Part 2 of 2
When some people hear the term genealogical research, the image of a figure like Alex Haley may come to mind.
The late author achieved great fame during the 1970s when, after a decade of research and travel, he traced seven generations of his family back to Africa, and published his findings in the book Roots, which was adapted into a television miniseries.
Experts, however, note that when it comes to the African-American experience, genealogy is more than just being able to identify ancestors. It also has the power to transform lives, give children pride in their history and uplift communities.
“African-Americans have left positive marks all over this country, and until we start researching our own history, and telling our own family stories, nobody will ever know them,” said Deborah Abbott, a faculty member at the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research at Samford University, and one of the nation’s leading African-American genealogical researchers.
Abbott was one of the presenters during the annual conference of the Indiana African-American Genealogy Group (IAAGG), which took place at the Eiteljorg Museum Saturday.
“Research into family history not only helps you discover your past, but also helps you have a better sense of who you are,” she said. “It is a key that has the potential to unlock so many positive things.”
Dr. Flora Bryant, an affiliate faculty member with Christian Theological Seminary, agrees, and noted that genealogy also helps children expand their self-identity and self esteem.
“You will have special joy in helping children discover genealogy, because it can motivate new energy in them as they seek out grandparents,” said Bryant, a member of IAAGG who has researched her own family and devotes a significant amount of time helping others do the same.
She remembers one sixth grader who told her and his teacher that a genealogy project was the first time he ever really listened to his grandparents.
“Children can find heroes and heroines within their own families,” Bryant said. “They can discover themselves in deeper, meaningful ways.”
Bryant, who has also taught psychology and behavioral science at various universities, noted that genealogy can help counter stereotypes of African-Americans that can be found today through television, music, movies and the media. Far too often, viewers see images of young men and women who are in trouble with the judicial system, being irresponsible or squandering opportunities with frivolous lifestyles.
“Negative images have a powerful impact, because they help shape our image as they linger in our mind,” Bryant said. “Almost unconsciously, we can suck them up to fill the voids that are within us.”
Genealogy, Bryant said, can help counter negative, stereotypical images and help people feel socially empowered, and hold themselves to a higher standard when they see how their ancestors behaved in order to succeed.
“We could transform communities as people learn about their family and hear stories that reveal character qualities that will help them make positive choices,” Bryant said. “Learning how our ancestors coped with negative treatment from racism, for example, can give us strategies that can help us out-maneuver some of today’s problems.”
Abbott said genealogy helps people to discover not only their family history, but also the importance of history in general.
“It can make you go back and read history, because in order to truly understand what your people did and why they did it, you have to know what was going on in their town or city, as well as the country during their lifetime,” Abbott said.
Her grandfather, J.D. Davis, for example, worked as a chauffeur for one of the wealthiest men in Asheville, N.C., before moving to Ohio, where Abbott’s family is currently based. At one time, she wondered why Davis suddenly left a city where he had a well-paying job.
“By using a multitude of sources, such as the city directory and the library, I was able to find out Asheville was hit hard by the 1918 flu epidemic, and that the Ku Klux Klux had also set up a headquarters there,” Abbot said. “Those were very good reasons for him to leave, wouldn’t you say?”
J. Mark Lowe, former president of the Association of Professional Genealogists, said it is important for both experienced and amateur researchers to remember to not give up.
“So often when working on an extended family project, my mind gets tired and tends to wander, just before finishing the project,” said Lowe, who also spoke during the conference here. “My sister-in-law once told me that the last row of tobacco is always the hardest to hoe. Tiredness can set in when you get close to your ‘row,’ or goal. But finishing will be one of the most rewarding experiences you and your family will ever have.”
Archives available
Anyone researching their family history in Indianapolis might be able to find relatives in the Recorder digital collection, which has articles from 1899 to 2005 that are archived online by IUPUI’s University Library. Visit www.ulib.iupui.edu to find and search the collection.
Tips on researching your family tree
These days, it seems everyone is digging up their family roots. Unfortunately, many believe that the legacy of slavery means African-Americans can’t uncover their families’ pasts. Not true. Following are a few hints to being family research from the Indiana African-American Genealogy Group (IAAGG).
Realize how African-American family research is different.
- A Black family researcher may find that her ancestors’ vital records were housed or indexed separately from those of the white community. In addition, descendants of enslaved Africans must approach their ancestors as property before 1865. That means researching bills of sale, wills, land deeds and other records used to document property.
- Important: You are not ready to research enslaved ancestors until you have documented every family member possible through the 1870 census (the first after emancipation). This means documenting the births, marriages and deaths of not just your direct ancestors (grandparents or great-grandparents), but collateral ancestors (great-uncles and aunts), too.
Decide on which branch of your tree you want to begin.
- You have two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents and so on. That’s a lot of kin. You can use your time most wisely if you develop a plan to guide you.
Interview all of your living relatives.
- Ask family elders about their lives, the lives of ancestors they remember and family connections. You can use their input to create a draft of your family tree.
Confirm information with documentation.
- Family lore says your paternal grandfather was an only child born in Indiana and that he married once. Family lore is often faulty. Every “fact” on your family tree must be supported by documentation like vital records, church records, tax records, censuses, wills, military service records, maps, etc. A researcher is like a detective, collecting enough evidence to solve a mystery. As you amass more records, you will gain more information to bring your ancestors to life.
Work backwards in time.
- It is best to conduct your research backwards, from known information about already-identified family (parents and grandparents) through to their ancestors.
Document your sources.
- You may need to review your sources again, someone may want to verify your research or pick up where you left off.
Do not rely solely on online sources.
- Sites like Ancestry.com are very useful and fun to explore, but for the foreseeable future, it is likely that much of the information you will need will be found offline in books or on microfilm or microfiche in various libraries, record offices and archives.
For more information, visit IAAGG’s website at www.iaagg.org for a list of monthly meetings, which are open to the public.
