Good Genes Genealogy Services

Category: ‘Her-story lesson

  • Our ancestors weren’t sad all the time

    Our ancestors weren’t sad all the time

    As I finished the last sentence of a recent workshop detailing the challenges of locating our African Diaspora ancestors—many of whom survived the horrific voyages across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans—I paused. It occurred to me that while much of my research involves serious and often painful history, there is another side to their lives.

    I paused.

    Our ancestors experienced hardship, but hardship was not their only experience.

    I know from my own character and life that my ancestors had to have a sense of humor. Perhaps that’s why I have always loved laughter myself. Years ago, I even performed in two student productions at Chicago’s renowned Second City Theatre, famous for launching generations of comedians.

    Surely my ancestors — and yours — laughed. I’ve heard the stories and as a young child, I experienced the natural humor and fun-loving nature of my paternal aunt, Dr. Beverly Ann Wead Blackburn Jones.

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/seventy-five-north-revitalization-corporation/posts/?feedView=all

    I didn’t have to imagine what ancestral joy looked like. I saw it in my beloved Aunt Beverly. I recall how my ancestor aunt used her effervescing smile and quick wit to easily lift the mood of any room she entered. This highly regarded educator and community transformer dealt with serious matters and was also a terrific storyteller. As my father, Dr. Rodney S. Wead, described his sister, “she was always the life of the party.”

    It was often said that my aunt’s light-hearted attributes were derived from my namesake and great-grandmother, Ann Crum Green. My great-grandmother would keep us laughing by changing her voice to mimic others and blurting funny one-liners that could not be challenged by anyone because she was my paternal family;’s matriarch. Great-grandmother Ann was my Aunt Beverly’s maternal grandmother and likely sparked the humor touch in her. Ann Green was born at the dawn of the 20th century, in the late 1800s, and spent her adult life as a house servant and laundress.

    They teased each other. Danced. Dressed up. Fell in love. Gossiped. Told outrageous stories. Sang too loudly. Cooked something everybody wanted. Had nicknames nobody could explain. Took photographs in their best clothes. Went to picnics. Played cards. Courted. Celebrated weddings. Sat on porches. Traveled. Joined clubs. Showed off.

    And, undoubtedly, they occasionally got on one another’s last nerve!

    More than oppression

    African Diaspora genealogy contains difficult truths. Our ancestors experienced hardship, but hardship was not their only experience. They also experienced love, humor, friendship, faith, ambition, creativity, family, food, music, travel, community, accomplishment—and ordinary days that mattered.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Tuning into Good Vibes Genealogy

    Tuning into Good Vibes Genealogy

    Join me in listening and viewing this powerful podcast highlighting Black, African Diasporan, Indigenous, Native and American Indians and hosted by the

    Rev. Dr. LaTonia on her multimedia channels.

    What you will learn:

    • How ancestral powers transfer through the ages to affirm our purpose;
    • Personal choices involving DNA testing;
    • Indigenous U.S. tribes and its influence;
    • Prospective research sites to find ancestors; and
    • Good Genes Genealogy’s active engagement in revealing our roots.

    I’m looking forward to learning of your stories. Keep connecting with us. We value your legacies.

    Check out the "Why Didn't They Tell Us ..." podcast
    There are tons of hidden secrets about our genealogy and ancestry finds that we need to know …

     

     

  • Welcome to my Sorors of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

    Welcome to my Sorors of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

    Since Fall 1977, I’ve been a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., with my initiation at Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University), Psi Chapter.  I am committed to the high ideals of Zeta Phi Beta, the only constitutionally bound sister organization of a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.  In 1989, alongside my Soror Mother Angie Wead, and other wonderful ladies, I became a founder of a graduate extension of Zeta Phi Beta, Xi Xi Zeta Chapter, Lithonia, GA.

    I am also a proud member of the “Divine Nine” — the unique, excellent collection of Black-letter Greek organizations. What a bonus.

    Welcome to my specialized page, which is a labor of love. Enjoy the search and remember to always preserve the precious and proud stories of our families. Our ancestors appreciate our journeys.

     

    Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, at Howard University, Washington, D.C. The Klan was active during this period, and the Harlem Renaissance was acknowledged as the first important movement of Black artists and writers in the U.S. This same year the Volstead Act became effective, heralding the start of Prohibition and Tennessee delivered the crucial 36th ratification for the final adoption of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. The worst and longest economic recession to hit the U.S. would define the end of the decade-The Great Depression.

  • “Unlocking Your Roots: Mastering Ancestry and Genealogy Searches for a Strong Sense of Belonging”

    I belong to several ancestry and genealogy research groups, chats, organizations, and regularly participate in training sessions. This aids in my development as a genealogist specializing in African Diasporan family searches.

    One of my favorite organizations is the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc., especially the metro Atlanta chapter. Here’s a sample of the great connections you are provided by AAHGS when you join the organization:

     

     

    21 JUL 2024(pictorial generated by AI)

     

    These events are provided as a courtesy to our AAHGS Metro Atlanta members but are not the responsibility of our chapter.

     

    Timelines for Genealogy, Dottie Baugh

    Mon Jul 22nd

    Presented by Charlotte County Genealogical Society
    10:30am ET

    All classes are free and open to the public. For a Zoom link, send an email to President@ccgsi.org

    For details see www.ccgsi.org

     

    The Homestead Act, with Ranger, Amber Kirkendall, Homestead National Historic Park

    Mon Jul 22nd

    Presented by Heritage Seekers Genealogy Club
    7:30pm ET

    Ranger, Amber Kirkendall, Homestead National Historic Park

    This is a Zoom virtual meeting. To get a link to attend, you must:
    – be a paid member, or
    – subscribe to our email list at https://heritageseekersar.com/subscribe/ or
    – follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/heritageseekersar.club

    Zoom link available closer to the event – See the website!

