Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This time of the year brings shorter days, colder nights, and more comfort foods.  This time of the year is also the start of the holiday season.  Fall happens to be my favorite season and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  What’s better than family and food?  No matter if you have a big multi-generational dinner, a Friendsgiving, or a small intimate dinner, Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends.

This is a time to get together, relax, eat some good food, and just enjoy each other.  Thanksgiving is also a great time to add stories to your family history.  Take the time to talk to and interview your relatives.  Get the younger generations involved by either having them conduct the interviews with the older generation or have them record the interviews; you can also interview the younger generation. It’s important to get as much information from as many relatives as possible. Thanksgiving is also the perfect time to get those family recipes. Let’s not forget to get those pictures of family and friends before, during, and after dinner.

Thanksgiving can also be a good time to talk with other family members about having a family reunion.  You can take this time to coordinate the date and the place.  You can also brainstorm about family reunion activities and gather contact information for relatives.  Planning a family reunion is hard work, and the earlier you start the easier it will be to plan and organize.

Thanksgiving is a time that brings family and friends together to share food, laughter, and quality time together.  AAHGS wishes you peace, love, and prosperity this Thanksgiving holiday.

AAHGS 40th Annual Conference! Day 3

Saturday morning started with the General Session presented by our Vice President of History, Ric Murphy.  Ric spoke on "Moving Forward with Lessons from 1619".  He reminded us that we do the work that we do ‘Not because it's easy, but because it's hard'.  It was also during the General Session that it was announced that the 41st AAHGS Conference in 2020 will be held in Hampton, Virginia.  The theme of next year's conference "Virginia: Where African American Roots Run Deep – Correcting the National Narrative".  It's going to be a National Family Reunion since all roads lead to Virginia.

Today attendees were able to choose from 18 breakout sessions throughout the day with topics that included:  DNA, Methodology, Writing and Publishing, Organizing, and Researching with Google.  Some of today's presenters were Shannon Christmas; Melvin Collier; Robyn Smith; Phillip Cumming; and Dr. Khadijah Martin.

Today's luncheon speaker was Carroll R. Gibbs.  He spoke on "Jamestown, 1619:  Crucible, Crossroads and the Importance of African American History".  He reminded the attendees of the importance of ‘Our History' and ‘Our Voice' in this turbulent world we are now living in.  He encouraged the attendees to ‘Speak our truth as we never have before, to set a model for those that come after us’. 

Today also included our Awards and Recognition Banquet with keynote speaker Dr. Mary Elliott.  Dr. Elliott is currently a museum specialist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.  She explained to the attendees that the majority of the collections at the National Museum of African American History and Culture were acquired from everyday people that are family historians; much like us who have collected family and community stories, heirlooms, and artifacts that had been hidden away under beds, in closets, in attics, in basements, and shoe boxes in their homes.  Also during the banquet, the AAHGS 2019 National Awards Winners were recognized for their accomplishments in the preservation of African American history, genealogy, research, and community service.  2019 Winners are Sharon Leslie Morgan, Paul Heinegg, Calvin Pearson (Project 1619 Inc.), and Bernice Bennett.

It's hard to believe that the conference has come to an end.  We had three genealogy fun-filled days! There was a special kind of excitement in the air.  Everywhere I looked people were smiling, laughing, hugging, taking selfies, and just enjoying being together.  We are excited about the 2020 AAHGS Conference in Hampton, Virginia.  We are looking forward to having a great time.  Start planning your trip now and stay in touch with us on all our social media for more information.

To see photos and videos from the conference follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Written by

Trisha Mays-Cummings

AAHGS Member and Blogger

AAHGS 40th Annual Conference! Day 2

Day two of the 40^th Annual AAHGS Conference started with Ancestral Libation which is an African tradition of pouring of a liquid in memory of the dead.  Before the Ancestral Libation, Sister Martha led the attendees in the song "Remember Me" in honor of our deceased ancestors.  Then the plenary session speaker was Paul Heinegg.  He spoke about how he researched the family histories of most free African American families in North Carolina and Virginia during the colonial period.  You can read more about his work at http://freeafricanamericans.com.

Today had offered a total of 16 one-hour sessions.  Sessions topics included: DNA, Research Methodology, Genealogy Proof Standard, the Founding of AAHGS, BCG Certification, and Researching Enslaved Ancestors.  Some of the presenters were AAHGS Founder, Dr. Elizabeth Clark-Lewis; Dr. Shelley Murphy; Shannon Christmas; Leslie Anderson; Thom Reed; LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson; and Sherri Camp.

The luncheon speaker was Dr. Karsonya Wise-Whitehead.  Her subject was "400 Years of Black History: We Will March On ‘Til Victory is Won".  She spoke about stories that she gathered for her book, "I Speak for the Unforgotten", about black people in Baltimore – the Black Butterfly.  Also, during the luncheon was a panel discussion with the 2019 International AAHGS Book award Winners.

Today was a day of fellowship, learning, and celebrating genealogy and history.  Everywhere I turned there were groups of people sharing stories, laughing, and embracing.  It was really like one big family reunion.  Attendees were able to reconnect with each other, meet people from social media, and make new genealogy buddies.  Today was a busy day with all the sessions offered, the vendors being available, and the author’s luncheon.  It’s days like this when I see the joy that this organization brings to people that makes me so proud to be a member.

To see photos and videos from today follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

Written by

Trisha Mays-Cummings

AAHGS Member and Blogger