well known among historians or the public. Their contributions, individually and collectively, have been generally ignored, simplistically rendered, represented by only a few, hidden away in disparate and scattered sources, or carried to the grave without articulation or preservation. The war’s centennial offers an opportunity to examine that void and to highlight the collective service black North Carolinians rendered.Janet G. Hudson is a historian, two-time winner of the Stephen L. Dalton Distinguished Teacher Award, and author of the prize-winning book, Entangled by White Supremacy: Reform in World War I-era South Carolina. Her project, Black Soldiers Mattered, is an online digital humanities project that explores African American soldiers from North Carolina who served in World War I. It can be found at http://blacksoldiersmattered.com.

For 21,609 young African American men who called North Carolina home, the First World War meant leaving families and familiar Tar Heel communities. The military service and sacrifice of those tens of thousands of black North Carolinians, however, are not well known among historians or the public. Their contributions, individually and collectively, have been generally ignored, simplistically rendered, represented by only a few, hidden away in disparate and scattered sources, or carried to the grave without articulation or preservation. The war’s centennial offers an opportunity to examine that void and to highlight the collective service black North Carolinians rendered. Janet G. Hudson is a historian, two-time winner of the Stephen L. Dalton Distinguished Teacher Award, and author of the prize-winning book, Entangled by White Supremacy: Reform in World War I-era South Carolina. Her project, Black Soldiers Mattered, is an online digital humanities project that explores African American soldiers from North Carolina who served in World War I. It can be found at <a href="http://blacksoldiersmattered.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://blacksoldiersmattered.com</a>.

Black Carolinians During World War I  with Janet G. Hudson

Join author, Daniel J. Sharfstein for a discussion of his book and research - The Invisible Line - Three American Families and the Secret Journey from Black to White.Defining their identities first as people of color and later as whites, these families provide a lens for understanding how people thought about and experienced race and how these ideas and experiences evolved—how the very meaning of black and white changed—over time. Cutting through centuries of myth, amnesia, and poisonous racial politics, The Invisible Line will change the way we talk about race, racism, and civil rights.Daniel J. Sharfstein is a professor of law at Vanderbilt University.  A graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, he has been awarded fellowships for his research on the legal history of race in the United States from Harvard, New York University, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  His book is available in paperback as The Invisible Line: A Secret History of Race in America, and it has won three prizes:  the J. Anthony Lukas Prize for narrative non-fiction, the Cromwell Book Prize from the American Society for Legal History, and the Hurst Prize from the Law and Society Association.  Daniel has also spent the past year as a Guggenheim Fellow, working on a new book.Defining their identities first as people of color and later as whites, these families provide a lens for understanding how people thought about and experienced race and how these ideas and experiences evolved—how the very meaning of black and white changed—over time. Cutting through centuries of myth, amnesia, and poisonous racial politics, The Invisible Line will change the way we talk about race, racism, and civil rights.

Join author, Daniel J. Sharfstein for a discussion of his book and research - The Invisible Line - Three American Families and the Secret Journey from Black to White. Defining their identities first as people of color and later as whites, these families provide a lens for understanding how people thought about and experienced race and how these ideas and experiences evolved—how the very meaning of black and white changed—over time. Cutting through centuries of myth, amnesia, and poisonous racial politics, The Invisible Line will change the way we talk about race, racism, and civil rights. Daniel J. Sharfstein is a professor of law at Vanderbilt University.  A graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, he has been awarded fellowships for his research on the legal history of race in the United States from Harvard, New York University, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  His book is available in paperback as The Invisible Line: A Secret History of Race in America, and it has won three prizes:  the J. Anthony Lukas Prize for narrative non-fiction, the Cromwell Book Prize from the American Society for Legal History, and the Hurst Prize from the Law and Society Association.  Daniel has also spent the past year as a Guggenheim Fellow, working on a new book. Defining their identities first as people of color and later as whites, these families provide a lens for understanding how people thought about and experienced race and how these ideas and experiences evolved—how the very meaning of black and white changed—over time. Cutting through centuries of myth, amnesia, and poisonous racial politics, The Invisible Line will change the way we talk about race, racism, and civil rights.

The Invisible Line: A Secret History of Race in America -  Daniel J. Sharfstein

Ric Murphy

Ric Murphy will explore the history of the 20 and odd African captives that arrived in Virginia around 1619 and planted the seeds of the American slave trade. This is the first group of Africans to go on record to be sold as involuntary laborers.A Boston native, Ric Murphy is an educator, historian, and award-winning author of several books and historical publications. Long before he started writing, Murphy had always heard about his rich family background, which led him to begin as a hobby — genealogical research. His family lineage dates to the earliest colonial periods of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Jamestown, Virginia. Mr. Murphy’s lineage has been evaluated and accepted by several heredity societies, including the Daughters of the American Revolution; the National Society of the Sons of Colonial New England; the Sons of the American Revolution; the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War; and the Sons and Daughters of the U. S. Middle Passage.

Ric Murphy will explore the history of the 20 and odd African captives that arrived in Virginia around 1619 and planted the seeds of the American slave trade. This is the first group of Africans to go on record to be sold as involuntary laborers. A Boston native, Ric Murphy is an educator, historian, and award-winning author of several books and historical publications. Long before he started writing, Murphy had always heard about his rich family background, which led him to begin as a hobby — genealogical research. His family lineage dates to the earliest colonial periods of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Jamestown, Virginia. Mr. Murphy’s lineage has been evaluated and accepted by several heredity societies, including the Daughters of the American Revolution; the National Society of the Sons of Colonial New England; the Sons of the American Revolution; the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War; and the Sons and Daughters of the U. S. Middle Passage.