    For details see heritageseekersar.com/

     

    Pins & Needles: Adding Social Media to Your Genealogy Repertoire

    Mon Jul 22nd

    Presented by Plainfield Area Public Library
    8:00pm ET

    Many of us have used Facebook to find distant cousins and former high school friends. Join us for a fun session on using sites like Pinterest, Flickr, Instagram and more to locate, identify and share ancestors.

    This is a virtual program. Login information will be sent when you register for the program

    For details see plainfieldpubliclibrary.librarymarket.com/event/virtual-pins-needles-adding-social-media-your-genealogy-repertoire-65597

     

    Researching LGBTQ Genealogy, with Stewart Traiman

    Mon Jul 22nd

    Presented by Denver Public Library
    8:00pm ET

    Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer folk have always been a part of our history and family stories. Our trees’ confirmed bachelor or spinster aunt may not have been single. Perhaps they did have partners but there is no legal documentation or family acknowledgment. This class will explore census, newspapers, obituaries, military records, photographs, phone books, and archives for clues on our ancestor’s sexuality. We will also explore LGBTQ History and many individual stories giving context to the available records. Discovering our LGBTQ ancestors’ stories and inviting them back into our trees will enrich our entire family history.

    For details see www.denverlibrary.org/event/researching-lgbtq-genealogy

     

    Beginning Ancestry by Scott Jones

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Los Angeles FamilySearch Center
    2:00pm ET

    What and where?

    For details see churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/95462341725?pwd=dmxZaWNGR1hpWVlCM1lYaHBENERLdz09#successlBSaWtyS0pwSDJxdz09%23success

     

    Using the FamilySearch Catalog by Clark Jenkins

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Los Angeles FamilySearch Center
    5:00pm ET

    Learn how to search the entire FamilySearch database using the Catalog. This will include searching indexed and unindexed records, book titles and authors, and keyword searches. Learn how to navigate through unindexed record collections to find digitized original records.

    For details see churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/95462341725?pwd=dmxZaWNGR1hpWVlCM1lYaHBENERLdz09#successlBSaWtyS0pwSDJxdz09%23success

     

    What’s the Tea in Your Family Tree?

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library / West Boulevard Library
    6:00pm ET

    Unearth secrets, reveal truths, and explore the colorful stories hidden within your ancestral lineage.

    This is a HYBRID program, so you can attend in-person at West Boulevard Library or online via Zoom.

    *Registration Required* Registration begins the first day of the month.

    For details see cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/664e02e3e3e1ee30003fe2c7

     

    Genealogy for Beginners: Census records and obituaries

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Cincinnati Public Library / Pleasant Ridge
    6:30pm ET

    Census records and obituaries are the most popular and easiest to find genealogical records. Learn how to search for and use these records when digging into your family history.

    This event will be in person at the Pleasant Ridge Branch and also live streamed over Zoom. The Zoom link will be shared a few hours before the program starts.

    Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

    For details see cincinnatilibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/65d74df01e57af280037c162

     

    Finding and Using City Directories for Genealogy – Fourth Tuesday Genealogy Series

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by The Erie Society for Genealogical Research
    7:00pm ET

    Fourth Tuesday Genealogy Series: Session is repeated via Zoom at 7 p.m. For handouts and to register for the session go to: events.erielibrary.org/ and search for genealogy.

    23 Jul 2024: Finding and Using City Directories for Genealogy: Information which might be found in city and county directories. What you might be missing in these resources. Locating city directories. Hints for using city directories. Abbreviations. Other historical directories.

    For details see www.genealogyerie.org/p/Calendar/event/Finding-and-Using-City-Directories-for-Genealogy-387

     

    The Genealogist’s Google Search Methodology

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Louisville Genealogical Society
    1:00pm ET

    Presented by Lisa Louise Cooke

    It’s a new decade, so if you think you know how to Google, think again! Technology changes rapidly and keeping our search skills updated and sharp is key to search success. Come learn the latest Google Search Methodology for Genealogy. You’ll hear about the latest and best search innovations and learn the process that will dramatically improve your genealogical search results. These skills can be used with all associated Google tools.

    Free but REGISTRATION REQUIRED at www.kylgs.org

     

    Genealogy Quick Start TV – LIVE with Andre Kearns

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Genealogy Quick Start TV
    8:00pm ET

    Fact or Fiction: Which assumptions are you making about your family history? In “Getting Past Your Assumptions” provide a method for understanding the truth of family-lore. Then our special guest Andre Kearns will dive deeply into the assumptions we make with 1870 census in “Emancipating the Stories of Blended Families in the 1870 Census”

    JOIN Live from our YouTube Channel or Facebook Page, LIVE every other Tuesday @ 8:00 PM ET
    www.youtube.com/@GenealogyQuickStart/streams

    This is an interactive genealogy TV show, not a genealogy webinar. We invite you to chat, comment, and ask questions.

    For details see www.facebook.com/events/1011977810605274/

     

    Introduction to Genealogy

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Plano Public Library / Haggard Library
    8:00pm ET

    Learn the basics of common genealogical research tools and techniques.

