Historical Society
Afro-American Research If you have items for this column, please indicate this on your message. The following article appeared in THE DAILY HERALD for 16 Feb 1998: It took Steven Spielberg $70 million to make the film "Amistrad" that chronicles slave Joseph Cinque's fight for freedom, but black Americans interested in their family histories need invest little more than time. A proliferation of books and Internet sites devoted to black genealogy have spurred interest in a subject that author Alex Haley introduced to the nation more than 20 years ago with his book "Roots". Tommie Morton-Young, president of the African-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Tennessee, has written a book, "The Afro-American Genealogy Sourcebook," to help researchers. She said it's important for black Americans to track their history. "It's a labor of love and it's a labor that my forefathers compel us to do," she said. Now in her 60s, Morton-Young got hooked on family history as a child. "I would get out these photographs and listen to Mamma tell all these stories that her grandmother had told her," she said, flipping through a stack of old photos in her Nashville home-office. "That's how I got started on the search." Her mother's stories and an 1854 photo of her great-grand-mother, Pleasant lane, set Morton-Young on what she calls "the trail of Granny Pleas." "I didn't know really where to go beyond the fact that Momma said Granny had been born in North Carolina but we had no idea where," she said. Starting with U.S. census data, which told her where Granny was born, Morton-Young tracked her ancestors back to Tennessee in the 1790's. From there, she asked college professors and linguists about her relatives' foreign-sounding names and traced them to Ghana, in West Africa. Morton-Young said family histories always have been important to blacks. But in the years since "Roots", interest has grown, culminating in the National Council of Negro Women's organization of black family reunion celebrations across the country. "Many of these family reunions invite genealogists to speak to get people started," Morton-Young said. Barbara Walker, president of the Washington-based Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, said the reunions are getting young people interested in their heritage. "What is happening now is that the younger generation is becoming aware that there are records that can help them document their families," she said. Walker has seen the surge in interest. Some Black Genealogical Resources. (from the Associated Press.) 1. From the Federal Government:
The page includes a section for queries, many articles and other items that are helpful to those who are interested in Afro-American genealogy and history. 4. Other Resources:
Queries: 1. Is there anyone in Maury County who specializes in Afro-American research? I am especially interested in PARKS, ca. 1870. (HJones4963@aol.com) 2. I'm Greg Mostella and I'm one of those folks seeking info. on my slave ancestors. The URL you mentioned is "afrigeneas@MsState.Edu" at MS State University. You may also send to bjsmothers@mindspring.com & Slaveinfo-L@rootsweb.com. These are great folks, doing a wonderful job of getting the work out to slave descendants. Please send your data to them, or me if that would be easier, and I'll forward. I should add that none of them charge anything for their work. A profound thank you for your willingness to aid slave descendants. This means more that words can say. Gregory D. Mostella (geedee@earthlink.com). (Note: we will list these sources and their links later. You can contact them for help with your research.) 3. I am looking for the slaves of Major John Bass who married Temperance. He died in 1860. Also I think his dad may have been Sion Bass (died about 1830) in Wilson. Bass had land everywhere. Temperance's last name was Sumner. Other names involved with the deeds of the slaves include Jones, Napier, also there were Elliott slaves owned possibly by a man named Swan. Michelle Roberts, (missykaz@swbell.net.) 4. I'm looking for descendants out of Maury County by the names: Hardison, Crutcher, Ewing & Mayberry. My Great Grandfather's name was Eric Glover Hardison, known as "Pap". As far as I know, he came from the area of Spring Hill. IT was told to me the slave name of the family originally was Jones. He had 4 brothers & 3 sisters. If you have any info please email me (squirtnj@tnweb.com). 5. Hello. I am Brian Chappell and I am researching the Black CHAPPELL family that were previously slaves of Henry S. P. Chappell of Maury County. I am trying to find information on Morgan Chappell and his family who lived in Maury County until 1880. Do you know where I should begin to look? <Donncorleone@email.msn.com> Links to Sources: http://users.aol.com/johnf14246/gen mail general.html#AFRIGENEAS@MSState.edu |