400 Years of African American History with Ric Murphy

Zann Nelson

Elizabeth Chew

James Madison

Join  Zann Nelson and Elizabeth Chew for a discussion on the following topics:African American research in Virginia: (challenges, what works, successes)Why is it important? How Montpelier's African American heritage project differs from other plantations and how it relates to the ongoing discussions about the Constitution.Zann Nelson is an award-winning freelance writer specializing in African American historical investigations. She is the former president of the preservation nonprofit organization, Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, Inc., the current president of History Quest, co-founder of the African American Heritage Alliance, and is currently the Consultant for “The African Americans of the Montpelier Community Project.”Elizabeth Chew is Vice President for Museum Programs at James Madison's Montpelier. She has worked in the museum field for thirty years, focusing on the interpretation of women's and African American history. At Monticello, where she was Curator for 13 years, she co-organized, with Rex Ellis, the exhibition "Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Paradox of Liberty" for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.  At Montpelier, she oversees the documentary and archaeological research into the identities and stories of the enslaved people on the plantation.

Join  Zann Nelson and Elizabeth Chew for a discussion on the following topics: African American research in Virginia: (challenges, what works, successes) Why is it important?  How Montpelier's African American heritage project differs from other plantations and how it relates to the ongoing discussions about the Constitution. Zann Nelson is an award-winning freelance writer specializing in African American historical investigations. She is the former president of the preservation nonprofit organization, Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, Inc., the current president of History Quest, co-founder of the African American Heritage Alliance, and is currently the Consultant for “The African Americans of the Montpelier Community Project.” Elizabeth Chew is Vice President for Museum Programs at James Madison's Montpelier. She has worked in the museum field for thirty years, focusing on the interpretation of women's and African American history. At Monticello, where she was Curator for 13 years, she co-organized, with Rex Ellis, the exhibition "Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Paradox of Liberty" for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.  At Montpelier, she oversees the documentary and archaeological research into the identities and stories of the enslaved people on the plantation.

Slavery at James Madison's Montpelier with Zann Nelson and Elizabeth Chew

Rodney Sam will discuss the uniqueness of Louisiana Creole genealogy and a personal journey to learn about his Louisiana Creole heritage. He has conducted extensive research on the following surnames in his family: Sam, Rideau, Edward, Desmerais, Donato, Masse, Senette, Pitre, Charles, Jacques, Young, Fruge, LaChapelle, Tesson, Birotte and Meullion. The geographic locations for his research are in the following Louisiana parishes of St. Landry, Evangeline, St. Martin, Lafayette and  to a lesser extent St. Mary parish.Rodney Sam is an avid genealogist who has pursued a lifelong passion in studying the history, genealogy and culture of his Louisiana Creole ancestors. He currently works as a Library Services Specialist at the Clayton Genealogical Library in Houston.

Rodney Sam will discuss the uniqueness of Louisiana Creole genealogy and a personal journey to learn about his Louisiana Creole heritage. He has conducted extensive research on the following surnames in his family: Sam, Rideau, Edward, Desmerais, Donato, Masse, Senette, Pitre, Charles, Jacques, Young, Fruge, LaChapelle, Tesson, Birotte and Meullion. The geographic locations for his research are in the following Louisiana parishes of St. Landry, Evangeline, St. Martin, Lafayette and  to a lesser extent St. Mary parish. Rodney Sam is an avid genealogist who has pursued a lifelong passion in studying the history, genealogy and culture of his Louisiana Creole ancestors. He currently works as a Library Services Specialist at the Clayton Genealogical Library in Houston.

Louisiana Creole Genealogy with Rodney Sam

Nicka Smith

Bernice Bennett

Join Nicka Smith and Bernice Bennett for an intriguing discussion about their experiences with DNA testing.What was their reaction to the DNA admixture results?How have they connected the dots?Where have they tested and why?What successes and frustrations?Why communications is important?Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, and documentarian with more than 17 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in African ancestored genealogy, reverse genealogy, and family reunion planning and execution. She is also an expert in genealogical research in the Northeastern Louisiana area, sharing genealogy with youth, documenting the ancestral journey, and employing the use of new technology in genealogy and family history research.Bernice Bennett is a speaker, family historian, author, citizen's archivist with the National Archives, and Producer and Host of her own blogtalkradio show.  Her research interest are in African American genealogy, DNA and connecting with the  African Diaspora, Homestead Land Records, Civil War Pensions, and Freedmen Bureau documents.

Join Nicka Smith and Bernice Bennett for an intriguing discussion about their experiences with DNA testing. What was their reaction to the DNA admixture results?How have they connected the dots?Where have they tested and why?What successes and frustrations?Why communications is important? Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, and documentarian with more than 17 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in African ancestored genealogy, reverse genealogy, and family reunion planning and execution. She is also an expert in genealogical research in the Northeastern Louisiana area, sharing genealogy with youth, documenting the ancestral journey, and employing the use of new technology in genealogy and family history research. Bernice Bennett is a speaker, family historian, author, citizen's archivist with the National Archives, and Producer and Host of her own blogtalkradio show.  Her research interest are in African American genealogy, DNA and connecting with the  African Diaspora, Homestead Land Records, Civil War Pensions, and Freedmen Bureau documents.

Making Sense Out of Your DNA Results with  Nicka Smith and Bernice Bennett

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