    For details see plano-cep.bc.sirsidynix.net/event/introduction-to-genealogy-2/

     

    Latest Updates to the MyHeritage Mobile App, with Gilad Katz

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by Legacy Family Tree Webinars
    2:00pm ET

    More and more, people are preferring to use their mobile devices to access their favorite software and services — and genealogists shouldn’t be left behind. MyHeritage continues to improve the genealogy-on-the-go experience from the MyHeritage mobile app, making it easier than ever to manage your family tree and conduct research from the palm of your hand. In this session, Gilad Katz, Senior Product Manager at MyHeritage, will show you the latest developments in the mobile app.

    For details see familytreewebinars.com/webinar/latest-updates-to-the-myheritage-mobile-app/

     

    Stories Behind the Stars – World War II Heroes

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by the Cobb County Genealogical Society
    7:00pm ET

    CCGS Board member Loren Plisco volunteers with Stories Behind the Stars, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and writing the stories of over 421,000 Americans who sacrificed their lives in World War II. The stories will reside in memorials on Fold3 and will be linked to memorials on FindAGrave. This project is supported by Ancestry, Newspapers.com, Fold3, Together We Served, and other organizations. To date, hundreds of volunteers have written approximately 40,000 stories, with the ambitious goal to complete all of the stories by the end of 2025, which marks the anniversary of the end of World War II.

    Register online here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sduygrTMtE9a-Tw82s-BdPUeWY60wWyiO#/registration

    For details see cobbgagensoc.org/

     

    TOTS – Tech on Tuesdays You Can Never Have Too Many Backups — Backups, Data Preservation and Back Blaze

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by The Colorado Genealogy Society
    9:00pm ET

    For details see us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsf–urjotH9Hp3pmcJZvhz6Vh5Yvs2rKt

     

    Working with DNA Matches: Beginning to Sort Your Matches

    Tue Jul 23rd

    Presented by The Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library
    2:30pm ET

    In this introductory session, we will learn to work with your genetic cousin matches from an autosomal DNA test. We will learn how to determine your familial relationship to your DNA matches (beginning with known relatives) and begin to sort your matches into groups based on the connecting ancestors that you share. Presented by Sara Allen.

    For details see acpl.libnet.info/event/11055953

     

    Imaging by Clark Jenkins

    Wed Jul 24th

    Presented by Los Angeles FamilySearch Center
    5:00pm ET

    How to look up images in FamilySearch?

    For details see churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/95462341725?pwd=dmxZaWNGR1hpWVlCM1lYaHBENERLdz09#successlBSaWtyS0pwSDJxdz09%23success

     

    Writing Family Stories Within FamilySearch by Holly Jones

    Wed Jul 24th

    Presented by Los Angeles FamilySearch Center
    2:00pm ET

    Writing your personal and family stories.

    For details see churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/95462341725?pwd=dmxZaWNGR1hpWVlCM1lYaHBENERLdz09#successlBSaWtyS0pwSDJxdz09%23success

     

    Getting Around the Missing 1890 Census, Part 1, with Sara Cochran

    Wed Jul 24th

    Presented by Fountaindale Public Library
    12:00pm ET

    Sara Cochran, the Skeleton Whisperer, will help you strategize and gather tips for success in locating your family in other records between the 1880 and 1900 Federal censuses.

    The loss of the 1890 Federal census is a source of great frustration for American Genealogists, but all hope is not lost! Sara Cochran, the Skeleton Whisperer, will help you strategize and gather tips for success in locating your family in other records between the 1880 and 1900 Federal censuses. This is part one of a two-session series.

    This program is available in a Zoom webinar format. A link and handout will be sent a day before the event. A reminder will be sent an hour before the event.

    For details see communico.fountaindale.org/event/9545900

     

    Periodicals for Genealogy

    Wed Jul 24th

    Presented by Midwest Genealogy Center at Mid-Continent Public Library
    7:30pm ET

    Learn how to search for and use periodicals at the Midwest Genealogy Center and other libraries, as another resource in your genealogy research. This is a beginner-level class. This class will be held in person as well as virtually via Zoom simultaneously. Registration is required and closes one hour before the start of the program. Please indicate whether you will be attending in person or virtually when registering. An email address is required when registering to attend on Zoom. All start times are Central Standard Time.

    For details see www.mymcpl.org/events/98202/periodicals-genealogy-hybrid

     

    From the Grassroots Roundtable: Preserving Places and Stories in the East Tennessee Black Community

    Presented by East Tennessee History Center
    12:00pm ET

    Please join our esteemed panelists as they consider their contributions to the preservation of spaces and stories in their home communities, whether through ensuring the Black community’s history and family connections are shared and/or buildings themselves are saved and reused. They will also share their dreams of next steps and share insights on conducting community projects.

    Pre-registration is required, both for in-person or for Zoom.

    For details see www.easttnhistory.org/event/advanced-genealogy/

     

    Preserving Family Memories: Audio Recordings

    Wed Jul 24th

    Presented by Dallas Public Library
    3:00pm ET

    The sound of a loved one’s voice = irreplaceable family memories. Learn how to digitize and preserve your audio recordings stored on cassette tapes, microcassette tapes and LPs. Hear from one of Dallas Public Library’s A/V librarians on how to edit your audio, and share your precious family memories using the Heritage Lab located on the 8th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.

    This Genealogy & History program is available both in-person at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 8th floor AND online via Zoom.

    Please register in advance.

    For details see dallaslibrary.librarymarket.com/event/preserving-family-memories-audio-recordings-366192

     

    African American Research Workshop

    Wed Jul 24th

    Presented by Oakland Family History Library
    9:00 PM Eastern

    This is an ongoing, free, hands-on research workshop comprised of African Americans, also referred to as Black or Afro-American, or those who harmonize with Sub-Saharan Africa, with ancestry, citizenship, or residency in the United States. The workshop is an interactive exchange of research tools, methods and systems, and discussions necessary for progress at individual levels of family histories and genealogies impacted by the 16th Century removal of Africans to America as slaves.
    For a Zoom link to the virtual workshop, churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/98525123399?pwd=WFptb0RWSDk5UjdHVGhtNXl3NkZadz09#success

    For additional information E-Mail: pat4gene@gmail.com
    or go to
    www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Oakland_California_FamilySearch_Library/Learning_Center_Descriptions#African_American_Research_Workshop

     

    Preserving Family History

    Thu Jul 25th

    Presented by Lake County Public Library
    2:30pm ET

    Have you ever wondered how to take care of those old photographs, scrapbooks, and stories passed down from generation to generation? This session has got you covered. Join Jeremy Pekarek, Archivist at Indiana University Northwest, to learn more about best practices involving proper housing techniques, documentation, and digital materials.

    For details see www.lcplin.org/event/9176704

     

    25+ Free Genealogy Sites

    Thu Jul 25th

    Presented by St. Louis County Library
    7:30pm ET

    Explore how to access and use several free websites for your family history research.

    Registration opens June1, 2024. Registration required. Participants will receive Zoom information immediately after registering.

    For details see slcl.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=96470

     

    Ancestry.com, a Premier Website, Online Class: Great tips for finding your families, and editing photos, and using Storymaker Studio

    Thu Jul 25th

    Presented by Riverton Utah FamilySearch Center
    9:00pm ET

    Presented by R. Ray

    Ancestry.com, the Premier Family History Website. Ancestry.com has partnered with FamilySearch to easily share family tree records and information. Over 60 billion records (~6 times as many as FamilySearch has) makes it easier to find your families. Over 10 billion of those records come from FamilySearch so, you will see those records too.

    To attend the online classes, you will need to register. It is recommended that you review the class handouts before attending the class by viewing them online or by printing them. Handouts available at www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Riverton_Utah_FamilySearch_Center/Online_Classes

    Register at churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkd-muqDgpHdbGtkUcRX5VLxKL2IzeMAJK

    For details see www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Riverton_Utah_FamilySearch_Center/Online_Classes

     

    Facebook Workshop for Genealogists

    Thu Jul 25th

    Presented by Mount Vernon Genealogical Society
    1:00pm ET

    Instructor: Jo Pearson

    Unlock the power of Facebook for your genealogy research! Learn how to create and manage a genealogy-focused Facebook page or group, best practices for posting and sharing, and how to use Facebook events to organize virtual meetups or collaborative research sessions.

    TO REGISTER: Please send an email with your name and phone number, the class date and title, to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net
    Thank you.

    Once you’ve registered, a reminder email will be sent to you a few days ahead of the class with the zoom link and any handouts, etc.

    For details see www.mvgenealogy.org/

     

    How to Use Newspapers for Genealogy

    Thu Jul 25th

    Presented by Cuyahoga County Public Library
    7:00pm ET

    Tips and tricks on using newspapers in your genealogy research.

    A meeting link will be emailed to registered participants approximately one hour prior to the start of the program. Staff will be available for help with connecting to Zoom and technical issues beginning 15 minutes prior to the program. You will need a device with audio and/or video and an internet connection to join.

    For details see attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/10366070

     

    The Why, Where, When, What and How of Lineage and Hereditary Societies, with Christine Cohen

    Thu Jul 25th

    Presented by Marin County Genealogical Society
    10:00pm ET

    Why should you join a lineage society? How do you join a lineage society? What activities do they perform? What member benefits are available? Are DNA test results a membership option?

    The Genealogical Society General meetings are open to the public, with no admission fee. Feel free to drop in! Bring your friends as everyone is welcome. Come early and ask your burning genealogical questions of other members before the meeting.

    The public is welcome to attend all of our virtual meetings. Contact info@maringensoc.org for more information.

    Please register in advance.

    For details see www.maringensoc.org/event-5756426

     

    Genealogy in Teaching

    Fri Jul 26th

    Presented by CALS Central Arkansas Library System
    1:00pm ET

    Learn how to use genealogy databases and other resources to teach language arts, science, and math as well as social studies.

    This is a hybrid event; the in-person class will take place in Meeting Room B at the Fletcher Library. Virtual attendees will access the class via Zoom.

    If you wish to attend virtually, you must register to receive the Zoom link to join the class.

    Please email at digital@cals.org or call 1.501.320.5724 if you have any questions.

    For details see events.cals.org/event/10666775

     

     Military Records at TSLAC

    Fri Jul 26th

    Presented by Texas State Library and Archives Commission
    9:00am ET Find out how to locate Texas military service records at TSLAC.

    The Archives and Information Services Division offers a suite of research webinar recordings on-demand throughout the year. The start date listed here is the date the webinar will be first available.

    For details see www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/workshops

     

    8 Tips for Using AI as Your Genealogy Assistant

    Fri Jul 26th

    Presented by Bay Area Genealogical Society
    8:00pm ET

    Speaker: Dana Leeds. AI can help you complete many tasks faster than you can on your own. This makes it an incredible time-saver. It can also help you get more out of the records you find. But where do you start? And what can it help you with?

    This presentation will highlight eight areas where AI can be a patient and knowledgeable assistant, supporting you in both your genealogy research and daily tasks. In your genealogy work, AI can help you summarize information, extract and visualize data, write engaging family history narratives, convert handwritten documents into searchable text, and illustrate your family story. Additionally, AI can assist you with daily tasks such as tech troubleshooting, saving you valuable time. Join us and discover the various ways AI can help you be more efficient and effective in your pursuits!

    For details see www.txbayareagen.org/?page_id=5

     

    Genealogical Research & Writing: Are You a Saint, Sinner, or Bumfuzzled Soul?, with Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL (members only)

    Fri Jul 26th

    Presented by Legacy Family Tree Webinars
    (members only) (VIRTUAL)
    2:00pm ET

    As researchers, family historians, compilers, bloggers, or writers of other ilk, genealogists face legal and ethical perils they often do not anticipate. This crash course offers practical guidance to enhance your skills and keep you safe as you explore history, reconstruct lives, and “write up” your findings. While the issues are serious—from the legal issue of copyright to the ethical issue of plagiarism—the lessons are taught with a light heart and humor.

    For details see familytreewebinars.com/webinar/genealogical-research-writing-are-you-a-saint-sinner-or-bumfuzzled-soul/

     

    Reeling ‘Em in with Cousin Bait: 10 Ways to Connect with Family, with Cheri Hudson Passey

    Sat Jul 27th

    Presented by Polk County Genealogy Speaker Series
    10:00am ET

    Want to connect with those who may have information about your family? Learn 10 strategies to help you connect and collaborate with family members, including creating “Cousin Bait.”

    This is a hybrid virtual program. The presenter will appear virtually, but guests are invited to join us at the History Center to participate in the Zoom. For Zoom details, contact the Polk County History Center at (863) 534-4386 or ShannonGraham@polk-county.net.

    For details see www.polk-county.net/events/reeling-em-in-with-cousin-bait-10-ways-to-connect-with-family-genealogy-speaker-series/

     

    Discovering Your Ancestors – Series 1 with Janet Camarata

    Sat Jul 27th

    Presented by Puget Sound Genealogical Society
    1:30pm ET

    Genealogy is an enriching and rewarding way to discover our own families through their written records, photographs and artifacts. Tracing our ancestral roots expands our understanding of history and how they lived in earlier generations. The individual pieces of the family jigsaw puzzle consists of vital records, censuses, land records, immigration, naturalization, military records, church histories, taxes, court and courthouse records, DNA and much more. The tools and techniques used by genealogists today are extensive and include the Internet, specific genealogy programs and websites, i.e. Ancestry and FamilySearch. Learn in a computer environment the resources available online and off-line to investigate the various jigsaw puzzle pieces that document your ancestors’ lives.
    This class will focus on Strategic Searching, Sources & Citations, Cemetery Research.
    This will be a hybrid class with in person at the Sylvan Way Library and on Zoom. The Zoom link will be posted on our website an our Facebook page on July 26.

    For details see www.psgsociety.org

     

    How to Read Old Handwriting, with Lisa Lisson

    Sat Jul 27th

    Presented by Capital District Genealogical Society
    1:00pm ET

    Struggling to read those old historical documents? Gain invaluable insights and practical strategies for deciphering your ancestors’ records, allowing you to uncover hidden stories and connect with your heritage in ways you never thought possible. From understanding the evolution of handwriting styles to employing innovative techniques for enhancing legibility, this talk promises to equip you with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the rich tapestry of your family’s history. Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your genealogical prowess and forge deeper connections with your roots!

    Non-members may register starting on the 16th of the month (space permitting). Non-Members must create a free CDGS account before they can register. You only need to create an account once, as you can login to that account to register for future presentations.

    For details see www.capitaldistrictgenealogicalsociety.org/

     

    FamilySearch Overview – Everything You Don’t Know But Should

    Sat Jul 27th

    Presented by San Mateo County Genealogical Society
    1:30pm ET

    FamilySearch has done a lot of improvements and changes over the past few years. Did you know you can get free consultations from them now? Do you know where to look for the latest catalog information? Have checked out the maps of what cemeteries your relatives are in? Come listen to an overview of what FamilySearch has changed lately and how you can use it to make sure you get the most out of FamilySearch. You can learn about the community groups and guided research all now available on FamilySearch. Join Pamela Brigham for this presentation on FamilySearch.

    Please register in advance

    For details see www.smcgs.org/

     

    Join the International Genealogical Community with Year-Round RootsTech, with James Tanner

    Sun Jul 28th

    Presented by BYU Library / Family History Sunday Classes
    5:30pm ET

    The BYU Family History Library presents virtual Sunday classes for anyone interested in family history! Classes are free and everyone is welcome.

    No registration required. Click the link “Join Live Class” at the URL below, where you’ll also find the upcoming class calendar, as well as their library of previously recorded virtual classes. All free!

    The Zoom link for Sunday Classes at the scheduled time is
    https://byu.zoom.us/j/97185943513?pwd=IgbedZiLURYMxnPxlkWolxQNK6iEGd.1

    For details see https://familyhistory.lib.byu.edu/learning/webinars

     

    —

    “Discovering Our Ancestors, Our History and Ourselves-TOGETHER”

     

    Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc.
    Metro- Atlanta Chapter

    www.aahgsatl.org

  • In honor of our ancestral Mother’s Days

    In honor of our ancestral Mother’s Days

    In the words of our family’s maternal matriarch, the late Lou Edna Wilks Robinson, “every day is Mother’s Day.”

    Born in 1892 as the oldest daughter born in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, to Melissa Catherine Gray and Robert Wilkes, our “Grandma Robinson” was the glue that kept our family together.

    Great-Grandmother Lou Edna Robinson, right, with her granddaughter, Angeline Wead, left. The Wead children fill out the picture.

    We’ve often wondered how our ancestral mothers were able to accomplish so much in their lives. Except for Grandma Robinson’s birth to two children, including our maternal grandmother, Mary Helen Wilks Owen Douthy, most mothers ‘in her day’ bore several children. Midwives brought babies, especially those of African American heritage, into this world. Indoor plumbing was nonexistent for our ancestral mothers. They grew food, drew well from waters, cooked, cleaned and managed the households. They raised other people’s children, they were our teachers, loyal church members and builders of great legacies admist the harsh societal conditions that often pushed our ancestral mothers to the least known positions.

    Yet, our ancestral mothers rarely complained about their fates. Instead, they often rejoiced about the present and future that always included the achievements — known and unknown — of their children and lineage.

    We honor you, ancestral mothers.

    Official start of Mother’s Day in the USA

    In 1914, a few years before the birth of our maternal Grandmother Mary Helen, the nation received an official declaration from U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, to honor mothers on the second Sunday in May. The recognition began simple enough: To honor mothers in celebration of peace.

    The origins of Mother’s Day as celebrated in the United States date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children.

    These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation.

    Another precursor to Mother’s Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” to be celebrated every June 2.

    Other early Mother’s Day pioneers include Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperance activist who inspired a local Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the 1870s. The duo of Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering, meanwhile, both worked to organize a Mothers’ Day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some have even called Hering “the father of Mothers’ Day.”

    https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day

    A few current-day Mother’s Day facts

    • The honoring of mothers has reached a feverish commercial pitch with an estimated $36 billion being allocated in U.S. receipts in 2023.
    • There are approximately 43.5 million women who are considered mothers in the United States.
    • More than 100 global countries celebrate their mothers on various days on the calendar.
    • The white carnation is the official flower of Mother’s Day.
    • Mother’s Day is the busiest day for restaurants in the U.S.

    Happy Mother’s Day.

  • The forgotten stories of “Black Magnolias” from Oakland Cemetery

    First in a series

    Jihan Hurse, guide, Atlanta, GA.’s Oakland Cemetery’s “Black Magnolias” tour

    Atlanta, GA — On a chilly Saturday winter morning, Oakland Cemetery’s “Black Magnolias” Tour Guide and Author Jihan Hurse, excitedly gives highlights of the Black women who lie among its 70,000 “residents” in the city’s historic cemetery.

    The hour allotted for the tour was not enough time for all of the stories about accomplished Black women who are buried in Oakland Cemetery. Yet, the Black Magnolias tour was a refreshing collection of insight into the lives of Black women who were quiet and major influencers in the Atlanta region, Georgia and nationwide. Along the multiple paths laden mostly with bricks from days gone by, there were periodic stops at the chosen grave sites of many women who were doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, mothers, wives, educators and skilled technicians.

    The Black Magnolias story at Oakland Center is grounded in the fortitude of laundry or washerwomen whose citywide protest resulted in violence, arrests, intimidation and ultimately, a major victory for the Black women who refused to return to work unless their financial and work life demands were met. Their well-organized strike involved some 3,000 Black laundresses and it nearly imperiled the 1881 World’s Fair in Atlanta.

    Former slaves strike for better pay and work conditions in 1881.

    While praising the domestic workers’ brave and labor market altering stance, Hurse strategically showcased other Black women whose legacies are integral to the success of the Atlanta area, Georgia and the nation. Despite the achievements that stretch beyond racial and geographical boundaries, most of the 12,000 African Americans — including approximately 1,800 slaves — are buried at Oakland in segregated sections known as the African American, Slave and Potters sections.

    There are also exceptions to the burial rules of segregating whites, Blacks and Jewish deceased persons from one another. When whites sought permissions to move the burial area initially designated for Black slaves, the graves were moved to the back of the cemetery. Some natural markers such as stones and sticks were not preserved. When that relocation was completed, some families such as the Boylstons asked for an additional set of permissions and that was to bury their “domestic worker,” Catherine Holmes, alongside their family members, according to Hurse. Elise Boylston had a special fondness for “Caty” and the young Boylston lady authored work that included her slave. By the 1960s, Blacks were not segregated to one area or two areas of the cemetery

    The grave marker for “Caty” Holmes, a “domestic worker” in the Boylston household, is left. This is a partial view of the extensive Boylston plot in the former Slave section of Oakland Cemetery.

    A dozen other Black Magnolias were pointed out by Hurse as significant based on a range of qualities such as the first Black lady buried in Oakland Cemetery, to the sisters who established the first hospital with 15 beds that was available to Black patients.

    Below is the grave site of Estella Henderson was an attorney, an author of books on race relations and was recognized by U.S. President William Howard Taft. Her sister, Dr. Blanche Beatrice Bowman Thompson, was a doctor whose practice pioneered specialty work for Black medical professionals in Georgia.

    Future blogs will highlight the historical women of Oakland Cemetery. For those interested in the many stories of the Black men and women buried in Oakland Cemetery, the virtual tour is found through this service:

    Good Genes Genealogy Services encourages readers of this blog to investigate similar historical stories in cemeteries that bear great stories such as those found at the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.

    The 48-acre cemetery that is also considered a city park. The Oakland Cemetery Foundation conducts several tours each year, including a handful devoted to honoring Black history and women’s history.

  • Grandmas’ hands creatively cooked cuisine in Nebraska kitchens

    Grandmas’ hands creatively cooked cuisine in Nebraska kitchens

    The Good Genes Genealogy team share maternal grandmothers. We benefited from tasty treats and meals from our Great-Grandmother Edna Wilkes Robinson, and equally great dinners and gatherings at the home of her daughter, our Grandmother Helen Wilkes Owen Douthy.

    Grandma Edna Robinson, third from left, and her best buddies in the church and Evans Tower kitchens.

    Grandmother Robinson, third from right

    In honor of the New Year, our thoughts and gratitude are in honor of both grandmothers’ traditional dishes of “hot water” corn bread, black-eyed peas, mixed greens, ham, goose or another poultry item, and the best desserts.

    In addition, our respective paternal grandmothers cooked up their best foods for us to celebrate January first as Jubilee Day. Jubilee Day or Emancipation Day celebrations for Black Americans used to be singularly celebrated on the first day of each year. However, the years since our childhood have yielded the progressive movements for Juneteenth — June 19th — to become a national holiday and as such, also share in the honors of being known as Jubilee Day.

    Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

    Yet, it was Grandmother Robinson’s chosen profession as a cook in some of Omaha Nebraska’s nicer hotels and in the white households that brings forth an added reference during this time of year. She rarely spoke of her work outside of her home or what we could witness each week at our home church, Clair United Methodist Church. There, Grandmother Robinson “owned” the massive kitchen that was equipped with multiple ovens with large enough spaces to cook meals for the entire church families and members of our near northside Omaha community.

    Grandma Robinson had great command of everything from recipes to the table setting etiquette. Often, she would bring in the perfectly ironed and folded table cloths for coverings on the main table for our pastor, his family and special guests, as well as the families whose children would often leave red stains from spilled sweet punch that often was laden with thin pineapple chunks and ice cream.

    From Grandma Robinson, I learned the term “soul food” that was derived from the slave households where leftovers — food often discarded — made it to the tables where pig feet, ears, cow brains, hogshead cheese, chitterlings and other scraps were the main dishes. Grandma Robinson never spoke of slavery or Africa while cooking her delicious and abundant dishes. However, her references to foods such as sweet potatoes, corn meal and other grains that were beaten into powdered substances and mashed into its finery, were clear references to the cooking styles of African families and Black slave heritages.

    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    To the lady who taught us how to fold napkins and where to place them on the table, how to use a ladle to dip the right amount of punch into the crystal etched cups, how to serve others at the kitchen window or at the covered folding tables, thank you. To the lady who taught us how to anticipate when the hot rolls were done in ovens where the temperature and alarm gauges did not always work, how to best wash the dishes and dry them and replace them in the proper way, thank you. To the charming little lady who often wore her cooking apron, thank you for teaching me how to make coffee, tea and how to shine those beautiful silver pots.

    Thank you, Great Grandmother Edna Wilkes Robinson’s hands, from our family.

    Photo by Joice Rivas on Pexels.com

    We are sure that you have similar stories. Share them.

    Happy 2023!

  • “Negroes catching small catfish with their hands. Bait to be used in shoals of Little River near Eatonton, Georgia” — U.S. Library of Congress

    It’s time for you to dig those old photos out of boxes, closets and other places to display for us to share in your family history.

    Check out Putnam County. Let’s guess the year!

  • Our Creative, Progressive Ancestor: Mama Helen

    The forever Actress, Musician, Clothing Designer, Seamstress/Tailor, Theatre Director, Opera lover … our Grandmother “Mama Helen” Mary Wilkes Owen Douthy, Omaha, Nebraska 1963
    Mama Helen’s Omaha (Nebraska) Central High School yearbook photograph, Class of 1935.
    Mama Helen retired from SAC Headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base in 1969.

    To summarize my maternal grandmother’s life: She did the most.

    In the winter months during 1963, my Maternal Grandmother, Helen Mary Wilkes (and also spelled Wilks), was donning a thinly clad garment and acting in the Greek tragedy, “Antigone.” That in of itself is nothing spectacular.

    That is, except that “Mama Helen” (as were told by her to call her), in 1963 was also a mother of adult children and a high school student while working as an unnamed “Hidden Figure” at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base in nearby Bellevue, Nebraska. She was not supposed to be a “brain” at Offutt where she worked as administrative assistant to the scientists. She was actually an astute mathematician with an amazing intellect with exemplary secretarial skills.

    Mama Helen was not supposed to be on the theatre stage at her age, 45, in a supporting role to help build her acting repertoire. She was not supposed to understand the Greek language and read Latin. She was not supposed to be old enough to be the mother of the play’s director. After all, she was a black woman who should have been content to remain hidden as a white-collar worker albeit with tremendous skills outside of the workplace. I often traveled with her from North Omaha to theatres around the city and developed my love for Latin, global travels and writing.

    Thankfully, Mama Helen was never content being confined to what the so-called societal norms were in Omaha and across the nation. She would always tell me about her travels around the world. She was the super volunteer for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She played the organs at various churches on Sunday, often for no pay as she considered it her tithe to the church and unto God. Monies were stretched in the household, according to my mother, Angeline Cecil Owen Wead, the oldest of six children born in five years to Mama Helen and Grandpa Eugene Owen, II. Mama Helen was mostly the single parent in their household as my grandfather was off to build his hopes of a Hollywood career as a dancer and singer.

    Thankfully, the village that was led by our Great-Grandmother Edna Lou Wilks Robinson, worked. Mama Helen received significant assistance from Grandmother Robinson.

    In later years, Mama Helen was voted into the prestigious Omaha Central High School Hall of Fame. In this tribute to Mama Helen when she was inducted in the Hall of Fame that also honors Warren and Susie Buffett, my Dad, Dr. Rodney S. Wead, countless athletic, political, academic, world leaders and more, Mama Helen was remembered:

    “Helen loved music and the arts and volunteered with Opera Omaha, Omaha Community Playhouse, Center Stage, and Chanticleer Theater. She served on the Nebraska Arts Council and Omaha’s Human Relations Board.

    Helen passed away in 2008 at the age of 90.”

    Upon Mama Helen’s retirement, she devoted her time to a program that she earlier developed to help single women develop skills to become secretaries, assistants and other related jobs inside of offices. She conducted the classes at a local community center.

    Create a social media post honoring your ancestor

    Steps to help you to share stories about your ancestors

    1. Walk with your ancestors by researching their lives.
    2. Narrow down your work to focus on one ancestor.
    3. Once you locate periodicals, broadcast reports, historical data on military cards, death certificates and more about your ancestor, take the time to capture where the information leads you to build the rest of the story.
    4. Honor your ancestor. Take a moment and offer a wonderful prayer for her/his walk before you. Look for similarities between your life and the ancestor’s.
    5. Share your results so that others may benefit from their stories. It also helps to establish your interests in activities.
    6. Repeat steps 1 – 5.

  • Aunt Ancestor Still Leading me on Genealogy Journey

    Paternal Aunt Beverly Ann Wead Blackburn Jones

    On this annual day of Epiphany, it is also the birth of my most cheriished ancestor. Today, Jan. 6, 2022, would have been my Paternal Aunt Beverly Ann Wead Blackburn Jones’ 85th birthday. She transitioned in 1973 at the age of 36. I was 15 years old. It was the first family death that left an indelible mark upon my life.

    My father’s baby sister, my mother’s best friend, my dear ancestor Aunt Beverly, has taught me so much over the nearly 49 years since her transition. Many of our ancestors have that ability to guide us through our genealogy journeys. My advice: Let them.

    Aunt Bev’s Grave Marker in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska

    Aunt Beverly is more than the grave marker of her birth and death dates. She was a standout scholar, athlete and civic citizen that began in her high school years. She continued with similar activities in college and added accomplishments that included journalist, sorority member and U.S. Senate recognized achiever. She was twice married, had three children during her first marriage, owned businesses and hosted many recreational and entertainment activities for children and teenagers in our hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.

    The summary of Aunt Beverly’s life from our family tree on ancestry.com’s website

    When I wrote about my dear Aunt Beverly a year ago, I did not have the family details that I have since retrieved. Thanks to Aunt Beverly, I offer the following genealogy tips that lead to more discoveries in our ancestry searches:

    • Update ancestor’s information. Review the ancestor’s information for updates that are often added through online sources. I found new information relevant to Aunt Beverly’s ancestry data. A closer look at the 1940 U.S. Census data for Aunt Beverly’s/my Dad’s family showed that their Dad/my grandfather completed one year of high school.
    • Review linked ancestor’s information. While reviewing your ancestor, follow her or his lineage for the same purpose of online updates. I found new and rich updates about my ancestors who are Aunt Beverly’s father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-grandmother’s information.
    • Resist the tendency to keep your original research. Often, we don’t want to release our early research about our ancestors after we find new documents that provide validity. For instance, my great-great grandmother’s birth year and location were incorrect on my family tree. Documents were recently released that gave accurate results based on Fannie Robinson Wade’s recently found birth certificate from 1841.

    4. Verify new information. Using my paternal great-great grandmother’s data, I verified her birth year by reviewing the 1880 U.S. Census for her age at that time. I also found two other trees that included Fannie Robinson Wade as part of their research. The reconciled birth year information appears to be accurate.

    5. Select a routine day or date to review and update ancestral information. I use my ancestors’ birthdays, marriage anniversaries, holidays and death anniversaries to pause and review existing information for updates. With Aunt Beverly, I review her life’s story on her birthday and in June of each year.

    The how-tos that I presented can be expanded by each researcher reading this WordPress blog and social media post. Share your ideas to help others and the Good Genes Genealogy team to gain new research techniques.

    This column is reprinted from WeadWriteAwayandGenealogy

    Author: Learning family histories

    Our genealogy traces our family from western and central Africa and western Europe. Our ancestors entered the United States at the Virginia and Georgia Ports. First cousins Mark Owen and Ann Lineve Wead (it is protocol to use the maiden names of females in genealogy searches) are responsible for writing this blog. Although Ann has been involved in genealogy research while searching for certain ancestors since the age of 10, the cousins began deeper research of their families during the COVID-19 Pandemic Year of 2020. Devoting as much as 6 hours some evenings to the methodical training and research of genealogy, the cousins completed the year 2020 by earning genealogy certificates. Join us. @goodgenesgenealogy on wordpress and fb, twitter Sign up for our blog and enjoy the journey. View all posts by Learning family histories